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Adventure and Family: Perfect Father’s Day Gift ‘Near Death Lessons’ from Chris Jankulovski

Fathers Day is coming up and every family is searching for Dad’s perfect gift.  Chris Jankulovski’s book Near Death Lessons offers story of family, adventure, motivation, and life lessons.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Chris Jankulovski (via zoom) to talk about his Father’s Day wishes, business success, family, health concerns, empowerment and more.

The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.  Watch the full conversation on our Youtube channel.

 

Congratulations on your new book, Near Death Lessons. 

 

Thank you. Been a journey to get it out there, but I am so honored and privileged to do this work. 

It is an inspiring and a motivating book, and I would say equally important is not only is it inspiring and it’s motivating, but for somebody who wants to break-through, you actually give us the lessons that you use to accomplish it so we can follow those lessons as well.

 

 

What was the hardest part of writing the book for you?

 

Friends tell me, Chris, you gotta write a book, man. Seriously, you’ve got some wild stories. It almost killed me when the tumor bursted in my head. I couldn’t walk, couldn’t talk. I was in bed for three months.

I knew that the moment I could stand upright, I wanna write a book for my sons. I want them to know who their father was.  Because yet again, I just confronted a serious adversity where 60% of people normally die on the operating table. I somehow survived it. I’m the lucky 40%, and I just had my operation one month before the birth of my second son, Billy.  And I wanted my six year old and my new son to know who their father was.

I’ll give you a timeline.  We’ll plot it all, and then we’re gonna give it to a ghost writer who’s gonna somehow be able to direct our story. Then we’ll put the muscles in it, and then we’ll build it all up.

And that’s the journey I went on until I gave it to an editor who completely shut it down and it took me about a a year to correct everything. No kidding. 

 

Okay. So how long from the moment you started with your writer through the editing process, what was the timeline from inception to on the shelf?

 

Oh wow. So the first year after my brain operation, I’m still writing this book. A year later, I’m in the pool, rehabilitating [with the book notes] still in front of me.

I’ve got this diagnosis of doctors telling me, Chris, you gotta have these cancers removed asap. They’ve taken off. I don’t know if your kidney is gonna survive removing six cancers. You might be on dialysis. Doom and gloom.

I’ve just gone on a journey of learning how to walk and talk for eight months. I’ve got so many defects going on. 

My tongue didn’t half work. I couldn’t even talk. It was affecting my speech. So I’m there in this scenario and at the height of my worst moment in life, I’ve got this outlook. That’s a disaster. 

'Near Death Lessons' by Chris Jankulovski

I’m trying to run in the pool because I’m learning how to walk properly and I’m about to confront this adversity again.

I’m thinking: Why am I buying a future that no one knows? This is all just estimates, predictions, guesswork. I don’t have to accept this. What if I dare hope that the best is yet to come? Why don’t I look forward to the life ahead of me? That it’s the best? 

And that was the most pivotal moment in my life because, I went from a $4 million house to a $16 million house.

Eight months later, I go off to double my business from 8 million to 16 million. I go off to do all these things, and now I’m in America taking it to another level. 

I was in the hospital room, that’s year one by the way.  I bargained for my life because things were not looking good, that’s when I decided to take my story public.

And since the moment I’ve taken the story public. I wrote the book initially because I didn’t want to give any advice to my sons because I didn’t want them to hate me from the grave. I didn’t wanna just share my story. I wanted to share the lessons.

I wanted to share the things that have transformed my life. So I hired a resilience consultant, and I said to her, can you please read my book? Put a spotlight on how I respond to adversities compared to a more common response because I just keep bouncing back stronger.

She read my book five times. We ended up having 26 zoom sessions, and then from that we unearthed 11 distinctions. We gave those to instructional designers which then they came back to me with the five life lessons that I shared in the book.

That’s a heck of a journey. Tell us about some of the diagnoses you’ve had all the way back from your teenage years.

 

So at the age of 19, we went to a specialist clinic to understand what was causing tumors in my eyes. The doctor was puzzled.  There was this new genetic testing going on. So I had the genetic test done.   I [was diagnosed] with Von hippel-lindau syndrome. A hereditary condition, means maybe your mom and dad have got it. I go, no one’s got it, okay?

The average life expectancy is 30 years, so you’re probably gonna have a short life and you’ve probably got cancers now. 

I was like, what? I’m gonna be dead by 30. What do you mean? That was my brutal wake up call and I went to my car and I cried.

I couldn’t relate to anyone with this problem. I told my parents, I told my friends, I couldn’t connect with anyone about this. I just decided to ignore it. I thought if I pretended deep down I never got this, perhaps it would disappear.

So that’s what I did. I ignored it from the ages of 19 to 32 when my first brain tumor finally caught up. And when it did, it almost killed me. It was so big –  five centimeters. I had to contour my body to go to the toilet and had these weird electric shocks running down my spine.

When I got the operation, I transformed. I looked at the sky and I said, God, kill me. I’ve had enough of living this victim life. I’ve had enough of being disempowered, always reacting to my circumstances.

I choose to focus on life. I choose whatever happens. I’m gonna choose to make the most of whatever life I have, but I’m not living like that anymore.  So that was a pivotal moment. 

I’m now 50, so I’ve had a good run for the last six years. At age seven, my appendix burst, almost killing me. Two weeks in hospital. At the age of 21, I almost drowned. 

But one of the first times I crossed over, out of body kind of experience and a different time dimension was a few years later, 25, when I woke up [during] an eye surgery, I felt the needles sliding on my eye, like on an egg, and they’re poking in.

I woke up and flatlined. I was looking down at myself.  I could see the machine flat-lining until everything went white. And then I felt like I was in a different time dimension. I just felt ‘Whoa. Where am I? Let’s go. Hey, I’m not going anywhere. It’s my sister’s wedding soon. And then I snapped back into life again with the nurses all about to zap me.

So that was at 25 and then at 32 is the brain tumor. And then two months later was the removal of my right kidney because it was occupied by cancers. Some as large as four and a half, five centimeters. Which is way too dangerous. They’re all very aggressive..

The reason why I called that a near death experience as well is because I survived my cancer battle and it didn’t spread. It killed my dad, it didn’t kill me. And then two years later, I had to remove four large cancers from a remaining left kidney. 

A decade later, another six cancerous kidneys.  Before that one was the second brain operation to remove two tumors in my head, and that was the most serious. 

 

Let’s talk about a deliberate life. You mentioned it in your book, what does a deliberate life mean to you and what are the main steps? How do we get there?

 

I have nearly died, came back to life, and every time that happens, it’s like a reset button in my heart.

Everything’s up for grab: my values, my behaviors, my patterns. Because I’m back again. You go through many of these experiences.

Everything you’ve been holding true gets re-evaluated, and therefore, all of it – fears, insecurities, all gets washed away. And what remains is what’s most important and true. For me, every time I go through these experiences, I get an onion layer experience. I get more to the core of who I am and who we are.

All of us, including me, are remarkably powerful. I can’t believe the more I get to me and the core of my authentic me, the more energy, the more light, the more vibrancy, the more drive, the more of everything is there. 

I’ve always been spending money looking for advice and solutions outside myself.  Deep down, the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my life was when I meditated in silence for three weeks in India.  Silence. Every time I nearly died, I’d go into this black void. Vibrancy, energy, and I don’t understand why I’m still consciously pressing, but then when I return, now I know I’m gonna say something really taboo, but life and death coexist in my mind because when I close my eyes and I’m in this black void, if I can meditate to a point where I’m outside of my sense of skin, brain patterns, feelings, and just be presently alert of my awareness.

Man, that’s the same space I go to when I’m in a different time dimension. Hence why I believe that life and death coexist and that fuels me. That just fuels me even more because our mortality is what should fuel all of us. Why? Who are we to take our time for granted here? 

This drop of time that we have here, how selfish of us to be caught up in our own doubts and fears and insecurities. We are so much more than that. 

There is just this magic and energy in us that wants to drive. Follow that drive, follow that energy. Don’t restrict it.  It communicates in feelings and glimpses of vision.

I live a deliberate life because of these adversities, and I keep coming back to life.  I wanna optimize. If I’ve got anxiety. If I was to listen to Steve Jobs, live as if it’s your last day of life. I get anxiety. I can’t be strategic, I can’t plan. I’m always challenged every year with my scans.

So the way I play this game is every year when I get a MRI scan for my brain and spine and kidneys and all this stuff. When I get the results of those scans towards the end of the year, I see them as a certificate to go live life to the fullest. So I get this scan results. I go, yes, I’ve got a free run.  Then that following year, I’m bolting. I’m a hundred percent, I’ve got one more year to live. I see every year as if it’s another year to live. 

What I’ve realized over 30 years of doing this is,  I can’t live deliberately, so I can’t live my life to the fullest every year unless I’m living deliberately and I can’t live deliberately unless I have clarity with what I wanna do, because otherwise I’m spending time on all these things that aren’t important.

I linked my goal to an image and I put it on a board because visually I know that the only way my subconscious relates to this is by image and feeling. Now, I know people call it vision boards, but they’ve got it all wrong. You gotta really link an image to a goal.  That image needs to excite you.   That simple solution allowed me to focus my energy throughout the whole year towards these things. 

 

You offer a ‘free gift’ in your book.  Can you give us a sneak peek of what it is?

 

Since I’m talking about life so much and living life to the fullest I wanted to show people the 10 things that were often affecting me and stopping me from living a life to the fullest.

What does success mean to you? It’s different for everyone and so is living life to the fullest.  But, for people who are driven, success-oriented, ambitious people,  they would relate mostly to this because that’s who I am.

I wanna spend more time with my family. I wanna smell the roses. I wanna see how far I can go and I wanna see the kind of impact I can make because I don’t wanna just pass and it never even be known that I even existed.

So living life to the fullest means you are embracing your true power. You are embracing and optimizing your most important resource,  your time. You are embracing the fact that you’ve got an ability to create. 

So if we can do these simple things, we can achieve our dreams. That’s as simple as that. If we’ve got the right mindset, if we stop responding to life as if we have got no control, if we are always victims of it, I’ve been thrown these incredible blows from the universe.

So many battles outside of my control. I refuse to not take responsibility. I actually take responsibility. Look, the tumors happen genetically, but I take responsibility. It’s a game. Okay? It’s just a game. It’s a game of self-empowerment.

 

Chris Jankulovski’s book, Near Death Lessons on sale at Amazon now.

If we want more from you, where do we find you? What’s your website? Where do we find you on social media?

 

I’m building ChrisJankulovski.com and then you’ll be able to access other things. 

 

What does the future look like for you?  What are you gonna be up to next?

 

I’m developing my personal brand and what that represents to the world.  What that represents to the American people.  What I strive to do in terms of impacting.. 

I’ll be working very heavily on my business, but I’ll also be putting myself out there to meet people, to talk to people and more media of course.

When I said I’m gonna inspire millions, this is the deal. And that deal isn’t just writing a book. That deal is to connect with people. One-on-one or in groups or to speak, and not because I’m looking to become a speaker, but because I’m looking to deliver this incredible energy, this incredible passion, this incredible lessons and distinctions with no bullshit on what gets results and how what you gotta do to optimize your most important time here on Earth.

Chris, I wish you huge success with the book Near Death Lessons. I think there’s so many lessons about either launching a new life or breaking through.  It’s a great New Year’s. Gift and a great Father’s Day gift. 

Thank you mate. 

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Is This the Dominican Ozama Rum Philly Didn’t Know It Needed? Big Papi Thinks So.

Is This the Dominican Ozama Rum Philly Didn’t Know It Needed? Big Papi Thinks So.

In a region that prides itself on loyalty, grit, and a good pour, Hall-of-Fame baseball legend David Ortiz—yes, “Big Papi” himself—is making a bold new play far from Fenway Park. But this time, it’s not with a bat. It’s with a bottle.

Ortiz has just launched Ozama Rum, a 100% Dominican-made, ultra-premium spirit that’s already raising eyebrows (and glasses) from Swarthmore to Chesterbrook. And while Philadelphia is famously a whiskey-and-beer town at heart, this rum is built to challenge your expectations—and maybe even your liquor shelf.

David Ortiz Dominican Ozama Rum

“To me, Ozama isn’t just about rum, it’s about identity, pride, and progress,” Ortiz says. “I wanted to build something that celebrates the energy and soul of my people and shows the world what we’re made of. It’s always been important for me to do things the right way, which is why this labor of love has been one of the most rewarding projects of my career. I can’t wait for people to try it! They say that perfection doesn’t exist, but you can get close to it.”

From Santo Domingo to the Schuylkill: Ozama Rum Arrives

Named after the Ozama River in Ortiz’s hometown of Santo Domingo, Ozama Rum is a full-circle project for the former MLB star. Every drop is born, aged, and bottled in the Dominican Republic—from fresh-pressed sugarcane to oak barrel aging (for a minimum of one year), with no shortcuts or outsourcing. It proudly carries the Ron Dominicano denominación de origen, certifying it as a true product of the island.

This isn’t the kind of celebrity-branded spirit you buy once and forget. It’s built for drinkers who care about craftsmanship, story, and serious flavor.

Ozama launches with three distinct expressions, each one capturing a different note in the Dominican rum legacy:

  • Ozama Blanco: Bright and crisp with citrus and a whisper of white pepper. Ideal for daiquiris, mojitos, or sipping neat in your backyard in Penn Wynne.

  • Ozama Añejo: A rich, copper-toned rum with hints of chocolate, toffee, and warm spice. Smooth enough to replace your bourbon in an Old Fashioned.

  • Ozama Gran Añejo: Silky and deep with notes of dates, raisins, honey, and fine wood. The kind of pour that deserves your best glass and a quiet evening.

With prices between $25 and $40 for a 700ml bottle, Ozama is positioned as an accessible indulgence—whether you’re picking it up from a premium bottle shop in Center City or mixing cocktails at a family cookout in Chesterbrook.

Rum’s Renaissance—and Philly’s Perfect Timing

According to Global View Research, the global rum market hit $11.77 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow by over 5.6% annually through 2030. Craft rum, in particular, is rising as consumers turn to artisanal, culturally rooted spirits. That’s good news for Philly, where diverse culinary traditions meet a growing appetite for unique, quality liquor—especially from Black- and Latinx-owned brands.

Ozama Rum fits the moment. And Ortiz isn’t just a face on the label. He worked closely with Dominican distillers and Abbott Wolfe, CEO of Drink2Success, to ensure the product had integrity, vision, and real impact.

“From day one, David had a clear vision to create an ultra-premium rum that feels authentic, vibrant, and undeniably Dominican—it was important to him to spotlight the Dominican Republic and at the same time give back to the community that raised him,” Wolfe said.

A Spirit That Gives Back

Beyond its refined flavor, Ozama carries a mission. Two percent of its profits will be directed to cleanup efforts around the Ozama River and to community-building projects in the Dominican Republic. It’s the kind of built-in social impact that resonates with Philly’s values-driven drinkers—especially younger generations.

Where to Try Ozama Rum in Philadelphia

Ozama is available now at drinkozama.com and is beginning to roll out in select stores and venues in the Northeast—including Pennsylvania. While you may not see it on every bar in Old City just yet, insiders say local mixologists are already experimenting with it behind the scenes.

Expect to see Ozama popping up at Latin-inspired restaurants in South Philly, rooftop lounges in Rittenhouse, and maybe even your next tailgate in FDR Park.

Final Thoughts: Philly’s Rum Moment Starts Here

Ozama Rum isn’t trying to be flashy. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a high-quality, hand-crafted, heritage-driven spirit with a story as deep as its flavor—and Big Papi’s passion is in every bottle.

“They say that perfection doesn’t exist,” Ortiz says. “But you can get close to it.”

In Philly, where we respect heart, hustle, and something with real roots? That might be close enough.


Would you like to add a sidebar with cocktail recipes or recommendations for where Ozama might pair best with Philly cuisine?

WWE and Seagram Escape Spiked Just Tag Teamed on a Boozy Banger—and Philly’s First in Line to Crack It Open

WWE and Seagram Escape Spiked Just Tag Teamed on a Boozy Banger—and Philly’s First in Line to Crack It Open

Wrestling and beer. If there’s a better pairing for the City of Brotherly Love, we haven’t found it yet.

In a move that’s got South Philly popping and the Northeast buzzing, WWE has officially entered the beverage ring with its first-ever ready-to-drink alcoholic product, and they’re doing it with flavor-forward heavyweight Seagram’s Escapes Spiked. The two icons just dropped a multi-year partnership, and the new WWE-branded drinks are already hitting shelves all over Philly.

Whether you’re grabbing a cold one for a backyard wrestling watch party in Fishtown, tailgating before a WWE Live event at the Wells Fargo Center, or just stocking the fridge at your neighborhood deli, the new Seagram’s Escapes Spiked WWE Series is made to hit like a chair shot—and go down smoother than a Stone Cold stunner.

Philly’s Wrestling Legacy Meets Its New Favorite Drink

Let’s not forget—Philadelphia is wrestling royalty. This city gave us ECW. We’ve packed the Spectrum, sold out the Wells Fargo Center, and brought serious heat to WWE, AEW, and every indie fed that’s dared to step between the ropes. So it’s only fitting that Philly gets to be one of the first cities to crack open WWE’s newest creation.

Seagram’s has a rich history of innovation and a deep commitment to authenticity, making it the ideal partner to go to market with our first-ever licensed ready-to-drink product,” said Grant Norris-Jones, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Partnerships for TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company. “Philly fans bring unmatched passion—and we wanted to bring this launch to cities that know how to show up.”

Show up? This is Philly. We throw snowballs at Santa. We boo our own draft picks. And we’ve been showing up loud for wrestling for decades.

The Flavor Card: A Main Event Lineup

Seagram’s Escapes Spiked WWE Series debuts with three bold, bodyslam-worthy flavors that were clearly designed with Philly’s taste buds in mind. This isn’t your average backyard seltzer. These are full-flavored malt beverages, and they’re coming in hot:

  • Rumble Punch™ – A remix of the classic Jamaican Me Happy, this flavor brings strawberry, watermelon, lemon, and guava together in one tropical haymaker. It’s the kind of drink you’d sip while screaming “E-C-Dub!” in a backyard kiddie pool in Kensington.

  • Pineapple Powerhouse™ – With juicy pineapple, cherry, and lime, this flavor feels like the afterparty to a surprise cash-in—sweet, citrusy, and absolutely electric. Perfect for rooftop parties in Northern Liberties or tailgates at the Linc.

  • Slammin’ Blueberry™ – A tag-team blend of blueberry and lemon that hits crisp and clean, made for easy drinking during a hot August night watching SummerSlam.

Each flavor is 8% ABV, unapologetically bold, and available now in Philly-area retailers, from Center City liquor shops to corner delis in South Philly.

Superstars, Stores, and Citywide Showdowns

This isn’t just about cans on shelves. As part of the partnership, Seagram’s Spiked is now an Official Partner of WWE, meaning you’ll see the brand front and center during Premium Live Events like Money in the Bank® (June 7), SummerSlam®, and Survivor Series®.

Expect enhanced match sponsorships, custom digital content featuring your favorite WWE Superstars, and yes—in-person appearances from Superstars right here in Philly.

Imagine bumping into a former champ at your local Acme or grabbing a selfie with a WWE Superstar at your favorite beer distributor in the Northeast. It’s all on the table.

“Our collaboration with WWE marks an exciting moment for Seagram’s Spiked as we connect with WWE’s global audience—and Philly’s local fans who bring energy like nowhere else,” said Jaime Polisoto, brand director of Seagram’s Escapes. “Our sales team is thrilled to bring the excitement of WWE into Philadelphia’s stores and create unforgettable fan experiences.”

It’s Not Just a Drink. It’s a Pop.

Philly doesn’t do subtle. We do flavor. We do passion. And we do loyalty. That’s why this partnership works—it’s for fans who know every chant, who still talk about the time The Rock came through South Street, and who treat every PLE like it’s WrestleMania at the Vet.

So whether you’re cracking open a can after a shift in Brewerytown, posting up with friends in Fairmount, or pregaming in your Rhawnhurst backyard with your Bluetooth speaker on full blast, the WWE x Seagram’s Spiked Series is your new go-to.

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Taraji P. Henson’s Seven Daughters Moscato Sets Sail with Princess Cruises — and Philly’s Invited to the Party

Taraji P. Henson’s Seven Daughters Moscato Sets Sail with Princess Cruises — and Philly’s Invited to the Party

Taraji P. Henson is serving up more than fierce roles and red-carpet moments—now she’s pouring the perfect glass of Moscato, and she wants Philly to come sip it at sea.

That’s right, the award-winning actress, entrepreneur, and all-around queen just teamed up with Princess Cruises to bring her Seven Daughters Moscato to their Love Lines Premium Liquors Collection. And while she may be Hollywood royalty, Taraji’s wine is all heart—sweet, vibrant, and a whole lot of fun. Sound familiar, Philly?

“Seven Daughters is more than just a bottle of wine; it’s a celebration in a glass,” said Henson. “Our Moscato is inviting, refreshing, and perfect for moments of connection which is what makes this partnership with Princess Cruises so amazing. Now we can experience this feeling with people from around the world, whether they’re toasting under the stars or relaxing on the open sea.”

Let’s be real—after dodging potholes on Broad Street, waiting too long for your Wawa order, and sitting through another frustrating season of Philly sports (we still love you, Birds), you deserve a drink. And not just any drink—a crisp, lightly sweet Moscato with notes of tropical fruit and honeysuckle, made to help you unwind like you actually took a vacation day.

Princess Cruises knows a good thing when they taste it. “Princess Cruises is committed to curating distinctive, high-quality experiences for our guests, and Seven Daughters aligns seamlessly with that vision,” said Sami Kohen, VP of Food and Beverage. “Taraji’s Moscato reflects a bold yet approachable style that we know our guests will love.”

Translation? This wine’s got the same attitude as a Philly native in line at Reading Terminal: real, bold, and a little bit sweet when it counts.

And don’t worry, Taraji isn’t rolling solo in this celebrity liquor squad. Her Seven Daughters joins a star-studded bar cart featuring Jason Momoa (yes, Aquaman) and Blaine Halvorson’s Meili Vodka, Camila and Matthew McConaughey’s Pantalones Organic Tequila, Blake Lively’s Betty Booze and Buzz, Liev Schreiber’s Sláinte Irish Whiskey, Jason Aldean’s Melarosa wines, Romero Britto’s Love Prosecco, and Kylie Minogue’s No Alcohol Sparkling Rosé.

Still, let’s keep it 100—none of them bring the same heat as Taraji. She’s got grit, glamour, and a wine that says, “let’s dance on the deck and then eat something greasy at midnight.”

And Philly folks? You don’t have to fly across the country to get in on the action. Princess Cruises offers sailings from nearby ports like Brooklyn and Baltimore, so you can trade I-95 traffic for ocean views real quick. Book a weekend cruise and suddenly, you’re sipping Seven Daughters while someone else does the cooking. Imagine that.

So whether you’re a Center City cocktail snob, a Fishtown foodie, or just someone who appreciates a damn good glass of wine, Taraji’s got you. This isn’t just a celebrity brand slapped on a bottle. It’s a whole vibe. A celebration. And a reminder that every Philly girl (and guy) deserves to be treated like royalty—preferably with a Moscato in hand, looking out over the ocean.

Catch you on the ship. And don’t forget to raise a glass to Taraji when you do.

For more on the Love Lines Premium Liquors Collection, head to www.princess.com.

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