David Shepherd was working in investment banking when a serious back injury forced him to step away and reassess the career and life he was building. That period ultimately led him to retrain and create a very different professional future.

Another inspiring story about how a serious life changing event can actually correct your life's course in unexpected ways!

Site: https://www.guestsonair.com/profile/david-shepherd

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshepherduncomplicatedfinancialadvice/

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Dr. Maria-Elena Lukeides is a clinical psychologist whose interest in understanding suffering grew from her own experiences of a difficult home life, anxiety, depression, and feeling unseen as a young person. A formative encounter with a psychologist changed the direction of her life, leading her into nearly three decades of work in mental health. She now combines clinical psychology, mindfulness, and psychedelic-assisted therapy to explore trauma, healing, and meaning. In this episode, we have some amazing conversations around living through emotional pain, finding support, and discovering a path toward healing.

Site: https://www.guestsonair.com/profile/dr-maria-elena-lukeides

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Jeffrey Deskovic is a wrongful conviction expert, attorney, speaker, exoneree, and founder of The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, where he works to free innocent people and change the laws that allow wrongful convictions to happen in the first place.

His mission is rooted in lived experience. Arrested as a teenager and wrongfully convicted at 17, Jeffrey spent 16 years in prison for a murder and rape he did not commit. He was finally exonerated in 2006 through DNA testing, after the actual perpetrator was identified. Rather than allowing that injustice to define the rest of his life, Jeffrey used his compensation, education, and hard-earned insight to build a foundation dedicated to exoneration, policy reform, and public education.

This is an AMAZING episode!

Site: https://www.guestsonair.com/profile/jeff-deskovic

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Trauma has a way of convincing us that what happened to us will always define who we become. For years, Michael Rodriguez, believed many of the fears, insecurities, and survival instincts he carried were simply part of who he was. 

His childhood was shaped by addiction, domestic violence, and periods spent in women's shelters with his mother as they escaped an unsafe home. 

As an adult, life brought different challenges. The loss of his father to cancer, years of financial hardship while sleeping on the floor of an attic to keep his first business alive, burnout, anxiety, divorce during COVID, and the constant responsibility of leading a growing business while raising a family.

What Michael has learned is that adversity changes us, but it doesn't have to define us. Healing wasn't a single breakthrough moment. It came through thousands of small choices: learning to forgive without excusing, choosing purpose over resentment, replacing survival habits with healthier ones, and recognizing that resilience isn't something we are born with, but is something we intentionally develop over time.

Michael wrote a book, Become Unshaken: Joy, Regardless. And today he helps individuals, leaders, parents, and organizations understand that while none of us gets to choose every chapter of our story, we all have the opportunity to influence the chapters that come next.

What an amazing conversation! Thanks Michael!

Website: Home - Become Unshaken

Podcast: Become Unshaken Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

Book: Become Unshaken: Joy, Regardless: Rodriguez, Michael: 9781632969477: Amazon.com: Books

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Robin Rosenbluth's mother died when she was young, and her abusive and neglectful father put Robin and her sister in foster care - even though other family members offered to take them. Later, with the help of a high school guidance counselor, she was encouraged to continue her education and find scholarships to fund college. What makes her story unique is the year she taught and lived in Songa, a remote village in northern Kenya. There, Robin began to heal from the abuse and abandonment she'd suffered, finding more connection with the local people than with her father or foster parents. 

Her memoir, LIVING WITH STRANGERS: Healing a Wounded Heart in a Distant Land, describes her time in Kenya as well as her childhood. It's a story of triumphing against the odds, an urgent call to do better for the children currently in foster care, and a testament to the enduring importance of study abroad programs as a tool for forging understanding and connection in a fractured world.

This is a deeply moving, personal ad inspiration episode, and shows that no matter how hard the struggle, we can still be freedom!

Author website: https://www.robinrosenbluth.com/

Substack: https://robinrosenbluth.substack.com/

Simon & Schuster website to purchase/order books: Simon & Schuster

Amazon purchase: Amazon

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Dan Stachofsky's story is deeply personal— he lost his daughter at 14 years old, after a medical journey where conventional approaches fell short. That experience shaped not just him, but his entire family, and ultimately led him down a very different path around health and recovery.

As you can imagine, this is a deeply moving episode covering the highs and lows of raising a child that needs extra care, all while navigating the healthcare system, znd eventually the alternative solutions the family were forced to explore.

Thank you Dan for your amazing episode!

Dan's non-profit: https://essentialenergy.us focused on education and sharing solutions around improving energetics in the body and environment (addressing harm caused by non-native EMF)

Community: https://d2nuqustvkkmpol2p8d0.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/light-is-life/home?invite=6a888fa6632dd20a4ba2b05d

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Loulita Gill joins us this week for a deeply raw and amazing episode about childhood rejection.

Loulita is complex trauma survivor. She was repeatedly told by her mother, as a small child, that she was unwanted.

This narrative continued through Loulita’s childhood when her mother actually said the words ‘I rue the day you were born’.

 The rejection, and PTSD was huge. She has been able to turn her life around and survive what should not have been survivable. 

Her story is quite tragic but full of lessons and inspirational moments.

www.loulitagill.com

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When Heather White was 27, she was driving with her fiancee, at 2:00am, on Memorial Day weekend, 1981, when all of a sudden, her car stopped dead in the middle of the Long Island Expressway. With no warning, a car crashed into them from behind. The car immediately burst into flames, they were taken to a local hospital and her fiance died shortly thereafter - leaving his two young sons without a father. Heather never saw him again. She had 3rd degree burns over 25% of her body including my face and hands. 

The trauma that Heather experienced that night seem incomparable. Where does someone even begin to recover! 

Today, Heather has been happily married for almost 40 years and she has an amazing daughter and lives a happy and fulfilled life. 

Join us for an utterly breathtaking and inspiring episode!

heatherwhitephotos.com

Instagram

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This week we welcome Leslie Lopez, host of Mothers in Arms and an advocate for accessible third-party reproduction. She speaks openly about stillbirth, infertility, and the mental health journey of building a family through surrogacy, as a single mother.

Leslie spent six years working with California Fertility Partners before having her biological daughter as an independent parent via egg donation and gestational surrogacy. 

Her story isn't just about the medical process — it's about the unexpected grief, the tools she built to survive the emotional weight of six years of treatment, and how she found hope and community on the other side.

Leslie discusses the mental health side of infertility, and navigating trauma while pursuing parenthood, and building resilience through non-traditional family structures.

Thanks Leslie!

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@mothersinarmspod?si=LMqJcusLbvOEXXhw

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mothers-in-arms/id1768849257

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zXe2X5Y7SVarKhRzJFbpP?si=Rp6M1syiQjOPb4bql5ppEQ&utm_source=copy-link

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mothersinarms.pod?_r=1&_t=ZP-98dvfDMKDKp

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Freya Maberley's family are all neurodivergent. Her siblings/parents and grand parents were all undiagnosed. She was diagnosed ADHD at 53, and she is Autistic too, and proud! 

Her brother is undiagnosed AuDHD and her home growing up was dictated by anger and violence. She was always considered the 'normal" child in the family, but her high sensitivity meant that she became the responsible one, taking on the people pleaser role of the family dynamic.

Freya's son is diagnosed AuDHD, dyslexic, dysgraphic. Her daughter undiagnosed AuDHD. Raising them was a constant battle of advocacy, being gaslit by the system, her own struggle to accept the diagnosis.

Freya has created a technique called The White Room. A visualization that helps a person reclaim what was lost in interactions with others.  It's a kind of soul retrieval, without needing to be spiritual. It's a very grounded exercise, that once a person knows how to do it, they can do the visualization by themselves. 

Freya is working as a Therapist (Psychology, Social Work, Counseling and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy) in Victoria, Australia.

Insta: @freyas_farm_ballarat

Facebook: Freya's Farm: Animal Assisted Therapy

Tiktok: @freyas_farm

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Those who first meet Simon Morrell are often very surprised at his history and background. You see, today, Simon, as one of Wales’ singularly most qualified martial artists and fight coaches with a library of books to his name, comes across as a confident person, but his childhood and early adult years were an experience far from anything that may have provided this.

​Simon was badly bullied, violently assaulted (at one time, an attempt on his life was made by a knife wielding thug) and eventually succumbed to terrifying panic attacks that threatened to ruin his life. He fell to agoraphobia, and for a long time was unable to leave his house.

​However, he was quite remarkably able to turn his life around when he found his path in writing and Martial Arts. He is the author of the award-winning books and true stories, From Bullied to Black Belt and the sequel An Everyday Warrior, as well as three other books of his own and five books his has Ghostwritten.

This episode it raw, emotive and brutal at times. But Simon is a kind hearted and extremely likable guy who has been to hell and come back fighting!

https://www.simonmorrell.com/

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Hannia Zanana, founded her coaching practice out of Cairo that has grown entirely through word-of-mouth across several countries. She was diagnosed with epilepsy at 18, later with Hashimoto’s, and had a 5kg fibroid surgically removed. What she’s most fired up about is the thing her own body taught her over a decade: the life you are living has a direct relationship to the health of the body you are living it in. As she left the family business, stepped into her calling, and made the deeper changes, her symptoms started to ease. Her body, she says, had been keeping a precise account the whole time.

She works as an Intuitive Guide, holding coaching, inner child work, astrology, and numerology. Her clients describe her as someone who sees your best self even when you cannot.

This is an amazing story of self discovery! Thank you Hannia!

https://www.instagram.com/be.hlth/

www.behlth.com

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This week we have a great chat with Jane Garnett, who thought she was living her ‘perfect life’ unhappy and unfulfilled! Jane’s memoir is the realization that she'd spent years pursuing a false version of happiness and success. She didn't have any healthy role models growing up, so she based her idea of fulfillment on what she saw in movies and popular culture. She became a Hollywood producer who worked for Leonardo DiCaprio, had a powerful Hollywood husband, social status, and all the external markers of success she thought would finally make her happy— but instead, she was miserable and lonely.

The major turning point comes when Jane is unexpectedly called to the hospice bedside of her beloved mentor, Dr. Marie, the therapist who helped inspire Jane’s own career change. Jane was already in a period of deep personal reckoning: her marriage was unraveling, she was estranged from her closest friend, and she was questioning nearly every major decision she’d made. And then she sees this woman she loved and admired, who had already lost her longtime partner and become estranged from her son, facing the end of her life alone.

It forced Jane to confront something she’d spent most of her life trying to outrun: that no amount of achievement, status, or external success can protect us from loneliness, grief, or pain. That experience ultimately shaped the philosophy she practices today: helping people reconnect with themselves instead of living by inherited definitions of success or happiness. 

Thanks Jane!!

Links:

• @thebananajane 
• Jane Garnett Bio
• Jane Garnett Website

••This Time with Feeling (Book Website)

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This week we are lucky to have Zoe Rose on the show, who talks openly about her early life, when she was constantly bullied at school for her weight. To make matters worse, her home was not a safe space, with her parents unhappy and rowing, even throwing things, Zoe was unable to find safety in any situation. This of course, all feeds in to later life, where she picked a man who was not good to her, and even hid their pregnancy from his family, for the first 8 months! Zoe has taken her life back, she is changing the way she feels about herself, and shifting her perspective, to live life for herself and not for others. Its a come back story that should be heard. Thanks Zoe!

Site: https://www.iamzoerose.com/

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Melissa Strong, was electrocuted at home, while working on a design project related to opening her now-acclaimed restaurant (Bird & Jim) in Estes Park, CO. She died briefly and came back, experiencing a forest and tunnel! When she came back, the damage was so severe that charred bones in her hands were visible, jutting out where fingers once were. Doctors initially told her she would likely only have four fingers left — her pinkies and index fingers. A passionate, elite climber, this was difficult news for Melissa to swallow.

The recovery was long and brutal, both mentally and physically. At one point in the hospital, her arms were surgically sewn together, and she was riding a stationary bike in that condition just trying to keep her body moving and her mind sane. Six months later, she managed to open her first restaurant, and eventually found her way back to rock climbing.

She wrote a memoir about the experience, published by Falcon, called Climbing Through: A Courageous Story of Grit, Healing, and Second Chances (March 3, 2026, paperback). Returning to climbing became a huge part of rebuilding both physically and mentally.

This is a story of immense strength and inspiration! Thank you Melissa!

Site: http://www.melissastrong.com/

Book:Climbing Through: A Courageous Story of Grit, Healing, and Second Chances 

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In this wonderful episode, Machan Taylor traces her journey from postwar Japan to the world stage with Pink Floyd and Sting. Uprooted from an idyllic childhood in Yokohama, Taylor was thrust into a New Jersey suburb where she didn’t speak the language and felt utterly alone. And yet she learned to turn devastation into song. And wrote her book, 'Naked Out Loud' is a meditation on identity, perseverance, and the courage it takes to come to terms with, and reveal one’s true self. Machan speaks from the heart, talking openly about her feeling of 'not being enough' and discussing the benefits she gained from her discoveries with psychedelics. She bravely invites us to ride along with her through her life story!

Site: www.machantaylor.com

Book: https://a.co/d/0fLrLInd

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Ron Camacho is a veteran law enforcement executive who currently serves as the Chief of Police for the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) 

Ron was an angry, egotistical supervisor. He was running over people, “collecting men’s tears” in disciplinary meetings, and strutting through the halls like he'd won something. His ego was out of control  and he had no idea. Then his wife (now ex) gave him an ultimatum: marriage counseling or out of the house. He didn’t know it then, but therapy was going to save his life.

Six months of intensive therapy ripped open wounds Ron stuffed down for years. And in the process, something unexpected happened: the anger started to leave. The ego started to deflate. He started to see himself, and everyone around him differently.

Dr. Ron Camacho brings a deeply personal story centered on overcoming significant life adversity and rebuilding through discipline, mindset, and personal responsibility. His journey reflects a clear “before and after” transformation, with a strong emphasis on resilience, recovery, and the long-term process of regaining control after life-altering challenges. What an amazing episode!

Book: Bringing Ego to the Forefront: The First Step Toward Ego-Free Leadership – Books – Manuscripts

Site: Camacho Consulting

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WARNING: VERY EXPLICIT LANGUAGE!! (Which we thoroughly enjoyed!)

This week, The Swearing Therapist, Zulma Williams, joins us for a brilliant episode! Founder of Dragonfly Therapy Services, Psychotherapist, and Inspirational Public Speaker, A leading expert in trauma, anxiety, and depression, her work helps clients overcome life challenges to reach their full potential.

Zulma was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and immigrated to the United States at age 31. At age 42, she started her Bachelor of Social Work program. A few weeks after graduating at 46, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She had a lumpectomy, moved back to Argentina for three years, and in 2015 moved back to the United States. She started her Master of Social Work program at age 50 and became fully licensed in 2018. In 2025, she celebrated her 60th birthday in Hawaii. She has always loved the ocean, and those four days truly inspired her to find a way to live on the beach. Since she could not afford to live in Hawaii or California, she moved to Panama in December of 2025. Now, she can hear the waves and see the ocean from her bedroom window.

She is witty, passionate, likes to keep it real, and swears a lot. She survived cancer, abusive relationships, depression, and suicidal ideation, but never considered herself a victim. Her mission is to inspire people to discover and honor the warrior inside themselves.

Enjoy, and you have been warned... :)

Socials

https://www.dragonflytherapyservices.net

https://www.instagram.com/theswearingtherapist/

https://feed.pod.co/get-real-with-zulma

https://www.facebook.com/DragonflyTSLV/

https://www.youtube.com/@theswearingtherapist

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zulma-williams-ab7609214/

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What a wonderful episode with Lisa Arrigo. Lisa talks candidly about her childhood, finding her sexuality as she grew up, and falling into her cocaine addiction. Hold on for the most shocking part of all, using with her Dad who was a Cocaine dealer! 

Lisa's works as a psychotherapist, helping people with anxiety, depression, addiction and PTSD among other areas!

Site: Http://lisaarrigo.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lisa.arrigo.therapy

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Catherine Hickem’s story is grounded in lived experience navigating trauma and its long-term emotional impact. Catherine's father was her everything as a child, a loving, doting, wonderful Dad. One day, when she was just 5, it all changed , out of nowhere, and her life would never be the same again. Her journey reflects how early life challenges can shape patterns, relationships, and identity—and more importantly, how those patterns can be recognized and worked through over time. Catherine talks openly about her journey back to a meaningful relationship with her father. From heartbreak to redemption. 

https://www.parentingadultchildrentoday.com/

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Athena Brownson was at the peak of physical fitness as a teen and into her twenties, but things began to change out of nowhere. Soon after, she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, but the diagnosis was just the beginning. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) carrying the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, joint and muscle aches, rash, arthritis, and varying degrees of all types of auto-immune disease. It can result in death and in Athena's case, has taken her to the brink of hell and back. This episode shows how strength, resilience, and mind over matter, can triumph!! Thank you Athena!

IG: https://www.instagram.com/athenabrownsonrealtor_

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Join me this week for a super fun and insightful conversation with Sabine Kvenberg, who embarked on the wild rollercoaster of becoming and actor at the age of 19! Her memoir, 'Gumption' takes us along for the ride!

According to Sabine, you don’t need to be wealthy, gifted, or well-connected to live an extraordinary life. You just need Gumption.

Sabine believes that we can all recover from the feeling of “not special enough.” This episode is raw, authentic, heartbreaking, and triumphant! Sabine shares how the power of faith, intuition, and courageous action can help anyone overcome fear, self-doubt, and limitation.

 Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/become-empowered/id1565571415

Website: www.SabineKvenberg.com

Resources: www.sabinekvenberg.com/resources 

Book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gumption-sabine-kvenberg/1148750776?ean=9781636989150

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Dale Atkinson was Diagnosed with stage IV cancer, and given 11-12 months to live, this date has long since expired! HIs diagnosis was just weeks after finding out his wife had Lung Cancer. Both are very much still here, and Dale comes on the show to tell us how it all transpired, and the measures he is talking to stay alive. Dale has built his own path with evidence, food, and resilience, and he shares that journey, and how nutrition, health hacks, and the science keeps me alive! We love this episode so much! Thank you Dale, here is to you and your family!

LINKS:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalejatkinson

www.thelifeorganic.com

www.peakhealthandfitness.co.uk

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Ev Foster joins us this week for a wonderful and raw conversation about the power of change! Many of us think we have to settle for what we have in our relationships, our jobs, but most of us have a choice. Ev went through a tough divorce with 4 x children and soon after started a business, that she eventually walked away from, again, because she made a choice! It didn't feel right and was causing stress, anxiety, and debt! Below is Ev's website and details about her book too!

https://changestartswithchoice.co.uk/

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After 30 years in accounting, Michael Hirshorne hit a period of burnout, financial strain, and personal loss that forced a deep identity reckoning. His story centers on hitting rock bottom, to the point he was hospitalized with stress. And so began the reconstruction of his life purpose from scratch. it’s a strong personal transformation and a story of hope for all of us! 

Site: www.heaveniswithin.com

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As a Doctor, working in multiple hospitals on the front lines during COVID, Dr Furhan Qureshi witnessed prolonged exposure to death, distrust in medicine, and moral injury inside overwhelmed systems. His story shows what repeated crisis does to a physician’s identity, faith in systems, and personal resilience. 

To add, Dr Q was going through a tough divorce art the exact time Covid hit. He was traumatized. 

Dr Q also shares some expose of what really happened behind the scenes during the hardest ties of the Covid Pandemic.

Buckle up!

Links:

Business IG : @nooresthetiquewc

Personal IG: @furhanqureshiMD

www.glowwithnoor.com

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This week we have a great conversation with Miles Spencer, and discuss his restless desire to experience as much of the world as possible, to learn from other cultures and to really test his boundaries for adventure!

Over his winding path, he has found himself tested by both boardroom chaos and adventures that had no margin for error. He helped co-create MoneyHunt, which aired on PBS as a predecessor to Shark Tank, and while those studio lights were bright, they were nothing compared to leading more than 1,500 people in kayaks over 14 miles of open sea or walking 1,100 miles across desert in Saudi, Jordan and Syria. Each time, he was forced to confront what failure meant, and figure out how to rebuild after. Miles has founded (and exited) three media companies, with a fourth underway, but it’s the recovery from missed shots that taught him the most about grit and moving forward.

Miles comes on the show, to help us continue to build community, around vulnerability and hope. 

Thank you Miles!

https://milesspencer.com/

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James Verschoyle was about to head to Thailand on a fasting retreat, and had just been to the gym when he sat down to have a healthy breakfast as suggested by the trip organizers. James didn't usually order 'plant based' options from the menu, so opted for something simple, yoghurt, fruit, and a smoothie.. but little did James know that this was very close to being his last meal, ever! Join us for this amazing, nail biter of an episode, as we hear how one meal nearly ended James' life. Find out what happened, and listen as James discusses the lasting trauma, the panic attacks, and how this event has unlocked childhood traumas and mental health conversations he didn't even know he needed to address! Fascinating and honest, thank you Jimmy!
Helpline: https://mentalhealthhotline.org/california/
UK Helpline: https://www.mind.org.uk/
BEE POLLEN WARNING: individuals with allergies to bee stings or severe allergies to pollen and pregnant or nursing individuals and young children under the age of two should avoid consuming bee pollen or consult with a state-licensed medical professional before using it!!!

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George Jerjian, had a life altering diagnosis in 2007 at the age of 52, a tumor that was meant to be life ending. All the odds were stacked against him, yet he survived to tell the tale! The experience changed the way he thought, and perceived life, and more specifically, as he approached retirement, he wanted to make sure his life continued with purpose. 

George is now a Retirement Mindset Mentor, and brings his real-world experience helping people aged 55–75 reframe aging and rediscover identity beyond job titles. Its a brilliant episode and highly relatable to literally anyone in any stage of life. 

Site: https://georgejerjian.com/

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Dr Joy Kong joins us this week to discuss an important part of her life, which she turned into a book, entitled ‘Tiger Of Beijing: The Inspirational Memoir of a Fierce Regenerative Medicine Physician’ .. and it’s fascinating! 

As a student in China in the early Nineties, stifled by the Chinese government's control over students' ambitions to study abroad, Joy realizes the system won't change. She devises a daring plan to secure her exit visa to the U.S., transforming into the fierce "Tiger of Beijing."

However, before she lands in America, Joy faces a new, more daunting challenge, calling forth her inner strength once more. Set in post-Tiananmen Beijing, Tiger of Beijing tells

Joy's five-year journey from China to San Francisco, where she finally finds the freedom she longed for. In this amazing episode, we hear about that journey and discuss the man that brought her to the USA that she would eventually have to escape from!

https://joykongmd.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dr_joy_kong/

https://www.youtube.com/@joykongmd

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joy-kong-md-4b8627123/

https://a.co/d/fZbOmDG

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Marci Marie Simmons was from a good upbringing, and had a good job. She had made a few wrong turns along the way but was doing well. After realizing the company she was working for  was taking part in some not so above board accounting, Marci started doing some 'creative accounting' of her own. So, she had found a way to steal funds on a regular basis, and had become addicted to 'not getting caught'. She knew she had to stop, but couldn't. Listen to this amazing episode as we hear in detail about the day her world came crashing down. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison for in 2011 for stealing a total of $367k. Although a lot, the punishment did not ,match the crime,  and she was made an example of, even spending time in solitary confinement. She was released on parole in March 2021. Never a violent offender in or out of custody, she is now on a mission to help other female inmates who often suffer the same fate in the USA's corrupt and failed justice system. Wow. What an episode.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/marci.simmons.7927
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@marcimarie114
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwzWXFkhQ-Le2dgcIEPvncg
Site: https://linktr.ee/marcimarie114

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Brent and Kyle’s story is rooted in life-shaping experiences that led them to become who they are today.

Kyle was born with cerebral palsy, leaving him with full cognitive ability but very limited physical mobility. He lives life in a wheelchair and requires assistance with daily tasks like eating. Brent is Kyle’s older brother, and they grew up in a household where their family never accepted limitations on what was possible for Kyle.

Today, Brent acts as Kyle’s legs so Kyle can compete in some of the world’s most challenging endurance events — including the IRONMAN World Championship (140.6 miles) and the Boston Marathon among several others. Not only are they completing these races as a push-assist duo, they’ve also raised millions through The Kyle Pease Foundation to give other individuals with disabilities the chance to experience their own finish-line moments. Their efforts also support inclusive employment opportunities for people with disabilities who, like Kyle, deserve meaningful roles and visibility.

We had a great conversation and you will love this inspiring episode! Thanks guys!

• Website: https://kylepeasefoundation.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekylepeasefoundation/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyle-pease-foundation/posts/?feedView=all 
• FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKylePeaseFoundation
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfzbm0kpTagaHRwMptuV9Q

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This week we are thrilled to have Kayse Gehret on the show!  

Kayse lost her father to suicide when she was just 7 years old, and the grief and ptsd consumed her. She developed headaches which would over regularly, and these eventually turned into 'grand mal seizure disorder', which traditional doctors could not help with. 

Amazingly, Kayse was able to heal her own seizure disorder through microdosing. Annd now, through microdosing, she’s spent 30 years helping people reconnect with their inner guidance, regulate their nervous system, and walk a more grounded spiritual path.

Kayse founder of Microdosing for Healing and the Professional Microdosing Facilitator Program.

Thanks for a great chat Kayse!

https://www.kaysegehret.com/

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WELCOME TO SEASON 6!!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!??

Dr. Robert Smith is an esteemed physician and thought leader, haunted by decisions he made in practicing medicine, so much so that now in retirement he is on a mission, a quest really, to revolutionize how physicians treat mental health. He has a riveting story of how an experience forever changed him.

Dr. Smith's new book, Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? Why Our Mental Health System is Failing Us and What Should Be Done to Cure   (Prometheus Books, March 4, 2025), not only exposes the problem but also lays out a bold, practical roadmap for reforming the system—and saving lives. He makes a compelling and provocative case for why mental health treatment and information must be widely available and not thought of as the province of the psychiatric profession. For any person who has ever felt frustrated by or more often avoidant talking to a doctor about anxiety, depression, stress or grief, Dr. Smith will provide validation. And hope!

In this episode, we on Dr Smith’s life changing experience as a doctor, and how everything changed for him, in a heartbreaking story about one of his female cancer patients. 

How can medical doctors better address mental health needs? Dr Smith explains how we can help advocate for proper training, and gives tips on how patients should talk to doctors about mental health.

Dr. Smith has been widely interviewed by national media ranging from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Today Show and more. He is a frequent columnist for Psychology Today.

Site: https://www.robertcsmithmd.com/

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SEASON 5 FINALE: (Wow!) Don't worry Season 6 begins first week of January!

Teresa Baglietto, is a 4-time cancer survivor who also endured 3 strokes and 1 brain aneurysm along the way. She’s now in remission and she speaks around the U.S. about resilience, mindset, and the simple framework she still uses to get through hard things: Set your mindset, make a plan, ask for help, keep laughter and joy close.

Despite all that she has been through, She’s an optimist at heart, with a perspective that moves people. 

Join us for a fabulous, heartfelt, and really enjoyable episode!

Teresa has a new book, The Ripple Effect, launching in December, and she hosts the InShock Podcast, where she interviews others navigating life-changing challenges.

Book: https://a.co/d/drgEUYw 

Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-shock-podcast/id1788093827

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After surviving two life-threatening illnesses, one he was told was terminal, Tom LeNoble was given six months to live on three separate occasions. 

Tom lives by the phrase: “I’m Still Here.” Whether on his podcast, or in his bestselling book, he shares his potent message with the world. The book is wonderfully titled: My Life in Business Suits, Hospital Gowns and High Heels.

Book: https://a.co/d/2vC4ug8

This is such an amazing, engaging, compelling episode full of highs and lows and Tom is such an brilliant guest as we are sure you will agree! Some of the stories are wild!

Site: https://www.tomlenoble.com/

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Dr Martina Zangger's story is one of extraordinary resilience and recovery after childhood sexual abuse, and her message, that shame must be taken from the victim and placed on the perpetrator.

Abused at just four years old in Switzerland by her grandfather, a respected judge, and her uncle, a well-known politician, Martina grew up shrouded in silence.

Moving to Australia at 12 years old, In her search for healing, Martina fell in love with an Indian guru at 18 years old, and was invited as a mail order disciple to live in his cult in the U.S, provided she paid $8000 for the privilege. 

So desperate to get to her guru, and with few skills she was talked into becoming a sex worker in Darlinghurst, Sydney at just 19. She eventually made enough money to go to the Ashram but unfortunately all was not what it seemed in 'the brochure!' She was subjected to exploitation and hard labour. Her journey from trauma to survival is confronting but deeply inspiring.

Today, Martina holds a PhD, is an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Newcastle, and has spent over 20 years working on the frontline with women and children impacted by sexual assault and domestic violence. 

This is an AMAZING episode!

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Sometimes you lose everything, career, marriage, even your sense of self, and there’s no easy way out. That’s exactly what happened to Joshua Tomeoni. Instead of bouncing back, he had to learn how to build a life from scratch, facing every uncomfortable truth along the way.

Josh's new book, 'The Gospel of an Ex-Derelict: Fight. Fail. Rebuild' is out In January 2026. His story isn’t just about surviving, it's about rebuilding against the odds! He went bankrupt, lost his family, and questioned who he even was. But by leaning all the way into the mess, finding the right support, and slowly piecing himself together, he’s spent nearly twenty years helping others through their own F*cked Up events.

Learn more about Joshua at

https://exderelict.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JoshTheDerelict
https://www.instagram.com/JoshTheDerelict
https://www.tiktok.com/@JoshTomeoni
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuatomeoni/

Book Link coming soon.

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Hi it's me Luke Colson, your host. We are looking for guests to come on our show. If you have experienced something that changed your life, we want to hear from you. Surviving life changing events is what we are all about and we want to talk about the journey through these events and experiences in the hope that we can help others! wtfmupodcast@gmail.com

Meanwhile here is an update from me in this episode as we near the end of Season 5, where we have made it into the top 2% of Podcasts globally!

Thanks to all our listeners!

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This week we re-visit an amazing episode with Sarah Martin, who received a text in the middle of the night from a stranger, saying that her 21 year old Daughter, Alice, who was traveling on the other side of the world, was in trouble. Alice was last seen in Turkey, while Sarah and the rest of the family, live in Australia. This episode is a rollercoaster, as Sarah begins a race to rescue Alice from what appeared to be a psychotic break, in a city thousands of miles away. Sarah has written a book about the ordeal, and you can listen to it first hand in this raw, emotional and incredible episode! 'Dear Psychosis', is Sarah's debut book and is an account of her family's experience following their daughter's first-ever psychotic episode and the trauma that ensued. It is a story of recovery, hope and the power of family.
LINKS FOR SARAH:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-martin123
Webpage: Sarah Martin Author - Psychosis, Author
Tiktok: SarahMartinAuthor (@sarahmartinauthor) | TikTok                 
Instagram: Sarah Martin (@sarahmartin.author) • Instagram photos and videos
Facebook: (3) Facebook
Amazon : Dear Psychosis, eBook : Martin, Sarah: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

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What if one of the most devastating, life-altering experiences isn’t visible from the outside but silently shatters someone’s identity, relationships, and sense of control?

As a Harvard-trained fertility specialist, Gabriela Rosa, has spent over 20 years working with individuals and couples whose lives were flipped upside down by the heartbreak of not being able to conceive. She’s walked beside thousands through the silent trauma of repeated loss, the mental health fallout of failed attempts, the breakdown of marriages, and the overwhelming isolation that comes when your body doesn’t do what it’s “supposed to.”

The pain is real - even though the world often dismisses it. And the recovery? It requires an entirely new way of relating to your body, your dreams, and your definition of self-worth.

Gabriela comes with the collective stories of the people she’s helped through their darkest, most vulnerable moments. She believes that behind every fertility challenge is a human experience of trauma, and she has powerful insight into what healing looks like when life doesn’t go as planned. Thanks Gabriela for an amazing chat!

Site: https://fertilitybreakthrough.com

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Shigeko Ito, is an educator, mental health advocate, and author of THE POND BEYOND THE FOREST: Reflections on Childhood Trauma & Motherhood. 

She grew up in Japan and immigrated to America in her twenties to pursue higher education, earning a PhD in Education from Stanford University. Drawing on cross-cultural experiences and academic expertise, she explores themes of trauma, resilience, and healing, with a particular focus on childhood emotional neglect, and severe and very scary mental health problems, including psychosis, as she struggled to recover from complex PTSD.

For many years, she worked at a Montessori preschool in Seattle, Washington, where she lives with her husband of thirty years. Her articles have appeared on the CPTSD Foundation’s blog and on the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America) website. 

Shigeko recognized a need for change in her life as a mother and was committed to breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma and she shares how writing has helped her to understand and heal herself.

Website: shigekoito.com

Facebook: facebook.com/shigekoitomemoir

Instagram: instagram.com/shigekochakoito

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shigekoito-memoir

Twitter/X: x.com/ShigekoChakoIto

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/shigekoito.bsky.social

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Severn Lang is a talented, driven director from Urbandale, Iowa. Growing up in a small town in the Midwest, life was a constant struggle for him. At a young age, Severn's brother passed away and he was diagnosed with extreme dyslexia with other life changing events, making school much harder for him than his peers. Severn, he turned to other, more creative outlets to learn, grow and find his voice. Severn preferred hands on learning to the classroom, and was able to find solace in the Boy Scouts of America, art, music, poems and mechanics. He became an Eagle Scout at sixteen and learned patience and leadership skills that he still applies to his directing and film endeavors today. In his creative endeavors,  Severn would often help hair stylists on set and discovered that he had a knack for the artistry in hair. A life decision to  attend The Professional Cosmetology Institute, located in Ames, Iowa. With his new skill he was able to move to Los Angeles where the film seed was planted and took root and blossom from the creative waters with in Los Angeles. With hopes and dreams a rise, tragedy always happens. With in Severn tragedy story he found help in unlikely places. With in the rooms of Recovery he was able work through the dirty waters of addiction in to the man he is now. With one day at a time over 10 years he has tied the long days together to make a life for him self. Severn moved to Los Angeles, where he spent ten plus years working as a hair stylist, while simultaneously pursuing opportunities in film. Thank you for such a wonderful honest discussion Severn!

Site: https://www.severnlang.com/

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This week we are thrilled to chat to Gil Merrick, author of the powerful memoir Haunted Victory: Healing From Childhood Sexual Abuse and the Decades of Addiction That Followed. His story is raw, deeply personal, and ultimately one of resilience and redemption. In Haunted Victory, Gil recounts his experience as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and how that trauma fueled a decades-long battle with addiction. His memoir isn’t just about pain, it's also about healing. With striking honesty, Gil shares the long, often difficult journey of reclaiming his life, relationships, and sense of self. This episode details Gil’s story and we discuss themes of SA and other adult themes. 

Book: https://a.co/d/1F7thBU

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CONTENT WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT, VIOLENCE, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, MURDER, TORTURE, SEXUAL ABUSE, CHILD ABDUCTION: YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED PLEASE OBSERVE:

When Shasta Groene was eight years old, she and her 9-year-old brother Dylan were abducted from their Idaho home by serial killer, Joseph Edward Duncan. After a forty-eight-day ordeal, she was rescued, her brother wasn’t. Surviving those weeks in the woods was only the beginning of her harrowing journey. In the following years she struggled to outrun her trauma, a pattern of self-destructive behavior shadowing her like an ever-worsening thunderstorm. But she still had hope buried deep inside, every bit as much as the little girl who had been held captive in the woods. This would be an all-new battle for Shasta. And she was determined not to lose.

In this EXCLUSIVE Part 1 Episode, Shasta recounts in graphic and harrowing detail, the events leading up and including the murder of her family in front of her, and her abduction and the forty-eight day ordeal and her eventual escape!

Shasta’s experience has been turned into an amazing book by #1 New York Times Best Selling author Gregg Olsen who will feature along with Shasta in Part 2.  

The book is: ‘OUT OF THE WOODS: A Girl, a Killer, and Lifelong Struggle to Find the Way Home’

Gregg was able to get Shasta to open up and share her trauma. He is a true talent and an impassioned voice for victims and their families. Olsen has been a guest on Dateline, 48 Hours, 20/20, Good Morning America, CBS Mornings, Today, FOX News, CNN, Anderson Cooper, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, Snapped, Forensic Files, Inside Edition, Nancy Grace, Extra, Access Hollywood, NPR and Biography, among dozens of other shows. 

We can’t wait to have them both on for PART 2 to understand Shasta’s continued trauma recovery from this utterly devastating ordeal. 

Thank you Shasta we are blessed to have you.

Out Of The Woods: https://a.co/d/1l3GoP9

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Edward_Duncan

Shasta’s GoFundMe link - It directly supports her and her children with living expenses and essentials. Here’s the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-shasta-groene-and-her-children

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Gina Horan, is a terminal lung cancer survivor and author of The Dead Girl’s Guide to Terminal Cancer, 

Gina joins us to share her story and an uncensored survivor’s perspective on cancer, immunotherapy, and why the modern medical system is failing itself and its patients.

In 2019, Gina was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given just 72 hours to live after a year of declining health and mistreatment by some medical professionals. Nearly six years later, she is cancer-free and healthier than ever. In The Dead Girl’s Guide to Terminal Cancer, Gina shares her remarkable journey to show that survival is possible—even when doctors say otherwise. 

CONTENT WARNING: Our listers should know that this at times, can be a hard listen, with discussions about near death and despair. But, Gina is here, and has a great sense of humor to add! 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/59zlJlE

Substack: http://substack.com/@eugeniahoran

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In this episode, we meet Ian Fee, and discuss his story from alcoholism to sobriety!

After losing everything due to over-drinking from a very young age, Ian reached a breaking point and began his journey to reclaim his life. Today, Ian is a successful author and entrepreneur.

Proudly sober since 2017, he has dedicated himself to personal growth, family, and living a life of purpose and clarity. His journey from addiction to empowerment has become his mission: to help others trapped in the same cycle of self-destruction break free and embark on their own transformative path to health, passion, and a renewed mindset.

Through his book, Wild Ride To Sobriety, Ian aims to inspire others to overcome their struggles and embrace a life of balance, success, and fulfillment.  

We love this episode!

Site: https://makeitgreat.me/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/makeitgreat.me/reel/DCXkQ8YA9uW/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Ride-Sobriety-Transformation-Oblivion/dp/B0DHYR1YST/

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Dr Kate Lund is a psychologist, TEDx speaker, and podcast host of The Optimized Mind, and she spends her days helping people turn those "what now?" Moments into genuine resilience.. Her work centers on translating over 20 years of research into simple, science-backed habits that real humans can use during in their hardest of times, whether they're navigating parenthood, setbacks, or that feeling of life falling apart.

Dr Kate talks about her early childhood with hydrocephalus, (she explains what that is!!) and subsequent tumor diagnosis, and how that set her apart as different than her peers and at the same time fostered a sense of resilience and possibility beyond the challenges. 

As a best selling author, she has seen firsthand how messy, imperfect resilience can change someone’s story. Her book, ‘Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting’, is out in October 2025. 

Book: https://a.co/d/4CaffaC

Site: Www.katelundspeaks.com 

TedX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p6YcTsWySU&t=14s

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WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC AND GORY DESCRIPTIONS OF HARROWING MOMENTS.

Jay Setchell has been dead 3 times. In 1969 in the Marines, in 1973 by a DUI driver, and then a third time in 1981, a swimming pool incident, involving drowning, multiple broken vertebrae in neck, and paralyzed from shoulders down.This really is an insane episode and not for the faint hearted, but Jay is HERE to tell his ongoing story! Beyond this, Jay was close to dying from blood borne MRSA staph infection in 2004, and his wife was told to go home and make funeral arrangements from Covid Delta in 2021. 73 surgeries and counting and after everything, Jay NEVER stopped trying. Whether it’s courage, grit, perseverance, determination, anger, pain, or just being pissed off, Jay’s mantra is “it’s always too soon to quit”! Jay is 75 1/2 as describes life as a gift,  even with being largely paralyzed, and in immense amounts of pain on a daily even an hour basis. Jay has been divorced twice, married 3rd times, has adopted kids, natural kids, step kids, and many grandkids!! Join us to hear Jay’s outlook on life today!

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This is an episode like nothing we have ever experienced before. Here at WTFMU, we like to show the journey through the darkness, and how we have navigated through our traumas and experiences. Yousef's story, was focusing on his burnout from relationships and business, and how he started to turn a corner. It quickly transpired that Yousef is using AI to turn his hopes, dreams, fortunes and entire life around! Yousef hit a brutal wall, a devastating breakup, total burnout, and financial collapse that stripped away everything he thought made him strong. As the episode goes on, we hear that Yousef spends up to 18 hours a day in Chat GPT!!! At times not leaving the house for days on end, and is now at a point where he works with Chat GPT to make every single decision in his life, from whether to take a shower, to who he should be friends with! We would love your thoughts and feedback on this episode.

wtfmupodcast@gmail.com

LinkedIn

Instagram

Website 

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Join us this week for the amazing and extraordinary episode with Jenny Brandemuehl, who lost her husband in a plane crash just a few years ago. Jenny takes us back to the fateful day, the phone call, the initial hope that her husband, Mark, had survived although badly burned, and the ultimate and tragic ending a few weeks after the crash. The worst day of Jenny's life, as it transpired, became the beginning of the rest of her life. As she grieved and found support, she built strength hope for the future. Thank you Jenny!

Website: www.foreverflyfree.com

Charity: Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, 

Before Oct 14th, listeners can pre-order on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles:

Amazon Preorder Forever Fly Free

Substack: Jenny Brandemuehl's Substack

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Calix Lewis Reneau is the author of Dancing with the Black Dog: A Survivor’s Guide to Depression, a book that’s equal parts survival manual and storytelling companion for anyone navigating depression. As a long term sufferer of depression, Calix has been through the darkest of times on many occasions, and joins us this week to talk about his depression in a way that’s real, not clinical. Storytelling is Calix’s background, he works in Hollywood as a writer/producer, which has helped him on his journey to unpack his mental health journey. For those who struggle with any kind of mental health, from simply having a bad day, through to suicidal ideation and major depression, anxiety, ptsd, and beyond, Calix has a likable and open way of discussion these dark moments. 

This a very candid, real, and raw episode, but not without its funny and uplifting moments as we discuss life, and battling every day with the human brain that leads us astray on too many occasions!

Calix Lewis Reneau - Book:

https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Black-Calix-Lewis-Reneau/dp/1481243101/

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Victoria Lenormand has a personal story that fits the heart of our show. She spent nearly 30 years as a police detective and public servant—work that left her carrying years of unprocessed trauma. Things really hit a breaking point when the very systems she’d worked to uphold began failing her own family, especially as she tried to support her neurodivergent child.

That was the moment everything shifted. She walked away from the career that had shaped her identity and started a painful but powerful journey of healing, unlearning, and rebuilding. What followed was deep inner work, nervous system repair, and a total realignment of her life’s mission. Today, she helps families like hers navigate education, health, and parenting outside the traditional mold—because she’s lived the fallout when those systems don’t work.

Her story is raw, emotional, and ultimately hopeful. A story about burnout, identity loss, and what it takes to rise again with a new sense of purpose.

• Website: https://geminidirections.co.uk/
• Book: https://amzn.eu/d/5w68EcW
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-lenormand-2129227b/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geminidirections.co.uk/#

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Weston’s journey began after the unthinkable: his wife passed away just days after their son was born prematurely—at only 26 weeks. In the aftermath, he faced overwhelming grief, spiritual disorientation, and the pressure to keep moving forward. Through that crucible, he discovered that clarity doesn’t come by waiting—it comes through committed movement.

That revelation became the foundation of the D.R.I.V.E. Framework—a practical, spiritually grounded system for helping high performers find purpose, reconnect with God, and rebuild their lives from the inside out.

Through captivating musical keynotes and transformational retreats, Weston now helps others who feel stuck, wounded, or lost in transition rediscover their divine assignment. Through his powerful storytelling he motivates all to start moving again with peace, clarity, and power.

Weston Brandon is a keynote speaker, song writer, men’s coach, and author of The Overhaul—a transformational guide to partnering with God, rebuilding your life, and 10X’ing the areas that matter most.

Website: www.westonbrandon.com

Instagram: @westonbrandonspeaker

Facebook: Weston Brandon

TikTok: @westonbrandonspeaker

Get the Book: 

The Overhaul: Fixing Your Mindset and Driving Success

Visit westonbrandon.com/the-book

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Julio Rivera is a writer and mental health advocate who has lived with bipolar disorder, CPTSD, and ADHD.  When he was around eight years old, he witnessed a murder that triggered all his disorders.  The murderer was his best friend's dad. 

Julio grew up in a very dangerous neighborhood in Brooklyn in the 80's, gangs, drugs, and violence were all around him. He was scared, and began a journey to rise above the danger, and take control of his fears.

Now, decades on, Julio is a martial arts instructor, and is passionate about empowering people because of his own experiences with mental illness and trauma.  

His new book is out now, Internal Jiu Jitsu: How to Conquer Mind and Body Resistance by Giving Way.

Book -https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/internal-jiu-jitsu-julio-angel-rivera/1147368101?ean=9781945783432

Amazon - https://a.co/d/1PQtavf

Website - InternalJiuJitsu.com

Instagram - @InternalJiuJitsu

YouTube - Internal Jiu Jitsu

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Meet Monica Cox was stuck in the cycle of the fertility industry for years, spending huge amounts of money and living a life of false hope and disappointment as treatment after treatment failed. She started to seek alternative options, and went on an amazing, enlightening, and ultimately successful journey! Monica now helps high-achieving women break free from control addiction and endless fertility protocols so they can shift their energy, trust their intuition, and finally create the family they desire. Unlike most mindset coaches who offer generic manifestation advice, Monica helps women identify the specific subconscious blocks and energy patterns keeping them stuck in "trying" mode instead of receiving mode.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingfertility/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@findingfertility

Site: findingfertility.co

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At 14, Nick suffered a traumatic, life-threatening snowboarding accident and was put in a coma. His parents were told he wouldn't ever walk, talk, or eat on his own again. He did and set a personal goal of not walking, but running out of the hospital. Nick does a lot of speaking work to help those suffering from brain injuries. Today, Nick is a 7-figure business owner, Rhode Island-based real estate investor, speaker, and Partner of Smart Real Estate Coach. Nothing more to add, this incredible episode speaks for itself. Nick you are an inspiration! 

Site: https://nickprefontaine.com/

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Masati experienced 'near death' twice. The second time, changed him forever. Join us for a very compelling, original and mind-bending episode as he delves into quantum physics and Dimensional Consciousness, redefining potential and transforming trauma into triumph. We have have guests on who have used multiple tools for trauma recovery, from faith, to medicine, therapy to sound waves! This is a first, as Masati talks about life's potential through consciousness, and harnessing the powers of quantum physics.

Site: https://thexicode.com/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@thexicode

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Buckle up for this one, its a really amazing, and extraordinary story of courage, will power, and total inspiration. Lindsay Boudreau had a very rare underlying illness, CMT Disease, that meant she had weakened sensations in her feet, and so she couldn't feel the pain of an infection caused by a nail she had stepped on, one day while walking. Over many weeks, she became very ill, and very weak, and doctors simply couldn't find what was wrong with her until it was too late. Eventually, on realizing the spreading infection could kill her, they took steps to amputate. Lindsay is a beacon of hope for those who are living life after limb loss, and even has a coaching business, helping other limb loss survivors and other medical trauma survivors, by building hope and resilience and practicing mindfulness and wellbeing. Simply amazing!
Links for Lindsay:
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/lindsayboudreaucoaching/
Website: https://www.lindsayboudreau.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/youramplifiedlifeprogram

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It is an absolute pleasure to have Dr Maurice Turmel on the show for a candid, relatable, and inspiring chat. Dr. Moe’s path wasn’t a straight one—it was hard-won. His father was physically abusive, and he grew up surrounded by strict Catholic indoctrination. Emerging from a childhood marked by emotional trauma, religious repression, and self-doubt, he forged a transformative journey of healing and self-emancipation. His life’s work is a testament to the power of the human spirit to rise. Over the decades, he broke free from harmful early programming and came to embrace a simple, liberating truth. Turmel spent more than 25 years in clinical practice, counselling individuals, families, and organizations. His message pulses through his writing, music, and teachings. Dr. Turmel has authored numerous books including his latest, Breaking the Spell of Religion & Healing the Trauma. Thank you Maurice! (Dr Moe)

Book at Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3LY3DJL/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/maurice-turmel-phd-a09950223/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MauriceTurmelPhD

Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568505213932

Site: www.drmoe2000.bandcamp.com

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This week Sydney Curtin joins us for an amazing episode that shows just how trauma can affect choices, and that it is possible to use our own traumatic experiences for good as we continue to recover. At just 13 years old, Sydney lost her Mother to suicide, after years of drug addiction. Her father became abusive in the aftermath, and Sydney would continue to dive into unhealthy relationships though her teens and into adulthood. At 20, she became pregnant by a man that was violent and not fit to be a father, and so she made the difficult decision to give her daughter up for adoption. With no support, no one to help guide her through her decision, and red-tape and contracts that didn't make sense, she ended up losing contact with her daughter even though she had believed it was an open adoption allowing her to stay in contact with her daughter as she grew up. Her experience led her to begin looking into adoption laws, and seeking reform, to help other mothers, but also prospective parents, really understand their choices. Sydney successfully changed legislation on open adoption in Idaho, advocating for ethical reform and transparency, making her a powerful public advocate. Thank your Sydney!

My website is www.coachcurtin.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/19EhQywKRD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

IG & TikTok is coach_sydneycurtin

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Jess Lalumiere was driving home late one night from a dream job as a chef that she had recently started. She was minutes away from her house on a quiet road, when an oncoming car seemed to be driving at speed on the wrong side of the road. Before Jess could react, she would find herself involved in a huge head on collision, that would turn her world upside down! It was just these two cars on the road, with no one else in sight for miles around. This episode is jaw dropping and we should ward you, does go into some of the gruesome details of the accident, but then concentrates on the aftermath and the following weeks and months as Jess dealt with both the physical and mental trauma. This is an extraordinary story of total terror, panic, bravery, courage and survival instincts, and as we hear, the accident was just the beginning.
TRIGGER / CONTENT WARNING: Details of a car crash, listener discretion advised. 
Links from Jess:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/theupbeetginger/
Email: theupbeetginger@gmail.com

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Join us as we re-visit one of the most listened to episodes in the last 5 years! And yes, we are still following Harriett's journey across Social Media. Every now and then a guest comes along, where we ask ourselves, how on earth are they still here to tell the tale? Harriet Barnsley was waiting at a Bus Stop in Birmingham, England, with her friend, just like they did a thousand times before. Two speeding cars came racing around the corner, and lost control, hitting Harriet and her best friend from childhood, at 101mph.  Tragically her friend was killed outright,  and Harriet ended up 50 feet away in a park. It was 7.30pm, on just another Saturday evening. The accident left Harriet for dead. Now, 10 years on, she joins us to tell her amazing story.
Links from Harriet
X: https://twitter.com/HarrietBarnsley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hazzzzab
CONTENT WARNING: Contains graphic descriptions of injuries and trauma.

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NEW EPISODES EVERY FRIDAY: 

Erik Hatterscheidt was a Business Major and took over his parents resort business when he finished school with a great deal of pressure on his shoulders to help revive the ailing numbers and use his knowledge to turn things around. 

As it happened, what Erik had learned really didn't translate into his parents smaller business, and he suffered in silence as things got worse, eventually turning to Alcohol.

Join us this week to hear how Erik arrived at a crossroads, and was able to get out of the darkness, and turn things around!

Today, he leads motorcycle-based expeditions that combine real-world service missions and personal transformation. 

Freshline Website: https://www.freshlineclub.com/

Freshline Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshlinemotoclub/

Club Application Page: https://ride.freshlineclub.com/apply-here

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Andy Campbell is a resilient survivor and inspirational author who has overcome numerous life-altering challenges - a victim of childhood sexual abuse and bullying, the loss of his mother at an early age and the eventual estrangement from his father, his battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and the loss of his youngest son to suicide. Despite enduring multiple surgeries, grueling chemotherapy treatments, and the tragic loss of his youngest child, Andy has demonstrated remarkable strength and perseverance. Through his experiences, he has developed a unique perspective on resilience and the power of his 15 core beliefs.

Andy lives with his wife and remains actively engaged in the lives of his three remaining adult children as he continues to support his family while managing his own health challenges. His book “Overcoming Life’s Toughest Setbacks” shares the principles that have helped him navigate life’s darkest moments, offering hope and guidance to others facing adversity.

Join us for this moving, powerful, and inspirational episode! thanks Andy!

https://www.askandycampbell.com/

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Michael Shaw joins the WTFMU! Podcast to discuss mindset, after experiencing a total loss of confidence and self belief at a pivotal time in his life, that nearly took him out! Michael has overcome the traumas of a violent childhood, losing his father to suicide, & raising kids battling anxiety, and above all, found the resilience to battle back after what he thought was going to be his career in Fitness took a sudden and unexpected turn. These experiences have given Michael a unique edge in helping others build unshakable mental resilience. He is on a mission to help ambitious professionals reclaim their mental well-being & build resilience for life. Thanks for a great chat Michael!

All information and contact here: www.michaelshawmindset.com

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Incredible Episode ALERT!:

Jonathan Schwartz was once Hollywood’s most trusted financial advisor, managing icons like Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Known as the "diva whisperer," he seemed untouchable. But behind the glitz and glam, his secret drug and gambling addictions led him to embezzle over $4.7 million from the very clients he was meant to protect, resulting in a fall from grace that shocked the industry.

In 2016, Schwartz pled guilty to the crime that shattered his reputation and left him disgraced. After serving time and getting sober, Schwartz is now focused on rebuilding his life. He currently serves as the Program Director of Altus Rehab, where he’s helping others find their own path to recovery. His story is a wild ride of fame, crime, and transformation—think "Inventing Anna" meets "The Tinder Swindler."

This episode plays out like a Hollywood movie.. it’s a must listen. Thank you Jonathan for joining us!

altus.rehab/meet-our-staff/
linkedin.com/in/jonathan-schwartz-1b0a241a9
instagram.com/jt_.schwartz/
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567366347946

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WTFMU Welcomes Rachel Pastor and Tiffany Hurd from Golden Rule Mushrooms. This podcast remains impartial to opinions on these kinds or medications and remedies and we want to keep an open space for all.

Rachel talks about overcoming a grueling a five-year battle with heroin addiction and homelessness, and its a really engaging story about just how overpowering and destructive addiction can be.

Rachel discovered the transformative power of mindset, habits, and psychedelics, which led her to a life dedicated to helping others heal and thrive. She teamed up with Tiffany Hurd who is an expert in this field, and founded Golden Rule Mushrooms. Hear for yourselves about how they work!

The episode shines a light on mental well-being and personal growth and our guests discuss how they provide tools, resources, and products that empower individuals to elevate their lives, overcome anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other challenges. Her mission is to create a movement that inspires clarity, joy, and transformation in the lives of many.

https://goldenrulemushrooms.com/

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Dave grew up in an almost perfect household: calm, loving and trusting. That all changed when he met and married an abusive woman. In Dave' words 'By all accounts she resembles a narcissist. She pretended to be a wonderful mother to our children and a loving wife to me. Behind closed doors, it was a different story' Dave was a natural father as a stay at home dad who was respected and loved by his children. His now ex wife alienated me from my children with her lies and manipulation. When he left the marriage, he tried taking his life. However, it was the day after that he found his resilience to fight. With a strong foundation of what he knew as a healthy upbringing, he knew life wasn’t meant to be like this.

Five years after his separation he has PTSD, but a great relationship with one of his two children. He has met a soul mate who brings him joy, strength and love. It's the start os a real fairytale for Dave.

Dave's story is a brave one, and sadly not uncommon. Dave shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

A Man’s Resilience : www.dbcollier.com

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At age twenty-four, Sara Alvarado bought a one-way ticket from the USA midwest to Mexico determined to heal from years of hard partying and sexual trauma. In this raw and inspiring episode, Sara takes us on a journey as she struggles with being newly sober, unexpectedly in love - and then suddenly, terrifyingly pregnant. Guided from afar by her wise and loving mother and her emerging spiritual connection, Sara confidently (yet full of self-doubt) faces the complexity of a multicultural marriage and motherhood in a foreign country. Sara shares the messy dance between cultures, classes, languages, traditions, white privilege, and a desire to belong. This epic love story confronts tough topics and uncertainty in an honest voice that is refreshing and witty.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sara608alvarado

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saralilacalvarado/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saralilacalvarado 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralilacalvarado/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/saraalvarado 

Website: www.SaraAlvarado.com

Book: https://a.co/d/axshDFK

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Brinn Langdale was 18 years old, when she was asked a question that changed her life forever. Someone asked if her older brother had ever "done anything to her." The answer was yes. For 12 years she had been molested by him. 

Growing up she had no clue what was happening and because of all the ways that the trauma was presenting itself, she just thought she was crazy. She describes herself as a poster child for trauma disgusted as a middle class, suburban athletic kid, so everyone just thought she was 'being a teenager'. 

But at 18, when she admitted to herself, and her family, what had been going on, her life suddenly made sense. The news exploded her family and all of their lives were turned upside down. Shortly after that she left for college where she became a super high achiever, while being addicted to weed and getting black out drunk and living on a constant emotional rollercoaster. 

At 22, she dove deep into her healing journey and spent her entire 20s healing using various holistic approaches, in addition to traditional therapy. she forgave her abuser by her 30th birthday and became a licensed therapist at 31. 

This is an incredible story, and we commend Brinn's bravery for coming on the show, and inspiring others

www.brinnlangdale.com

https://brinnlangdale.myflodesk.com/travelguide

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Vanessa Abraham was a mother, a working professional, and a speech therapist, until a rare disorder left her voiceless, motionless, and dependent on others for survival. This story is a must listen and simply extraordinary!

Join us as Vanessa recounts the days and weeks that the disorder took over, her struggle through the worst of it, and her fight for recovery! 

Vanessa has written and Amazon Best Seller, Speechless, detailing the emotional, psychological, and physical fight to regain control of her body and life. 

Vanessa discusses the mental impact of sudden disability, the challenges of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome, and what her journey has taught her about resilience and hope. What a story! Thank you Vanessa!

LINKS:

Website: https://aneuhealing.com/book/

Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Speechless-Therapist-Ability-Struggle-Reclaim/dp/B0DS96R6XT

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-abraham-10a1661a3/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechless_slp/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Speechless-SLP/61569361746127/

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Dr. Patricia V. Smith, joins us from Jamaica, to bring us her incredible story of escaping a terrifying life as a child on the streets of Jamaica! Dr Smith was homeless by then age of 10, and she talks openly about abandonment, abuse, and homelessness in her home town, to journeying to the USA, and becoming the CEO of Sweet P Home Care, a multimillion-dollar home healthcare company in New York. Patricia’s story inspires readers to embrace their infinite potential, find purpose, and rise above even the darkest challenges. Deeply rooted in the Finnish concept of ‘sisu’, stoic determination, grit, and bravery—her mission is to empower others to persist against all odds and create meaningful change in their lives. Author of I Persist, is a living testament to the transformative power of persistence, resilience, and self- determination. Her story is a rollercoaster of twists and turns and a simply incredible episode!

IG: @ipersist_patricia

Site: https://www.ipersist.net/

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After being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Sandy Duarte turned her experience into an opportunity for personal growth and healing. 

In less than a year, despite being separated from her family (who are in Canada while she is in LA), she survived stage 4 cancer. 

In this episode we discus the moment she found out, and the mindset that she adapted to guide her through her recovery journey!

She wrote her book, Cancer Ramblings, during chemotherapy, and it’s now available worldwide. This book is a testament to the resilience we can find in ourselves, even in the darkest of times.

Her story of overcoming cancer through love, strength, and creativity will inspire others who are facing their own challenges, whether with cancer or any life struggle. 

Its a wonderful episode!

Site: www.cancerramblings.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sandy__duarte/

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Let's revisit this amazing episode, with Lena Papadopoulos, one of the most jaw dropping episodes in recent series. Lena was in love, her year long relationship had seen her plan to move in with her boyfriend, and even meet his family, however, something wasn't right. Constant 'work trips', always changing plans, gaslighting, and emotional manipulation had Lena second guessing her own sanity. Ultimately she chose to listen to her instincts, and started to do a little digging. What transpires through this episode is nothing short of a Netflix true crime documentary. This Episode uncovers the truth behind a covert narcissist living multiple lives around the world!  Thank you for your strength Lena, it's not easy to discuss such raw feelings of betrayal, anger and hurt, but Lena has turned these feelings into strength and pride in herself. Lena wants to tell her story to help others to trust their bodies, to trust their instinct. This episode is literally unbelievable.
Links from Lena:
Site: Website
IG: Instagram
FB: Facebook
Linked: LinkedIn

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Rob Kalwarowsky had it all, a high achiever with a well paid job. All that changed when a toxic boss began to pick away at Rob. Over time Rob lost his self belief, confidence, self love, and eventual lost the will to live. This nightmare scenario is all too common and can bring people to their knees, often bringing up childhood traumas of rejection, and parental abuse. This episode follows Rob's journey out of the darkness, and into an amazing recovery that gives hope to us all. We simply love this episode. It may seem like all is lost, but we can survive, do it!!!

Site: https://www.robkalwarowsky.com/

TedX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1okVCyCJjdw

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-kalwarowsky/

Book: https://www.robkalwarowsky.com/book

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'Apple Cider Vinegar' is a show on Netflix about Belle Gibson, the woman that fooled the world that she had brain cancer, and healed it 'holistically'! She made millions, taking charity money and raking in donations for a disease she did not have. It has sparked a wider conversation about beating Cancer holistically, steering clear of Chemo and Radiation, and is it even possible? 

'I am afraid you have Cancer, and a 65% chance of making another 5 years'. These are the words that Nicola Corcoran heard, as a mother of two, over a decade ago. In this mesmerizing episode, we hear how Nicola rejected traditional medicine, including Chemo and Radiation, and changed the way she lived in order for her to succeed and continue living a life beyond her wildest dreams. Astonishingly she has never been told the Cancer has gone, but through changing her perspective, working on her physical and mental wellbeing, Nicola is thriving and helping other people with cancer to overcome their fear, and live full and liberated lives. 

Nicola made it her mission to heal, embracing a totally new way of living. she reassessed her lifestyle down to the way she eats, thinks and breathes. Incredible!!!

Links From Nicola:
Website: https://www.nourishandgrow.love/about
IG: https://www.instagram.com/nourish_and.grow/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/nicolacorcoranwellnessdoula/

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Amanda Harris has experienced significant childhood trauma, a wildly violent abusive relationship in her late teens and early 20’s and has battled and overcome addiction and various other adversities including losing everything she owned in a house fire! 

However, Her greatest awakening, and the birth of her business, came after the loss of her sister to suicide while, Amanda was eight months pregnant. This experience took her to the depths of her soul where she experienced PTSD, anxiety and severe depression. There was a lot of self sabotage, escapism and self destruction before the moment of her awakening where she realized no one was coming to save her - she had to save herself!It was in her own rise from darkness, that she knew with absolute certainty, that her soul purpose was to support, empower and heal others. 

Amanda launched her business. She became deeply passionate about her purpose, and highly motivated to learn, acquiring many certifications to support her work. She now works with women one on one and in group settings supporting them to remember their power, assisting them in overcoming adversity and teaching powerful soul Lessons. Her superpower is transformation. Amanda believes we are here to experience the challenges, as this is how we grow as souls. 

Enjoy!

FB: HTTPS://www.Facebook.com/AmandaHarrisHealing

IG:  HTTPS://www.Instagram.com/AmandaHarrrisHealing

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Joe L has lived a very very crazy life, and he is only 40! His path to success and stability, is rooted in a series of devastating personal tragedies that reshaped his life. This episode is explicit and comes with a trigger warning, as we cover topics of all kinds of abuse. Joe had an abusive, alcoholic mother who died young to her drinking. After his father’s catastrophic accident led to the loss of a $15 million business, Joseph witnessed his family fall into financial turmoil. Later, his mother’s passing at 52 without life insurance, added more trauma to proceedings! Find out how Joe found his way into the light, and hear his amazing story of resilience, emotional recovery, and finding purpose through adversity. 

Joe has requested to remain anonymous.

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Andre Paradis is a relationship and NLP coach. Andre comes from a background where I had an absent father and in consequence, found himself being overprotected by his mother – this shaped his vision of women a certain way until he discovered that, in fact, he did not know anything about them!! He worked hard to change his way of thinking so he could have a long healthy romantic relationship. In his practice, he draws upon his knowledge of psychology, gender dynamics, and communication to help individuals overcome past traumas and break free from unhealthy relationship patterns. He emphasizes the importance of self-work and healing as a foundation for creating the fulfilling relationships they desire. Andre has been happily married for over 20 years to his beautiful wife Nancy, who is also a former professional dancer and current dance instructor. They live in the San Fernando Valley with their two children. A proud French-Canadian, Andre was born and raised in Quebec City, with his three brothers and sister.
Site: https://projectequinox.net/

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Allison Mones is a high-performance health and business coach and functional nutritionist, focused on empowering high-achieving, ambitious professionals to reach their limitless potential without burning out. Allison spent years in the corporate world, and was an athlete, with a passion for health and wellness. But it was untreated trauma and grief that was leading to an addiction to high achievement, and soon, severe burnout nearly took her out. She joins us to talk about her personal journey to being prescription drug free, and how she is mentally flourishing in spite of 5 concussions, and even a Bipolar diagnosis!
She launched her company, Evolved Equilibrium, to create a new paradigm where peak performance in health, life and business is possible. Her multidimensional mind-body-environmental approach to ‘vitality engineering’ weaves in aspects of natural healing, biohacking, metabolic health, performance neuroscience and human flourishing, supporting other high achievers to reclaim their energy and vitality, unlock mental clarity and capacity and to evolve from burnt-out to bright and boundless.
It's an amazing story of burnout to recovery!
Article: https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/exclusive-interview-allison-mones
IG: https://www.instagram.com/evolved_equilibrium/
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/allison-mones

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Adrienne Harris has had quite the life starting off with being sexually abused as a child, from three years old all the way to 12 years old, then, being raped at 22, and then going into therapy by 23. I simply horrific start to life. She got married in 2000 and recently divorced her husband after he had an emotional affair with his running coach. She separated from him during the pandemic and went from a typical life of mom, wife and entrepreneur to becoming a professional numerologist and now a relationship coach. She uses her numerology systems to help coach her midlife clients who go through massive transformation by leaving a relationship and learn how to love themselves. Another amazing episode about the journey through trauma and where it can take us.
www.adrienneharris.ca

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Tamara Winstead joins us this week for an utterly amazing episode about survival, defying the odds, and the transformative power of manifestation, when faced with an unimaginable ultimatum! In 2009, she was diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer while 8 weeks pregnant with her third baby. The doctors told her she should terminate the pregnancy in order to begin immediate treatment, they didn't think both her and her baby could survive. That news hit her like a ton of bricks, she was paralyzed by fear. She couldn’t imagine losing her son or herself, and it shook her to her core. But her mother, who has always been a guiding light, reminded her of something powerful: “Don’t let them take your gift.” Those words stuck with Tamara and sparked a shift. Instead of surrendering to the fear and the medical advice, she chose to turn inward. She turned to manifestation—focusing on healing, envisioning a future where her and her son both thrived. She believed that her mind, her energy, and her intention could shift her reality, no matter what the doctors said. Join us and hear the whole story, as today, Tamara is cancer-free, and her son is here, healthy and thriving.
www.tamsmoneymagnetmethod.com
facebook.com/manifestwithtamarawins

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Ronni Morgan kicks off Season 5 with an amazing episode, all about overcoming extreme adversity at a young age. In fact, by age 30, Ronni had lost her ability to walk and needed two hip replacements! Furthermore, Ronni was hospitalized for over 2 weeks because of neck and head pain they couldn’t get under control! Finally, she ended up getting diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. She had to give up a decade long career as a hairstylist and totally redefine her life. Her story also involves going overseas for answers, after being dismissed by doctors here in the US, where she would finally get some clarity on her symptoms and condition. Ronni tells us how she had to totally redefine her life and career, and figure out who she was and what she is doing now, to make her life everything she wants it to be.
instagram.com/ronnimorgan
www.ronnimorgan.com

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Jeanette Yates cared for her sick mother from the age of 8 years old (she is now 49), and she has been caring for her Mom most of my life, and that really f*cked her up! She struggled with perfectionism, overcoming childhood abuse by a family member, an eating disorder, codependency, and anxiety. Her journey through all of this is amazing, and one of hope and inspiration! She now helps family caregivers in codependent situations break free from guilt and live full lives outside of caregiving. We talk about anxiety, triggers and creating boundaries and its a brilliant episode!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theselfcaregiver/
Website:https://www.theselfcaregiver.com/
Boundary mini-course: https://www.theselfcaregiver.com/boundary
Free Caregiver Workshop: https://www.theselfcaregiver.com/workshop

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Vanessa Cardenas is a ‘Betrayal Recovery Specialist’, but what exactly is that? and why is she a specialist? Well, as Vanessa explains, when “we need to talk” is followed by “I’ve met someone," her world as she knew it, was shattered. Vanessa speaks of all aspects of betrayal in this brilliant episode, especially after 20+ years of marriage. This deeply personal experience fuels her passion to guide others through similar challenges. Let’s face it, no one studies betrayal recovery unless they’ve been through it and Vanessa has an amazing ‘Well, That F*cked Me Up!’ Story!
Site: https://understandingear.com/home
IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessa_understandingear/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/UnderstandingEar/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Vanessa-Cardenas

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Rachael Needham went through divorce a few years ago, however most of the trauma she experienced was in her toxic marriage. As a Christian woman, she wrestled with the thought of divorce and all that was subtly implied at the thought of divorce. Even though her parents, who were were both pastors, supported whatever decision she made, it was quite a few years before she eventually got ‘unmarried’ because of her religious surroundings.
Rachael has written a book to help others figure out if divorce is a healthy choice for them. That in itself was a whole other level of daring, as she was so afraid to be open about such a topic, when many branches of Christianity have views on divorce that say one thing: you stay married at all costs. Rachel does not agree with this message at all, and even finds it to be unbiblical, yet trapping so many, especially women, in unhealthy marriages.
This is such a great, honest, and eye opening episode. Thank you Rachael!
Website: rachaelneedham.com.

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TRIGGER WARNING: Discussions or multiple forms of abuse.
Lynn Stroud was brought up in a house filled with anger and tension, with a father who was a compulsive gambler. On top of that, her father and one of her brothers became overly protective towards her, and would dicate where she was allowed to go, what she could wear and who she could see. The experience that Lynn endured as a teenager would continue into her relationships with men, and her story focuses on one terrifying relationship in her twenties, which plays out like a horror movie. Lynn suffered narcissistic abuse, coercive control, extreme jealousy, manipulation, aggression, stalking, sexual abuse and eventually reproductive coercion, which Lynn explains in this extraordinary episode. As with all our episodes, we focus on the positive outcome and the journey through these life changing experiences. Lynn now shares her story so that others can learn the signs of coercive control. The U.S. is severely lacking in laws against coercive control. Lynn is trying to expand the conversations around coercive control to include the insidious act of reproductive coercion.
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/lynn-s-16878b6

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Lori Chenger grew up in poverty, surrounded by addiction and abuse, having to fend for herself as a child and even had to care for her younger brother when she was 7 years old. But what did that mean for the rest of her life, and what was her journey to break the cycle of the life she was born into. We can overcome our own brains, and renegotate our path, and not live in the legacy of our past. Love this epsiode, and you will too!
https://www.echoofyes.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorichenger

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Maria Riegger is a banking/corporate attorney by day, and a fiction author by night. Maria’s head has always been in the clouds. From a young age, her mother scolded her for not paying attention; when she was bored, she would make up stories in her head. She has been writing since she was about thirteen years old. Maria’s story starts in her childhood, with abuse and narcasism at the hands of her mother. We follow her journey away from the grasp of her mother, and discuss her struggles to find emotional freedom. Children that have been indoctrinated with negative thinking, scolding, and emotional abuse, often have a very hard time believing in themselves in later life. Childhood PTSD is very, very real. People pleasing is common, and often finding yourself in one sided relationships, a lack of confident decison making, unhealthy bounderies, and even wading into another abusive relationship without knowing you are doing it! This is an amazing episode for everyone who has ever struggled with low self esteem, and in fact for anyone who has ever had to deal with other human beings!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-riegger-esq/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Maria-Riegger-Positive-Parenting-through-Astrology-106194948101004/
Blog: www.lawschoolheretic.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rieggemr
Amazon Author page: https://amzn.to/2RS3YMU
Audiobooks: https://lawschoolheretic.com/audiobooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RieggerM
Email: maria@lawschoolheretic.com 

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Holly Bertone is a former FBI Chief of Staff for Counterintelligence turned Certified Holistic Health Coach. Holly didnt choose this career change, it chose her when, one day, she diagnosed with breast cancer and an autoimmune disease. Holly had been burning the candle at both ends, over exerting herself, and although living an active life, was not taking care of her diet. She used this diagnosis as a cross roads to take a breath, and regain control of what was important in her  life.
She helps midlife women find the clues to improve their health, so their high-achievement lifestyle no longer clashes with unwanted weight gain, lack of energy, and restless nights. Holly is also a Keynote Speaker, #1 Amazon bestselling author, and Host of Your Midlife Comeback Story Podcast.
Site: https://pinkfortitude.com/
Free Private Podcast: Your Comeback Experience - https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/podcast-landing-welcome
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly.bertone/

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Brandy Shantz is the host of the ‘Living Chronic’ podcast. She suffers from severe Crohn’s disease after serving near burn pits in Afghanistan. 4 years ago, she began having severe symptoms and ended up suffering a reaction to the Humira she was taking for Crohn’s, which took 19 months for doctors to diagnose!! Upon receiving the diagnosis of drug induced lupus and neurological issues, Brandy worked to recover but never got back to herself. It took her another 2 1/2 years going to doctors to tell them she was not ok, and being told it was just psychosomatic. Then, finally she was diagnosed with cardiac autonomic neuropathy and small fiber neuropathy as a result of the reaction to the drugs. Even today, she is still going through tests to understand how severe the damage is and if she can actualy treat the problem. Brandy talks about advocating for yourself and learning to live and continue to thrive despite having a chronic illness. What an amazing story!
livingchronic911.com
Insta: Livingchronic911
X: BrandySchantz 
TikTok: @brandyschantz

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Gretchen Schoser, also known as G-Rex, is the co-host of the podcast "Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads." On Christmas Day, 2022, she experienced a massive mental health breakdown that changed her life. Feeling utterly alone and terrified, she reached out for help by calling 988. That call saved her life and marked the beginning of her journey toward recovery.
In the aftermath, she decided to share her battle on social media. She didn't want anyone to feel as isolated as she did during her darkest moments. Her story is one of hope, demonstrating how therapy and learning to love herself and set serious boundaries transformed her life.
This journey inspired Gretchen to start her podcast with her co-host and friend, Dirty Skittles. They launched "Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads" on February 14, 2023. Since then, they have reached over 400,000 downloads and have listeners in more than 60 countries. Their mission is to normalize conversations about mental health and support others through their struggles. This is a truly impactful episode! 
Podcast Name: Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads
Official Website: https://www.goesoninourheads.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shltthatgoesoninourheads
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grex_and_dirtyskittles/

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This week, Saloni Surah has a terrifying story to share with us. She is a doctor specializing in HIV and sexual health, with a PhD on HIV and drug use. Saloni had a very bad workplace bullying experience, which has left her with undiagnosed PTSD. On top of that, someone wrote anonynmous letters saying some very damaging things, and sent them to people in her close circle! The repurcussions were awful, she was scared, lost confidence, and began to isolate. Eventuallyt, she moved country when pregnant as she didn’t feel safe and to add, no one took the stalking seriously and she was gaslit at her workplace! As a result, Saloni ended up with birth trauma. She became very unwell after her eldest child was born and finally found a diagnosis and treatment for her PTSD. As with all our stories, we focus on the journey! Saloni recovered, had another child, got her birth trauma treated and published her first book. Join us for a rollercoaster ride of an episode!
Site: https://salonisurah.com/

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Marcy Langlois was born with a cleft lip and palate, her childhood was marked by an excruciating series of surgical procedures, 23 in all, before the age of 18. Because she looked and talked differently than the other kids, she was relentlessly teased and bullied. Her journey into adulthood was marked by challenging, traumatic, and downright tragic waypoints: Coming out as a queer woman, involvement in a multiple-fatality car accident, and a devastating descent into addiction and chronic illness.With all that, and although she got off to a rough start in life (her words), she has discovered one thing, that no matter what obstacles are in your path, Living Beyond Your Limits is not just a dream—it's infinitely possible. She has overcome all of these experiences and now thrives in every area of her life. She has learned how to heal her body using the power of the mind, regulating the nervous system and embodying herself. This is a truly transformational story and simply fantastic!
Website: https://marcylanglois.com/

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Gerard Grogans has a very powerful message to share, and one we should all listen to in this really fascinating episode! A passing comment from his mother when he was young, about how he 'looked tired' completely changed the course of Gerard's life! The comment had a deeper meaning to Gerard and he would spend his life saving up for eye surgery to 'fix' the dark circles around his eyes. Of course his Mother had meant nothing from the comment, but it became all Gerard could think about. Eventually, a botched surgery took Gerard to the depths of darkness and questioning everything. But in the darkness, Gerard found strength, and purpose, and began to shed his fears and embrace his belief and love for himself. It's very inspiring!!
Gerard now teaches how the Pygmalion Effect leads to the conscious and unconscious decision we make in our lives and how that imprinting affects everything we do.
Site: https://gerardgrogans.com/

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One day in her car, Alyssa Decker was scanning the radio stations for something to listen to.  She came across a woman who was telling the story of her marriage, and she was immediately captivated. The woman on the radio was describing Alyssa's  marriage, almost exactly.  For some reason, it had not occurred to her that there might be other marriages like hers.  As the woman was talking, Alyssa was driving down the road with tears streaming down her face. She felt so seen, like the woman on the radio somehow knew her situation. And then the voice on the radio said the words that would set Alyssa's world spinning on its axis, never to recover.  “I realized I was in an abusive marriage, and that I couldn’t stay.” Alyssa immediately thought 'NO. I’m not in an abusive marriage!  My marriage is just hard. One day we’ll figure it out, and it will get better’. The trouble was, she knew that truth, and it felt like a punch to the gut that stole her breath away.  Now that she knew, she couldn’t go back.  Finally, she faced reality with the help of a support group.  She started learning how to create a different conversation in her mind, which led to calmer reactions, which led to a happier life and freedom!
Site: coachingwithalyssa.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachingwithalyssa614/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulresolve 

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Lisa Wilson is a leadership coach, HR consultant and mediator. She works with small to medium sized companies to help them get the best from their teams. In 2014 she was laid off from my job. It was a blessing, because she knew she would start her business after that job ended. That is until she discovered a large lump on her thyroid that the doctors thought was growing way faster than it should. After a lot of deliberation, She had it removed and discovered soon after that the lump was not growing at all, did not need to be removed, and was in fact a typo! Worse is that she never came back to full energy to this very day. Lisa used to do crossfit and P90X and now can only do a 20 min walk with the dog, 10 min of light exercise, otherwise she won't have enough energy for the day. It's been 10 years and her energy has not returned. Join us for an extraordinary story of what might have been!…. thank you Lisa!
SITE: https://lmwcoaching.ca/

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Alana Joy has spent over 20 years working as a nurse and psychotherapist. When she was a young girl, she had a near death experience after a tonsil removal operation that went wrong! Through her life and into adulthood, Alana always felt different, both physically and mentally, and it was a diagnosis of her son with a rare condition, that would also lead to her getting the same diagnosis! Her personal experience of chronic illness, death, and divorce catalyzed profound physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Weaving her deep understanding of the body, heart, and soul, she now realizes that she has woken up to who she really is! Join us this week for a deep dive into the ‘what ifs’ of life!
SITE: https://www.alanajoynewton.com/

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Jeff Frazier is a decorated US Army veteran with a passion for humanitarian work, that led him to Haiti, where he fought child trafficking, learned Haitian Creole, and relocated his family to Florida to serve Haiti’s most vulnerable communities.
But that’s not all. During a large food distribution mission, Jeff was kidnapped by a Haitian gang and endured 43 torturous days in captivity. Instead of breaking him, this experience only fueled his determination to help Haitians escape the grip of these ruthless gangs and improve their lives through the organization he founded, Stimpak (link below).
Join us as Jeff talks us through the moment he knew something was going very, very wrong.. and the 43 Days that ensued, culminating in his release! It's an utterly unmissable episode!
Jeff's work has driven measurable progress in reforestation, food and water security, and education in Haiti. His story of courage, resilience, and relentless dedication will captivate and inspire! 
Thank you Jeff, what an incredible human you are!
Website and Podcast info: https://stimpack.org/

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Bambi Lynn joins us this week for a story of redemption against all the odds. Bambi endured some horrific abuse, from her mother and her father, her uncle, and various partners. It’s harrowing at times, and no one should have to go through what Bambi has been through. Although tough to hear, this is a story of triumph over trauma, a raw and gritty tale that plays out like a bleak and hard to watch movie. The ending however, is one of light, from the darkness.  It took Bambi thirty-two years to except her name that she was given, but now she says her name with pride.  Ever since her 7th grade teacher told her she had a gift to write, she has never stopped. And now she has her first published book and many more to come
healingthroughstories.com
Bambi.lynn facebook
lynn.bambi  instagram
bambi makowski linkin
contact: josephine.ourstory@gmail.com

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Sherry Buckley-Brown was 12 years old when her father came upstairs and said ‘i just killed your Mom’. After years of physical abuse, he had finally done the unthinkable. Sherry has written a book, about her struggle as a young girl, as she grappled with the profound loss, and how her life was torn apart, from friends, to school, to where she lived. Her siblings were separated and she describes it like ‘a bomb gong off’ in their lives. Sherry’s initial response was acting out, fighting, and keeping people at a distance, and ending up in an abusive relationship herself! But, she did not want to be beaten by this life changing event, and she started to believe that she was going to survive, she was going to get through, and she was going to be OK. Join us for one of the most incredible, raw, and emotive episodes we have ever had on the podcast. The journey through adversity, and of eventual triumph, and the continued journey of discovery, is unmissable! Thank you Sherry!

Website: https://www.sherrybuckleybrown.com/

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There was something about turning 40 years old that made Teresa Greco reevaluate her life. Some people might call it a midlife crisis, but for Teresa, it was an opportunity to start asking some very important questions about her life. Realizing that half her life had been lived (hopefully anyway) and wondering if this was all there was. She began asking questions like,  “Is this all there is to life?” “Where is my life going?”  “Am I happy in the life I am living?”  “Can I imagine myself living the same life for another 40 years?”  and, most importantly, there was the question, “Am I living my life’s full potential and purpose?” She felt as though something was missing. But what? Join us to find out how Teresa began a journey of self discovery in pursuit if real happiness. There are some amazing tips and help in this episode!
Website teresagreco.ca
Instagram @teresagreco_stepstohappiness
Facebook: Teresa Greco and Steps to Happiness With Teresa Greco
TV Host of  The Steps to Happiness Show with Teresa Greco
Radio and TV Host of The Happy Hour with Teresa Greco
Co-Host of the Live Call-In Show Building Joy
LinkedIn
Twitter
YouTube

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Jocelyn Bates is still processing what must be one of the traumatizing experiences we have ever heard on the show, and she says that she expects to continue to process what happened for the rest of her life.Her story of trauma is losing her parents 7 days apart unexpectedly in sept 2021 during Covid. Jocelyn lived with her parents at the time, as well as with her young children. Both her parents were taken ill, and both were taken away, separately, and such were Covid protocols, that things escalated so quickly, and like a heart wrenching movie, somehow, within just one week, they had both passed away. Join us for this quite extraordinary episode, and hear first hand from Jocelyn, about how things unfolded, and the aftermath of such a terrible experience. Jocelyn has since been on a transformational journey and has used her grief as a catalyst to change her life for good. An absolutely unmissable episode!
https://www.jocelynbates.net/

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Raja Vaidya has struggled with a stutter all his life. In this extremely raw and honest episode, Raja discusses how his stutter affected his life! From his childhood, which included years of rejection and bullying, to his professional years, and how sheer determination led him to work hard and make a career for himself in scientific research! However, It was a major moment at work that Raja focuses on, an experience in which one of his trusted colleagues, would us his stutter against him. It really shines a light on the less kind and compassionate side of the human race and enough was enough for Raja. He is a fighter, and his story is amazing, one of trtiumoh over truama and turning your fear into your superpower!
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RajaVaidyaSpeaker/

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Melissa Robinson-Winemiller was a professional musician, it was her life since childhood, her study, and eventually her dream job. it was all she ever knew, and it was at this dream job that her life would be flipped upside down in an instant, and set about a long and devastating spiral into the unknown. Melissa was assaulted one day at work, and the organization was less than willing to listen! Her story absolutely destroyed a 40-year career and left her devastated financially and emotionally. Join us for an extraordinary episode of the fragility of our lives, and hear more about Melissa’s continued journey!
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/empathyqueen.eq/
Website:  https://eqviaempathy.com/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@The.Empathic.Leader
Book Preorder:  https://stan.store/empathicleader
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-coach/

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Lisa Heacock lost 12 loved ones in a 22 month period, including her parents, and her 24 year old son-in-law. She ended a 28 year marriage, and was diagnosed with breats cancer and had a double mastectomy! After the losses, her life trajectory changed forever. Most of us have experieced grief in some way, and there really is no correct way to grieve. Some of us let it all out, some hold it in, for some its delayed, or even locked away, and this epsiode dives into the mind and body’s relationship with grief and trauma. Join us for a wonderful and insightful deep dive into this tricky subject, but a subject that unites all of us in one way or another!
Links for Lisa: https://linktr.ee/CoachLisaMarie
Support: https://page.holisticlifecoaching.org.uk/grief-support-ebook
Site: holisticlifecoaching.org.uk

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Michelle Rae Woodward has had the most painful, extraordinary, and exhausting journey through multiple pregnancies. All of which ended in 2nd term pregnancy loss (birthed 3 boys and 2 girls, all deceased). She talks about how she was treated by the western medical paradigm, we discuss the grief she went through, her look into surrogacy in US and India, and then onto international adoption, and finally,  how she is now raising a child with autism! Quite the amazing journey! She was completely broken, near to death twice, but stay for the revival! She rebuilt herself into a way better version of herself and more. This experience completely f*cked her up and it is quite a story of dreams, failure, setbacks, grief, trauma, hope, resilience and love. 
Website: https://www.michelleraewoodward.com/

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In this raw and often heartbreaking episode, we hear how Shay Leonia had to witness the slow demise of her mother who was diagnosed with dementia when Shay was only 9 years old, and her mother was in her Forties! There is still so much that is unknown about FTD, the specific disease in question, which is the deterioration of the brain's frontal lobe. Shay discusses the journey through watching her mother literally slip away, and eventually die, (when Shay was 13) which was beyond traumatizing. Stay with us here, because as with all of our episodes, we go on the journey through these life changing events. Shay was placed in a home and then with her older brother as her Father was not around, she was an orphan. With all this loss and abandonment, not surprisingly, there was relationship trouble ahead. The journey of recovery through the next few years, up to today, is an absolutely unmissable story. Thank you Shay. You are an inspiration!
FTD: https://www.theaftd.org/what-is-ftd/disease-overview/
Host - The Millennial Musician Podcast
Instagram: @millennialmusicianpod

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WARNING: Graphic Content involving description of fatal road traffic accident.
Jacques is a trauma survivor, after being involved in a horrific accident that totally changed the course of his life.
The accident is quite graphic, you have been warned, and involved three individual traumas one after the other. In the dark of night, Jacques hit a man on a pedal bike going 120 km/h (75 mph) on a major highway at night with no one else around. He is trained in first aid so walked back to see if he could help him but before he was able to, he watched in horror as the man was hit by an SUV and a semi right in front of him. Join us to hear more about that fateful night, and what transpired in the days, weeks and months afterwards.. 
Jacques' desire is to guide people on how to stop past emotional trauma, from affecting the present and future planning towards a better life. He talks about the struggles he faced to manage his mental health to create positive change and a new reality. Simply amazing. 
Links For Jacques:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/drivingoutofdarkness/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drivingoutofdarkness?lang=en
Site: https://www.drivingoutofdarkness.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/powerfulimpact/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089572114082
Book: https://a.co/d/09hdbHFq

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30 BRAND NEW EPISODES STARTING NEXT WEEK!:
Wow, this one is extraordinary. Thank you Alana for coming on and really just telling it how it is. This is for all of you listeners out there with any toxic work experiences, in fact maybe you are in one now and you don't know it? Alana tells us the story of how she became the victim of a Toxic Boss, what it dis to her Mental Health, and how she recovered. Alana's story is eye opening and hopefully offers hope and courage for those who are suffering, often in silence. You wouldn't stand for it in your home, so why stand for it at work!?
Links from Alana
website: www.alanaruoso.com
IG: @alanaruoso  https://instagram.com/alanaruoso
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alanaruoso
Article: https://www.purewow.com/wellness/toxic-work-environment

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Gina Fox is a childhood and adult trauma survivor. She was abused from age 5 to 16 by her own father, and its tough to listen to. She was then abused again by her ex-husband for 5 years. She had very bad coping skills as a result of these horrible experiences, and a mountain to climb! As her life continued into her thirties she realised she was running away from an extreme amount of ptsd! It was a cross roads, in her late thirties, that made her stop, and decide to change the narrative!
Join us as Gina tells us how she turned her life around, and now uses he traumatic experiences to help others. Gina is a certified trauma coach, as well as certificates in neuroscience and mental health. She is a huge advocate for mental health. Her story is powerful. A story of redemption, and a story of value and inspiration. Website is www.riseupfromtrauma.com
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@Riseupfromtrauma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Riseupfromtrauma
Instagram: Rise Up From Trauma Coaching
BOOK: https://a.co/d/e4qsFC4

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Sabrina Colosimo, discusses her mom's rare syndrome that rendered her paralyzed up to her eyeballs, within two weeks. Terrifying! It baffled the doctors and it turned their lives upside down. She “lived” in the ICU for 16 months, fully conscious and unable to move. Her family took turns around the clock to have someone there with her. The experience would forever change them. We discuss, the feeling of being powerless and a small cog in a big wheel, the feeling of supporting her mother while being single and having no one to share her burden. Then there was the untold stress that a family goes through when a loved one is sick, the all-consuming thoughts of having a loved one living minute to minute, and still having to carry on with work and life, the triggering effect and hypochondriac symptoms that come along with a super rare and lightning-fast onset of this disease, the family dynamics that come to the surface when you are forced into this situation, and finally we discuss just how much advocacy they needed to get things done in the hospital! Its a huge, amazing, rollercoaster of a story.. so buckle up!
FB: https://www.facebook.com/sundaycreative.sc
Site: https://www.sunday-creative.com/
IG:https://www.instagram.com/_sundaycreative/

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TRIGGER / CONTENT WARNING:  Domestic Abuse and Domestic Violence.
We re-visit this amazing episode, and hear how Leticia was groomed by her would be husband at 14 years old, he was twice her age. As a child, she was rejected by her parents when they separated and had nowhere and no-one to turn to, so she was drawn towards the one man she thought loved her.  After a decade of physical and mental abuse and torture, his final act was to stab Leticia while she tried to make her escape. In this unbelievable, edge of your seat story, we hear how Leticia started a new life in England, and slowly took back control of her life, and her happiness!! The past does not need to define us. This one is incredible!
Links from Leticia:
Insta: Instagram.com/BlaqueRoseCoaching
FB: Facebook.com/BlaqueRoseCoaching
Website: BlaqueRoseCoaching.com

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This week, Tara Henderson comes on the show to discuss trauma and triggers and a serious battle with addiction! Tara has a lengthy background of childhood trauma, with both her parents being alcoholics. That childhood experience turned into drug and alcohol addiction because she was running away from who she was and how she felt. She battled a severe opioid addiction, nearly dying from serious over use of oxycontin! Tara is now sober, and she has been working through her addictions and more importantly her self esteem and self understanding! Tara is a Spiritual Hypnotherapist and is sharing her story and how people can work through their own traumas, with some really great tools or tips. Thank you Tara!
Website: Www.hypnoticpower.ca 

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This week, we revisit this amazing chat with Tarah Dowling, In one of the most emotional episodes we have had to date, Tarah tells us about her harrowing and traumatic childhood growing up with her drug addicted mother. She tells us about her heartbreaking decision  to leave the family house at 12 years old, and give herself up for foster care, which is the legal age in Canada. She had to leave her little brother behind to save herself, and tells us about her heartbreak, regret, and troubled life that followed, including a suicide attempt and abuse.  But wait!! As with all of our stories, we are here to focus on the triumph over trauma, and Tarah is here to tell us how she is now, and how she is helping others through similar situations as hers. Its an amazing story, told with courage and strength!
TRIGGER WARNING: discussions about Addiction, Suicide, Abuse.
Links from Tarah
IG: https://instagram.com/tothemoonandbackdoc?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
IG doc: https://instagram.com/tarahspeltlikesarah?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
TikTok: addiction_talks  https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTdpWH94F/
Documentary: https://www.tothemoonandbackdocumentary.com/

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Sarah Bussey was fighting a hidden illness that doctors simply could not diagnose. In her mid thirties, she was losing he hair, gaining weight, having seizures, and coming out in rashes and pain all over her body. She was bed ridden and thought she was dying, and even more heartbreaking, so did her three young children. Despite numerous doctors telling her that her illness would have nothing to do with her Breast Implants, and multiple bloods and check ups, it wasn't until a chance dinner meeting with a friend of a friend, where she would find out just how real 'Breast Implant Illness' was. She was told first hand by someone who had nearly died, and the reality suddenly kicked in! She booked an appointment with someone she trusted, someone who understood the condition was real (as many doctors dismissed this) and had them removed after a number of years. The details of what they found are not for the faint hearted, and this podcast episode comes with a content warning, but must be listened too! Sarah's recovery started immediately, and he journey through her physical and mental trauma is an amazing one! Thank you Sarah for your bravery in sharing this very personal story!

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Danielle Patrice lost her Mother to suicide when she was just 22, and as an only child, and her Father not around, she had to work out what to do and how to deal with all the things that come with a Parents death, alone and at such a young age.
As Patrice looked for comfort and support, she found herself in a relationship that would become physically abusive, and so the cycle began.
Danielle Patrice passionately advocated through her personal experiences to create awareness about Domestic Violence, speaking at events meeting with politicians, and organizations to further implement change for victims and survivors! Its's a thoroughly inspiring episode and we hope it will help others find strength!
Danielle,  is a mother of two,  originally from New Jersey. Danielle Patrice graduated from Tennessee State University c/o 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications with an emphasis in Mass Communications.
Finally, Danielle has a new book out now, that discusses domestic violence from a neuroscience perspective. 'Neuroscience: The Ecosystem of Domestic Violence'
Amazon - https://a.co/d/iZP17c7
BarnesandNoble.com - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/neuroscience-danielle-patrice/1144180026?ean=9798892389310

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After 20 years, Ann finally found the strength to escape an abusive, emotionally crippling, and desperate marriage.  Just as her life was beginning to blossom, disaster struck. After coming down with the Flu one day, Ann's health started to deteriorate,  and the next day, she awoke with no feeling in her legs. After emergency, life saving surgery to remove hundreds of blood clots throughout Ann's lower body, she was told that her leg needed to be amputated. Tune in to hear how focus, faith, strength, and sheer determination would give Ann a chance to keep her legs and walk again!
Website: anncknickell.com
FB Page: facebook.com/anncknickell
Instagram: instagram.com/anncknickell

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A few years ago, Anastasia Zadiek, left her house after an argument with her husband with the sole intention of ending her life. Decades of childhood trauma had led to suicidal thoughts, and that night, everything just boiled over. As she walked down to her regular hiking spot towards the cliffs, she started to think about her kids, and what her decision would do to them. Listen into this incredible episode to hear what happened to allow Anastasia to face her demons and finally ask for help.
Anastasia is a writer, editor, and narrative nonfiction performer. She lives in San Diego, CA, where she serves as Director of Communications for the San Diego Writers Festival, as a mentor for the literary nonprofit So Say We All, and as a board member for the International Memoir Writers Association. Her first novel, Blurred Fates, won both the 2023 Sarton Award and the 2023 National Indie Excellence Award in Contemporary Fiction. Find her online at
Site: anastasiazadeik.com
FB: facebook.com/anastasiazadeik/
X: twitter.com/anastasiazadeik
IG: instagram.com/anastasiazadeik

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Kendall Patterson joins us this week, for a simply wonderful episode. Kendall has experienced abuse (of all the kinds), poverty, traumatic events, two traumatic brain injury parents (on separate occasions!) and most of her immediate family are or were addicts. Thats just the start, in 2021, the gloves really came off, with a new baby, her immediate family would deal with covid, leukemia, alcoholism, and multiple deaths, and Kendall herself changed career, got divorced, and lost her father in a matter of weeks. This is when she made her agreement to change her life, forever!
She is a hopeful Ted talker and podcast lover, and guested on a number of amazing podcasts. Kendall uses her experiences to help others live an abundant and grateful life. Never settle for less than you deserve, this episode channels positivity and awesomeness! Thank you Kendall!
IG: https://www.instagram.com/kendallpattersonre/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kendallpatterson_re

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David was a young, successful, high-flying executive, making his way to the top! First working for a record label in LA, he then fell into the business and marketing side of the  adult film industry! By his twenties, he had 'the cars, the girls, the houses, and the expensive watches', and he felt he had the world at his feet. Then came Heroin. David's story plays out like a real life Hollywood Movie, and as heroin addiction took hold, he would lose everything. His battle against the addiction, the desperate friends and family that tried to help, and the eventual jail time, all make for a survival story like nothing you have heard before.
CONTENT / TRIGGER WARNING: Heroin use and addiction.
Helpful Links from David:
Drug Abuse Helplines https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/contact-us
Substance Abuse Helpline: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
AA: https://aa.org/

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During his 35+ year career, Professor Pete Alexander had the privilege to work in a variety of positions including Sales, Marketing, College Professor and Small Business Owner. Each role had one thing in common - high stress - to the point he was diagnosed with stress-related diabetes and ended up in the hospital with a severe case of diabetic ketoacidosis, a few hours away from falling into a coma!
It was a reality check! When you don’t have your health, not much else matters. Prof. Pete knew it was time for me to walk away even though I had a great job, secure income, and good benefits. Interestingly, his coworkers and peers were very supportive and most of them told him they admired his decision to put health first before career, because they were contemplating the same thing. He realized then that it wasn’t just him, and set out to help other hard-driving leaders avoid the same mistakes and immensely benefit from the wonderful tools and techniques he has learned and experienced first-hand. In addition to a video series, Professor Pete has launched a book on Amazon, which became an international bestseller.
He was selected as a TEDx speaker and best of all,  he is a certified Laughter Yoga teacher and improv comedy cast member! Thank You Pete for sharing your inspiring story!
LINK HERE:
Site: https://petealexander.com

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Megan Harris is the author of 'Not You' – a memoir of her life as a young mother and mixed-race woman stuck in a cycle of abuse. With her first abortion at age 18, her first child at 19, a long series of bad relationships with men who demean and abuse her, and her own struggles with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and lack of self-confidence, Megan works to break free and provide a life for herself and her children that she can be proud of. Truly real and relatable. We hope that this amazing episode will allow others to find their own confidence within themselves. Megan's story if one of hope and strength, and is all about learning to find love for yourself when it is seemingly impossible. Megan found the strength to break free from hurtful cycles and move toward a better future.
Site: www.meganharrism.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/meganhm.writes

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Many years ago, despite living what many would consider a great life, Sarah Bettman couldn’t help but feel like something was missing...like there was something more to be had. She has a distinct memory of sitting in her car on her way home from work. She was stopped at a stop sign, staring aimlessly at heavy raindrops hitting the windshield. It was a heavy rain and the wipers couldn’t keep up. But alas, they kept wiping. Wipe by wipe, She stared and thought, “is this really all there is?” Turns out, it wasn’t. And she would soon discover that she was not living authentically or being true to herself. This wasn’t intentional, she didn't even know that she had an authentic self let alone how to live authentically...and then she started to see that the world is not set up to support women to do so. She had gotten into this situation following all that she thought she was supposed to do, as many of us do, but eventually found that this quest drained me. She could no longer keep up. After looking at all the areas of her life with a critical (but loving) eye, She was able to pinpoint the things that were draining her energy, as well as things that bring her joy. She took back control of my life, and started feeling whole again. Join us for a a wonderfully honest and frank chat about how we can take back control of our lives and happiness!
Site: https://www.sarahbettman.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sea2mountains/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/CoachBettman

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This week, we welcome Leah Drew to the show, and what a wonderful episode it is! After enduring an emotionally challenging childhood, surviving a pancreatic tumor at 16 years old, suffering with severe physical pain, facing significant chronic health problems, and nearly committing suicide, Leah found herself fed-up with the traditional “treat the symptom” approach adopted by the western medical system. Years of suffering with her mental, emotional & physical health without the right support led Leah to take her well-being into her own hands. She set out on a path toward self-healing, with the goal of transforming a life once overshadowed by pain and emotional turmoil, into one filled with authentic connection, immense joy, and unconditional love. Leah knows what it’s like to feel stressed, stuck, triggered, and overwhelmed in life without the right guidance and she now runs a business that sets out to help others avoid feeling the same.  We are sure that many of you will identify with these helpless feelings, and take comfort, advise, and hope in what is discussed this week!
Site: https://www.leahdrew.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/mindbodywithleah/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/leah.drew
Email: Leah@mindbodywithleah.com

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TW / CONTENT WARNING: This story involves details of kidnap and sexual assault and may be triggering. Listener discretion advised.
Flashback episode, one of our Most listened to. It was just an ordinary day, Rhiannon was washing her car in broad daylight, she was 19 years old. Moments later she would be kidnapped at knife point and put though a harrowing ordeal including physical and sexual assault. 20 years later, she is telling her story, to help others realize that they too can reclaim their lives. Thank you, Rhiannon, for this brave and extraordinary chat with us. NOTE: As hard as this story is to listen to, we do focus on Rhiannon's recovery, how  she made it through her ordeal, and what the last 20 years has been like on her road to recovery.
Links from Rhiannon
24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
RAINN: https://www.rainn.org
Rhiannon's Insta: @mybeautyfromashes

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Randy Brown faced a dramatic plunge to the depths of depression, after not one, but two of his four daughter’s sudden deaths. This was followed by addiction, and then divorce, prison, and a career lost forever. His book, Rebound Forward is a transparent and honest look at his life and how adversity helped him rebound and has shaped him into the person he is today. Few are willing to publicly admit their poor choices and impending consequences, but Randy is one of those rare people who thrive on it. This ability has become the trademark of who he is and how committed he is to alerting others to the danger of allowing secrets to live and fester, only to realize the powers of destruction too late.
Randy is a transformational speaker, international author, and networking expert. His experience spans over 30 years of sharing life-changing messages to hundreds of audiences.
Links For Randy:
Site: www.coachrb.com
All social media: http://linktr.ee/rbspeaks

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TW: Contains conversations about sexual and physical abuse.
Bhavya Gaur is a survivor of abuse and domestic violence. In this extraordinary and empowering episode, she takes us through her life growing up in India, getting married, having kids, and eventually leaving her abusive husband for a new life in Canada. Bhavya first experienced sexual abuse, as a young child, by a family member. More forms of abuse would follow through her early life, both emotional and physical. After a terrifying physical encounter with her husband, she decided enough was enough and she found the strength and power to leave him, and went in search of a new life for her and her children. She migrated to Canada from India 22 years ago to her start life from scratch. Having experienced life from a place of complete disempowerment, shame, unworthiness and judgement, she has travelled the distance from no esteem, and zero confidence to living a joyous, soulfully empowered life.
Besides being an energy healer, she is a transformational Life Coach, and her goal is to bring a refreshing and uplifting perspective that revolves around resilience, personal growth, and the beauty inherent in our daily lives to everyone she comes in contact with.
Links:
Website: kindredsoulzs.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/officialbhavyagaur
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavyagaur/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhavyagaurofficial/  

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Josh Rogers joins us for an amazing chat, in this must listen episode! Josh was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness as a child, He was kicked out of family home at 16 as a registered alcoholic, and was hospitalized into a young adult mental health ward on suicide watch at 17. After finally getting sober and his life back on track, he was nearly killed crossing the road, at age 19.  Join us to hear how Josh awoke from a coma, and made a commitment to start to live his life in the right way. Its an amazing episode, truly inspiring!
LINKS:
Facebook: Josh Rogers / That Listening Guy: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009913834705
IG: https://www.instagram.com/_thatlisteningguy?igsh=OW04cWt5MzU0MGo5&utm_source=qr

TW: This episode discusses suicidal ideation, drink and drug addiction, and emotional and physical abuse.

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Suzanne Jabour is a grieving mom who has found meaning in her loss through opening up conversations about grief – how it really works and how we can support people experiencing it. Suzanne came on our show to share her moving and heartbreaking story, but, as with all our guests, we focus on the journey through the darkness, and Suzanne's story is simply wonderful, as she talks about her slow recovery and grieving process through all the pain and trauma. Suzanne is here to share her story in order to help normalize grief as a healthy response to losses big and small. She works with organizations and businesses to build the skills and protocols to better support people who are grieving at work. She also works with grievers to help find their own grief path. She is a certified Grief Educator, Transformational Coach and Workshop Leader.
LINKS:
Website https://www.SuzanneJabour.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-jabour
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068042081183&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Instagram: http://instagram.com/suzannejabourgriefeducation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrPSkLcnP4U4K3SfwFKEjnQ
Grief Educator for business leaders:  https://linktr.ee/suzannejabourgriefeducation

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Stephany Ann is a survivor of narcissistic abuse and has experienced relationship trauma through two marriages to narcissists. Stephany intimately understands the depths of emotional pain, isolation, and self-doubt thats comes with such experiences. Her journey from victimhood to victory is truly awe-inspiring, fueled by an unwavering belief in the incredible capacity of the human spirit for healing and growth. Stephany has expertise as an Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practitioner, and has discovered the incredible power of this modality in releasing emotional blockages, eliminating self-sabotaging patterns, and cultivating a life filled with joy, balance, and self-empowerment. To add, she draws from her experience as an attorney, to provide invaluable insights into dealing with a narcissist in court. Her expertise in navigating the legal system while facing the challenges of narcissistic trauma adds a unique perspective to her transformative journey. As a dedicated mom to three boys, Stephany understands the importance of healing and breaking free from the cycle of abuse for the sake of future generations. Her personal experiences as a parent further enrich her ability to connect with others and guide them on healing from narcissistic abuse.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephany-ann

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Welcome to our first guest episode of 2024! Season 4 is upon us and we are thrilled to have Michelle Glogovac on the show to kick us off! Michelle lost her father at 7 years old, and soon after had to deal with an absent mother for reasons she will explain! Michelle realized she had to fend for herself and worked hard through school and secured a corporate job that she continued for nearly two decades! When she was let go, now a mother of two kids (born one year apart!!), Michelle decided it was time for a pivot in her career. It was at about this time when Michelle had a pain in her back, but something was not quite right, it felt different.  Michelle explains how she fought to get seen by a doctor (they told her it wasn't and emergency and to come in 'later in the week',  so she went to the ER, where they would eventually discover blood clots on her lungs, and require immediate life saving treatment! The doctor said she would be dead of she had waited for the appointment 'later in the week'.
Links for Michelle:
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-simplified-life/id1479782634
Agency: https://themlgcollective.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/michelleglogovac/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheMLGCollective/

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Well, here we are, as we embark on our fourth year and fourth season of our globally acclaimed Podcast, Well, 'That F*cked Me Up! Surviving Life Changing Events'. If you have just found us, you have over 100 episodes to go back and listen too! Each week, we have a new guest, discussing their story! Stories of triumph over trauma. And Season 4 promises to be one of the best seasons yet! So, buckle up, and join Luke Colson and Kyle Wise, as we say hello to 2024, and prepare for the rollercoaster ahead!
WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE SHOW? - wtfmupodcast@gmail.com
Trigger Warning: Intro to Season 4 episode contains discussions of Trauma, Suicide, and Alligator Attacks!

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Its the LAST episode of 2023! What a year of amazing episodes and growth we have had! Luke and Kyle discuss the previous episode, as always, and round up Season 3 and another brilliant year. Thank you to all our guests and listeners!
Links for Jan:
Facebook: @jsburlauthor
Instagram: @jsburlauthor
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jan-burl-4476b416
Website: http://www.thundercrestbooks.com

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Jan Burl is a hemorrhagic stroke survivor who recently obtained her Masters in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University.  She is now an international motivational speaker on Stroke/Traumatic Brain Injury!
As a child, Jan was adopted into an alcoholic and abusive house, this was the first experience of what was to be a very traumatic rollercoaster ride, over the coming decades. Often common with ptsd sufferers, Jan couldn't sit still in later life, she would keep herself busy working multiple jobs until she was hospitalized with three heart attacks while in her mid forties. Skipping the advise of doctors to slow down, Jan got back to work as soon as she could but the worst was still to come, when she suffered her hemorrhagic stroke which nearly killed her. Paralysis and all sorts of issues with speech and thought, meant her life would never be the same again. Join us to hear about Jan’s ongoing recovery, through rebuilding her speech and learning to walk, and the amazing and heartwarming stories of returning to her school as a teacher and how the kids rallied around to help.
Jan resides in rural northern NY, with her dog Tippy. Her first children’s book in a series Tippy’s New Friend (about Tippy, Lana, and a lonely white dragon) is out in bookstores and online. She is also completing a post-stroke memoir. Her poems have appeared in numerous E-zines and compilations.  The stroke took her mobility, but not her creativity. Her favorite thing to tell people is “Make every day an extraordinary day!”
Links for Jan:
Facebook: @jsburlauthor
Instagram: @jsburlauthor
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jan-burl-4476b416
Website: http://www.thundercrestbooks.com

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Luke and Kyle unpack the previous episode, Andy's Story, which was simply amazing. It’s a wonderful and heartfelt episode about just how life can be flipped upside down at the drop of a hat. We discuss the diagnosis, the mental rollercoaster, the journey through to the operation, and the recovery process. Andy is able to bring a really down to earth and very open conversation to what is often seen as a taboo or stigmatized subject, especially among Men. Let's talk about it folks! Thanks Andy!
Links From Andy:
Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Time-How/dp/1847924018 

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Andy Orrick, a healthy father of two, had just returned from a swim with his Son, when he realized that one of his Testicles was 4 x the size that it was meant to be! The next steps were a whirlwind, starting with a visit to his doctor, antibiotics, ultrasound , CT scan, the dreaded diagnosis, a urologist, and a life saving operation! It was just 3 weeks from first seeing his doctor, to having his testicle removed, all on the NHS in the UK where he lives! Andy's story is much more than just these insane three weeks! It’s a wonderful and heartfelt episode about just how life can be flipped upside down at the drop of a hat. We discuss the diagnosis, the mental rollercoaster, the journey through to the operation, and the recovery process. Andy is able to bring a really down to earth and very open conversation to what is often seen as a taboo or stigmatized subject, especially among Men. Let's talk about it folks! Thanks Andy!
Links From Andy:
Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Time-How/dp/1847924018 

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Luke and Kyle reflect on Kyle M's story! Wow. We discuss faith, fear of death, and the afterlife. Oh, and not giving a f*ck about your credit score!!
Helpful Links from Kyle:
Vanderbilt in Nashville: https://www.vanderbilthealth.com
Medical Trauma: https://www.healthline.com/health/i-have-medical-ptsd
Crisis helpline: https://www.calhope.org/
Articles: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/04/life-after-the-icu/610384/
https://voice.vumc.org/five-surgeries-nine-days-month-intensive-care-amazing-recovery/

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FROM THE ARCHIVE OF SEASON ONE: Kyle knew something was seriously wrong, in a panic, he drove himself to the ER, and woke up 17 days later. A huge medical event had left him in a coma, he had flatlined for 11 minutes, and his family had been called in to say goodbye. We discuss the events leading up to, during, and after this life changing experience. Its utterly unbelievable!
Helpful Links from Kyle:
Vanderbilt in Nashville: https://www.vanderbilthealth.com
Medical Trauma: https://www.healthline.com/health/i-have-medical-ptsd
Crisis helpline: https://www.calhope.org/
Articles: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/04/life-after-the-icu/610384/
https://voice.vumc.org/five-surgeries-nine-days-month-intensive-care-amazing-recovery/

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Join Luke Colson fo a little After Thought on Jorge's Story (the previous episode)
Jorge shares the lesson that with the right mindset, setbacks can be transformed into opportunities for growth and self-discovery. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, hard work, and high expectations in achieving success and reinventing oneself. By sharing his own experiences and examples, Jorge hopes to inspire and empower others to pursue their true purpose in life.
Links From Jorge
Book: www.AnswerTheCall.me
Site: JorgeVGonzalez.com
Realtor: https://jorgevgonzalez.exprealty.com/

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Jorge V Gonzalez shares his personal journey of reinvention, after spending two decades perfecting his craft, Jorge was faced with a disability after a bad accident, that left him unable to continue working, and plunged him into the depths of darkness. But rather than succumbing to anger and grief, he drew inspiration from his family's legacy of taking calculated risks and began to pursue a path forward with new found strength. Jorge talks about his family who moved to the USA from Mexico in search for a better life, and drew from the courage of his Grandparents, so he could honor them, and they would be proud of who he was.
Jorge shares the lesson that with the right mindset, setbacks can be transformed into opportunities for growth and self-discovery. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, hard work, and high expectations in achieving success and reinventing oneself. By sharing his own experiences and examples, Jorge hopes to inspire and empower others to pursue their true purpose in life.
Links From Jorge
Book: www.AnswerTheCall.me
Site: JorgeVGonzalez.com
Realtor: https://jorgevgonzalez.exprealty.com/

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Luke and Kyle unpack this brilliant previou episode, with Avery Grace, who is just 16 years old. From age 6, Avery has experienced all kinds of physical and mental health. From the death of her Garndfather that had a profound effect on her, to a house fire she ecaped from, and some pretty horrendous bullying and social media bullying. Congratulations Avery, on being our youngest ever guest!
Links For Avery
My podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/avery-willdridge
Insta: https://instagram.com/i_am.avery988?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550831551771&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Tiktok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@i_am.avery988?_t=8fyQ1G1aBqt&_r=1
Podcast link: https://open.spotify.com/show/3u64HywCskWSoF2dDlfpUe

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Avery Grace is just 16 years old, and she hosts her own podcast, IamAvery! She has already experienced a great deal, and is chasing her dreams of helping others and raising awareness of mental health. From age 6, Avery has experienced all kinds of physical and mental health. From the death of her Grandfather that had a profound effect on her, to a house fire she escaped from, and some pretty horrendous bullying and social media bullying. Avery is a very open book and is here to share some of her insight and knowledge. Congratulations Avery, on being our youngest ever guest!
Links For Avery:
Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/avery-willdridge
Insta: https://instagram.com/i_am.avery988?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550831551771&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Tiktok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@i_am.avery988?_t=8fyQ1G1aBqt&_r=1
Podcast link: https://open.spotify.com/show/3u64HywCskWSoF2dDlfpUe

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This is the After Thoughts episode, for our previous episode featuring John Capello.  Luke and Kyle discuss his amazing story. If ever there was a rock bottom, John was deep, deep in there! Listen as we hear how John began to the fight to recovery. From physical pain, but also, total mental turmoil. It’s an astonishing story, and offers hope to those of us who feel like the darkness is too overwhelming. Wow. Thank you John!
Links For John:
https://www.quantumphysicalfitness.com/

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John Capello had a wife and two kids, as well as a new baby on the way! He was getting the promotion he had been working so hard for, that would mean he could finally move into a bigger home to accommodate the growing family! It was on the drive to meet with his boss, to formalize the promotion, that John was hit head-on by an oncoming car that was turning illegally. John’s life, in a split second, was turned upside down. Join us for an unmissable episode about strength and resilience when all hope seems lost. John lost everything over the coming months and years. An injury to John’s spine meant nearly a year of pain that was so intense, John spent most of his time lying down or crawling! Add to this some major financial trouble, John lost his job, his house, and struggles to hang on to family life as he knew it. If ever there was a rock bottom, John was deep, deep in there! Listen as we hear how John began to the fight to recovery. From physical pain, but also, total mental turmoil. It’s an astonishing story, and offers hope to those of us who feel like the darkness is too overwhelming. Wow. Thank you John!
Links For John:
https://www.quantumphysicalfitness.com/

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Luke and Kyle discuss Mariya's Story, the previous episode, all about self love, healing, believing in yourself and learning to trust our thinking. A really brilliant episode about how we can truly lead our best life! Thank you Mariya!
Links:
https://www.mariyashiyko.love/
https://www.facebook.com/mariya.shiyko
https://www.instagram.com/mariyashiyko/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariya-shiyko-phd-mt-lyt-49a9121/

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In this wonderfully engaging episode, we chat with Mariya Shiyko, who was born and raised in a small town in Russia (300,000 people). Not knowing any other life, she thought her upbringing was normal. Mariya had a strict authoritarian and often abusive father who often used alcohol to cope with stress. Raised during the times of communism, her family had just enough money to get by with the essentials. And it wasn't until Mariya left Russia when she was 21 years old, for the USA, that she realized that the world outside of what she knew was very very different! She got married in the US, but the traumas of her past made her relationship volatile and challenging. She struggled with low self-esteem, and not trusting herself. To cope with the relationship struggles, she started her healing journey. She received lots of healing around her childhood experiences and upbringing, helping her to deal with emotions, self-value, and self-trust. Exactly 10 years later, she divorced. She has even written a memoir "From Russia to Joy: A Journey of Spiritual Awakening". It's a humorous book that talks about serious topics in a light-hearted way. Just like this podcast!! Mariya Shiyko, Ph.D., an academic turned entrepreneur, is an award-winning educator and author. Her books, "From Russia to Joy" and "My Money Book: for Joyful & Creative Living," challenge traditional views on self-sacrifice for success. Mariya blends Western science, art, and alternative healing practices. She lives in Boston with her partner and son.
Links:
https://www.mariyashiyko.love/
https://www.facebook.com/mariya.shiyko
https://www.instagram.com/mariyashiyko/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariya-shiyko-phd-mt-lyt-49a9121/

LINK FOR MARIYA:
Website: https://www.mariyashiyko.love 

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Just Luke Colson again for this after thoughts section, as we reflect on Morgan Rockwell's awesome episode! Morgan Rockwell showed how a shift in perspective and belief in herself allowed her to begin to embrace her life in Portugal, where previously she just didn't believe in herself or her ability to find happiness. An amazing episode about resilience and strength in some pretty desperate times! Thank you Morgan!
Links For Morgan:
Website: https://www.morganrockwell.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/morganrockwell111/

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Morgan Rockwell shares her story about how her divorce left her as a single mom in a foreign country where she cannot hold a work visa in her previous area of expertise. She felt trapped and alone, however a shift in perspective and belief in herself allowed her to begin to embrace her life in Portugal, and build a thriving online business and create a wonderful life for herself and her two boys. An amazing episode about resilience and strength in some pretty desperate times!
Links For Morgan:
Website: https://www.morganrockwell.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/morganrockwell111/

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Thank you Julie for a great episode, its just Luke here for a very quick after thoughts episode. Kyle is with his new baby and Luke is in NYC so its a quick check in about how Julie's episode resonated so much. So many of us are in debt, and scared to talk about it. Lets get rid of the stigma!
LINKS FOR JULIE:
website link www.juliecreffield.com
book link https://amzn.to/46I8F0f

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Julie started her life in very humble surroundings, one of 6 kids growing up in a single parent family on a council estate in East London, her life has had many ups and downs.
Julie has, among many other pitfalls, experienced 5 redundancies, with the most recent happening just as she moved into a new home. She can relate to the massive stress that this can put on us! She talks about resilience through bouncing back and making more positive choices around business and money. It's an amazingly eye opening episode!
Julie has cultivated a superpower that has enabled me to leverage adversity and hardship and make important things happen. Thank you Julie!
LINKS FOR JULIE:
website link www.juliecreffield.com
book link https://amzn.to/46I8F0f

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A very special After Thoughts episode, If you didnt listen to the previous episode please do, it will all make sense! Here, Luke and Kyle speak to David Kagel, about how he is helping the people of Ukraine with a donation drive. Have a listen and feel free to help if you so desire!
WEBSITE: https://sustainukrainetogether.com/
DONATE: https://sustainukrainetogether.com/how-to-help-now/
MEDIA: https://sustainukrainetogether.com/media/

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This episode is like nothing we have ever had on our Podcast before.  Dr Petro, his wife Dr Olga, and their three young children fled Ukraine as Russia invaded. We discuss their journey across boarders, being homeless, and finally finding hope and accommodation in Los Angeles! The lifestyle change from Cherkasky, Ukraine, to Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, is not lost on Petro and Olga, they were living a fairytale that was so very different from the life they knew. However, their Doctor credentials were not suitable for work in the USA, and their friends and family back in Ukraine needed them. And so, after one year in LA, with their kids at school in Santa Monica, they all went back to Ukraine to continue their lives. An utterly amazing story that must be heard. And check out the After Thoughts episode to find out how you can help!
WEBSITE: https://sustainukrainetogether.com/
DONATE: https://sustainukrainetogether.com/how-to-help-now/
MEDIA: https://sustainukrainetogether.com/media/

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Luke and Kyle unpack the previous episode, Ben's Story, an amazing episode, that we hope you all enjoyed! The episode not only discusses the physical turmoil that Ben has had to endure for decades, but the emotional struggle Ben has now been facing as he tries to make peace with the fact this information was withheld from him, seemingly to protect him? Join us for this quick after thoughts episode!
Links for Ben:
Ben's Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2252652

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At age 39 this year, Ben K visited an ENT specialist due to lifelong sinus and hearing issues. During the examination, the doctor was puzzled by the presence of bone spurs in his nose. The Doctor asked Ben, 'has there ever been any facial trauma in your past'?  The answer came during a Mother's Day lunch with his mom a few days later.  What Ben found out from his Mother that day changed everything, and is truly jaw-dropping. Details emerged about his life or death,  traumatic birth, that had never been relayed to him! A lifetime nose and ear problems, hearing and breathing issues, but the truth had been hidden at Ben's birth! We discuss more of the details in the episode, but Ben has now embarked on surgery to address his sinus and septum problems, followed by a procedure to reconstruct his jaw, which was also impacted by his birth trauma. The mental and emotional toll of my traumatic birth has also been significant. This episode not only discusses the physical turmoil that Ben has had to endure for decades, but the emotional struggle Ben has now been facing as he tries to make peace with the fact this information was withheld from him, seemingly to protect him? Its a very complex and heartfelt episode, and thoroughly engaging from start to finish!
Links for Ben:
Ben's Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2252652

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Luke and Kyle chat about the previous episode, Lauren's Story, and the amazing fighting human spirit! We discuss the crossroads, when Lauren looked at her 5 year old daughter, and decided to live! Thank you Lauren for a wonderful episode!
Links For Lauren:
Website: https://www.ithurtstomom.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ithurtstomom
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ithurtstomom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ithurtstomom
Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ithurtstomom
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/it-hurts-to-mom/id1644750334

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Lauren is a disabled wife & mom living with chronic pain, depression, and paralyzing anxiety and PTSD due to multiple forms of assault and abuse. In 2017 Lauren had to stop working due to debilitating spinal pain. For the next two years, She was in a deep depression. But one day, after looking at her then 5 year old daughter, she started to come out of the darkness.  Using a mix of intentional daily gratitude, and realizing God could take my broken life and make something beautiful out of it, she started to heal the mental scars, although the physical pain remains, for now. Last year, Lauren started a podcast & blog as ways for her to put good into the world & encourage others with chronic pain, mental health issues, or previous trauma. Thank you Lauren for a wonderful episode!
Links For Lauren:
Website: https://www.ithurtstomom.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ithurtstomom
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ithurtstomom
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ithurtstomom
Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ithurtstomom
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/it-hurts-to-mom/id1644750334

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This is the after thoughts section for Dawn's Story, where Luke and Kyle discuss the previous episode. Dawn left her existing career after burnout and a medical hiccup (her words), and is now trying things that are way out of her comfort zone, working on getting rid of her head trash, taking risks and trying new things out that she has always wanted to do. We loved her episode!!
Site: www.uniqueconnector.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/uniqueconnector/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOt5EaTzKLF_MN_qdWjLqLA
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/determined-to-succeed-with-dawn-mullarney/id1688402143

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Dawn was working too much, for over a decade she built a career that kept on applying new pressure and more hours, until, the stress and burnout would take its toll. After  the pandemic hit, and a medical hiccup in the shape on an ectopic pregnancy, followed by what doctors thought was a stroke, Dawn was forced to stop, and rest. These events really opened her eyes and over the next few weeks, Dawn began a new journey to work on her mindset, growth and overall wellness. She left her existing career,  and is trying things that are way out of her comfort zone, working on getting rid of her head trash, taking risks and trying new things out that she has always wanted to do.
Site: www.uniqueconnector.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/uniqueconnector/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOt5EaTzKLF_MN_qdWjLqLA
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/determined-to-succeed-with-dawn-mullarney/id1688402143

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Your host Luke Colson recaps the previous episode, Evan’s story, and how happiness in sobriety is really possible! Thank you Evan for your honesty, humor and life changing experiences!
Links for Evan:
Site: https://partycoach.me/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/evan_cudworth/

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Evan Chudworth was addicted to partying, and with that, plenty of drink and drugs. He just didn't see a way where he could give up the hedonistic lifestyle without becoming boring!! Evan grew up in Chicago, and came out at a young age, in a religious family, and then lost his mother to cancer. Evan just didn't put any of his behaviour down to trauma, but he started to become overwhelmed with anxiety and sort help multiple times, but the drink, and then the drugs began to win. The thing is, Evan loved his people, he loved his tribe, and he needed to find a way to maintain the parties, the music, and the fun, which was his escape, but without the addictive behaviours! Listen as we journey with Evan through an extraordinary story, and his new found vocation as a sober party coach! Its a wonderful episode!
Links for Evan:
Site: https://partycoach.me/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/evan_cudworth/

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Just Luke on this one, as Kyle has welcomed his new daughter into the world! Luke chats about Amanda's story, who we met in the previous episode, and the incredible power of the human brain.
LINKS for Amanda:
Substack: https://keramikslu.substack.com/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/668118167693842/
Ball of Clay Experience:https://keramikslu.com/what-is-a-ball-of-clay-experience/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/keramikslu
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@keramikSLU

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Amanda Murphy joins us for an utterly brilliant episode all about life’s rollercoaster (or river as she call it!). At age 7 Amanda had already recognized her brain was different, but it wasn't until a few years later when she was fully aware of her Neurodiversity, and that her brain wanted to collect data. Data, data, data.. 24/7. She was constantly computing everything around her, she was reading 8-10 books per week, and she had a boundless appetite for information, seemingly hellbent on understanding the human behavior and why people are who they are, and why she is who she is! A serious accident when she was 30 years old meant she had to stop, for four months, she began to think about her future, and how she wanted to live. Cut to early retirement and a move to St Lucia, and best of all finding Pottery. The one thing that calms her brain, and gives her peace. What a truly amazing, funny, Inspirational episode. Enjoy!
LINKS for Amanda:
Being Brave: https://keramikslu.substack.com/p/being-brave-reboot#details
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/668118167693842/
Ball of Clay Experience:https://keramikslu.com/what-is-a-ball-of-clay-experience/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/keramikslu
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@keramikSLU

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This is the After Thoughts section for the previous episode, in which Madison McGhee discussed her Father's  murder! Listen as we unpack the amazing episode! Please listen, right now, its amazing!!
Links for Madison:
Podcast: https://linktr.ee/icecoldcase
Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/icecoldcase/
Personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/madison_mcghee/
Website: https://icecoldcase.com

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In this must listen episode,  we speak to Madison McGhee, who lost her father when she was just 6 years old. At the time she wasn't told the truth about how he had died, but at age 16, her mother finally told her that her father had been murdered, in a home invasion. Something just didn't add up, and  over the years that followed, Madison made a decision that she was going to look into the unsolved case, and try to put the pieces together to find out, who killed her father.  Her father's background, his dealings, and the details of the crime, just didn't make sense. One thing is clear, this was no home invasion. Please listen, right now, its amazing!!
Links for Madison:
Podcast: https://linktr.ee/icecoldcase
Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/icecoldcase/
Personal IG: https://www.instagram.com/madison_mcghee/
Website: https://icecoldcase.com

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Welcome to the After Thoughts section for the previous episode, in which our guest Richard Wilmore came on to discuss his amazing non profit that he works for, and the good he does and the connection he brings to hospital patience and care givers. Most importantly however, is the joy and fulfillment it brings to his life!  Thank you for really cheering us up today Richard. Bravo!
Hearts Need Art:
Site: https://www.heartsneedart.org/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/heartsneedart/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/heartsneedart
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartsneedart

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This week's guest, Richard Wilmore, came from trauma with a Father that started battling cancer when Richard was in 2nd Grade. He remembers exactly what he was eating when he heard the news. Many years on, after a traumatic divorce, Richard finds himself helping to run Hearts Need Art,  a nonprofit based in San Antonio, TX that hires local, professional creatives to provide arts engagement in hospitals to adult patients and their care teams. Richard was lost at the time he met the founder by chance, and he now lives a wonderfully full life, which really comes across in this heartfelt and tear-jerking episode. Hearts Need Art's mission is to provide moments of joy, self-expression, and connection to people facing life-altering health challenges through arts engagement, advocacy, and innovation. Their vision is the universal accessibility of arts engagement to help everyone feel seen, heard, and loved while facing life-altering health challenges. Thank you for really cheering us up today Richard. Bravo!
Hearts Need Art:
Site: https://www.heartsneedart.org/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/heartsneedart/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/heartsneedart
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartsneedart

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Elvis Leon has PTSD from both his time in Iraq, and the kidnap of his father. Luke and Kyle discuss his episode (the previous episode) and just what the effects of PTSD have on a human. Elvis also lost friends this past month to suicide. He was clearly struggling and we commend his strength and story and are here for him! Thank you Elvis!
Links:
Website: www.storiesbyelvis.com
5280 article - Ransom Road:  https://www.5280.com/a-truckers-kidnapping-a-suspicious-ransom-and-a-colorado-familys-perilous-quest-for-justice/
Doc Trailer: https://youtu.be/mwI4hadf-Vw?si=R_4uXWv6YWGdfdaQ

IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING:
Suicide and Crisis Helpline: https://988lifeline.org/

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Elvis Leon served in Iraq, and has recently seen a number if his veteran friends and colleagues succumb to suicide. He joins us after what he describes as one of the worst months he has had. As we talk, its clear to hear the pain and anguish in his voice, as he openly discusses the trauma of war, the ptsd he experiences daily, and the desire to feel alive and find his tribe after leaving the 'adrenalin' of life on the front lines. Elvis has been keeping busy due to another shocking component in his life, that of his Father's kidnap a few years ago. His father was returned after a ransom was paid, but no one was ever punished for the crime. Elvis and his father continue to petition for justice and have a film project which has been many years in the making. This is a heartfelt and really moving episode, and one of the most raw we have ever done. Thank you Elvis, we are here for you!
NOTE: Apologies for the slight Echo in the final third of the recording.
Links:
Website: www.storiesbyelvis.com
5280 article - Ransom Road:  https://www.5280.com/a-truckers-kidnapping-a-suspicious-ransom-and-a-colorado-familys-perilous-quest-for-justice/
Doc Trailer: https://youtu.be/mwI4hadf-Vw?si=R_4uXWv6YWGdfdaQ
Suicide and Crisis Helpline: https://988lifeline.org/

IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING:
Suicide and Crisis Helpline: https://988lifeline.org/

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Your hosts Luke and Kyle discuss the amazing previous episode, Christine Rose's Story, who joined us this week, to discuss her childhood, which included verbal and physical abuse, and her subsequent years growing up with multiple instances of sexual assault and even rape. Her recovery was long and traumatic, but she made it here to tell the tale. Thank you Christine! (If you missed the actual episode go back one!)
Website: https://christineroseauthor.com/
FB: https://m.facebook.com/christineroseauthor
X: https://x.com/christinerose
IG: https://instagram.com/professor.rose

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Christine Rose joins us this week, to discuss her childhood, which included verbal and physical abuse, and her subsequent years growing up with multiple instances of sexual assault and even rape. Christine didn't report any of these instances because she simply thought this was 'normal behavior' or that it was somehow 'her fault'!  It took nine specialists, and her then Husband to finally convince her that she had been the victim of rape, and it was then that she slipped into a deep mental health crisis. This was just the beginning of Christine's journey, as she discovered what PTSD meant, and was able to start processing her feelings and experiences. The next part of her story takes on more tough topics as her husband had a major accident, and they eventually split, just as Christine was beginning to start her healing process. Join us to hear how Christine survived,  and better still started enjoying her life as an award-winning author, technical writer, digital nomad, and international pet sitter!
She now blogs and writes about trauma recovery, providing tips and tools for managing psychiatric injury, depression, and anxiety. Her memoir, One Reason to Live, follows her healing journey after these multiple traumatic events and the end of a 15-year marriage.
Website: https://christineroseauthor.com/
FB: https://m.facebook.com/christineroseauthor
X: https://x.com/christinerose
IG: https://instagram.com/professor.rose

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Luke and Kyle discuss the amazing previous Episode, Sarah's story, and the importance of understanding Mental Health and the strength of family!
LINKS FOR SARAH:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-martin123
Webpage: Sarah Martin Author - Psychosis, Author
Tiktok: SarahMartinAuthor (@sarahmartinauthor) | TikTok                 
Instagram: Sarah Martin (@sarahmartin.author) • Instagram photos and videos
Facebook: (3) Facebook
Amazon : Dear Psychosis, eBook : Martin, Sarah: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

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Sarah Martin received a text in the middle of the night from a stranger, saying that her 21 year old Daughter, Alice, who was traveling on the other side of the world, was in trouble. Alice was last seen in Turkey, while Sarah and the rest of the family, live in Australia. This episode is a rollercoaster, as Sarah begins a race to rescue Alice from what appeared to be a psychotic break, in a city thousands of miles away. Sarah has written a book about the ordeal, and you can listen to it first hand in this raw, emotional and incredible episode! 'Dear Psychosis', is Sarah's debut book and is an account of her family's experience following their daughter's first-ever psychotic episode and the trauma that ensued. It is a story of recovery, hope and the power of family.
LINKS FOR SARAH:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-martin123
Webpage: Sarah Martin Author - Psychosis, Author
Tiktok: SarahMartinAuthor (@sarahmartinauthor) | TikTok                 
Instagram: Sarah Martin (@sarahmartin.author) • Instagram photos and videos
Facebook: (3) Facebook
Amazon : Dear Psychosis, eBook : Martin, Sarah: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

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This is the After Thoughts section to go with the previous episode. If you didn't catch it, go back and have a listen! We would have to say that this is possible one of the most moving and inspirational episodes in recent times.  When Richard Brockman found his mother’s body, the simple narrative of his childhood ended. He was just 7 years old.  Luke and Kyle discuss this utterly amazing episode and what childhood trauma does, and how it is different for each person. We can all recover, and we are here to support one another.
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Death-Surviving-Suicide/dp/1680998056
Linked In: https://inkwellmanagement.com/books/life-after-death
About Richard:  https://www.cugmhp.org/faculty/richard-brockman-md/

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We would have to say that this is possible one of the most moving and inspirational episodes in recent times.  When Richard Brockman found his mother’s body, the simple narrative of his childhood ended. He was just 7 years old.  He tells a very personal—yet tragically common—story of irredeemable loss. He discusses how a life's story forms. How it grows. How it changes. How it can be broken. And finally, how sometimes it can be repaired. It's utterly mesmerizing and at times, extremely lonely and sad. brace yourselves.  As with all our episodes we are here for the journey, and the light at the end of the tunnel.
Now an expert in genetics, epigenetics, and the biology of attachment, Brockman chronicles his evolution from a child overwhelmed by trauma to a man who has struggled to reclaim his past. He lays bare the core of one who is both victim and healer. By weaving together childhood despair and clinical knowledge, Brockman shows how the shattered pieces of the self—though never the same and not without scars—can sometimes be put back together again. Literally wow.
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Death-Surviving-Suicide/dp/1680998056 
Linked In: https://inkwellmanagement.com/books/life-after-death
About Richard:  https://www.cugmhp.org/faculty/richard-brockman-md/

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This is the after thoughts section for the previous episode, in which Elvis Leon talked about his PTSD from combat, and the kidnap of his father. Talk about the harsh realities of life. Thank you Elvis for sharing your amazing, ongoing story!
NOTE: If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts please reach out to someone, anyone.
Links:
Website: www.storiesbyelvis.com
5280 article - Ransom Road:  https://www.5280.com/a-truckers-kidnapping-a-suspicious-ransom-and-a-colorado-familys-perilous-quest-for-justice/
Doc Trailer: https://youtu.be/mwI4hadf-Vw?si=R_4uXWv6YWGdfdaQ

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This is the After Thoughts section previous episode,  where Luke and Kyle unpack what happened to our guest, James Verschoyle, when he nearly died of an allergic reaction. Join us as we discuss the lasting trauma, the panic attacks, and how this event has unlocked childhood traumas and mental health conversations, that James didn't even know he needed to address! Fascinating!
Helpline: https://mentalhealthhotline.org/california/
UK Helpline: https://www.mind.org.uk/
BEE POLLEN WARNING: individuals with allergies to bee stings or severe allergies to pollen and pregnant or nursing individuals and young children under the age of two should avoid consuming bee pollen or consult with a state-licensed medical professional before using it!!!

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James Verschoyle was about to head to Thailand on a fasting retreat, and had just been to the gym when he sat down to have a healthy breakfast as suggested by the trip organizers. James didn't usually order 'plant based' options from the menu, so opted for something simple, yoghurt, fruit, and a smoothie.. but little did James know that this was very close to being his last meal, ever! Join us for this amazing, nail biter of an episode, as we hear how one meal nearly ended James' life. Find out what happened, and listen as James discusses the lasting trauma, the panic attacks, and how this event has unlocked childhood traumas and mental health conversations he didn't even know he needed to address! Fascinating and honest, thank you Jimmy!
Helpline: https://mentalhealthhotline.org/california/
UK Helpline: https://www.mind.org.uk/
BEE POLLEN WARNING: individuals with allergies to bee stings or severe allergies to pollen and pregnant or nursing individuals and young children under the age of two should avoid consuming bee pollen or consult with a state-licensed medical professional before using it!!!

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Luke and Kyle reflect on an amazing never before heard episode with Dane Colson all about his spiral into depression, and the moment he faked his own death! Life is hard, there are people who can help, and in Dane's case, he just didn't know who he could speak to, and was too afraid.  Our email here at the podcast is wtfmupodcast@gmail.com if you want to get in touch we are here!
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:
Helpful site: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Helpful site: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
Helpful site: https://www.lifeline.org.au/
USA: https://988lifeline.org/

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In this can't miss episode, Dane Colson publicly speaks, for the first time, about his actions 21 years ago, that brought him and his family to the brink! Unable to cope with the pressures of life, money, and an unplanned baby on the way, Dane was contemplating suicide, but then for a reason he still to this day cannot explain,  he hatched a plan to fake his own death, and start a new life, as a different person!
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:
Helpful site: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Helpful site: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
Helpful site: https://www.lifeline.org.au/
USA: https://988lifeline.org/

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Luke and Kyle discuss rejection and how we are moulded so heavily as children. Amanda was so desperate to feel acceptance and a love that she never had, that she would literally do anything to feel loved in any way she could.
Links from Amanda:
website www.amandaacker.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amanda.acker2017
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theletgoodthingsinshow
Podcast: https://theletgoodthingsinshow.libsyn.com/

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As a child, Amanda was abandoned and rejected by her parents, and she quickly came off the rails. Drink turned to drugs, and soon Amanda was facing lengthy Jail time for a botched home robbery. Now free once again and with her life completely turned around, Amanda talks openly about how the lack of parental love as a child left her trying to find happiness in all the wrong places. Simply incredible.
Links from Amanda:
website www.amandaacker.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amanda.acker2017
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theletgoodthingsinshow
Podcast: https://theletgoodthingsinshow.libsyn.com/
NOTE: This is an episode from 2021 while Luke and Kyle are busy editing a whole new bunch of amazing episodes!

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Just Luke on this after thoughts section, as we look back on the previous episode, in which Roger Williams packed in his working life in search of something more fulfilling! Roger  is a father of three, author, podcaster, mentor, adventurer, and Head Crosser Offer of his bucket list. After more than 30 years working in the youth development and teaching field, a year in quarantine, and two heart attacks, Roger made a dramatic life change! Thanks for sharing your inspiring story Roger! What did you guys think? wtfmupodcast@gmail.com
Links for Roger:
FB: https://m.facebook.com/CrosserOffer
IG:https://instagram.com/crosser.offer?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
LinkeIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crosseroffer/
Podcast: https://crossingitoffpodcast.com/show-1

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Roger Williams is a father of three, author, podcaster, mentor, adventurer, and Head Crosser Offer of his bucket list. After more than 30 years working in the youth development and teaching field, a year in quarantine, and two heart attacks, Roger made a dramatic life change! He embarked on an adult gap year to prioritize a life in which he is known not by his professional work, but by the way he lives his life and the people he grows relationships with. He recently completed a three month journey traveling around the world to cross items off his bucket list.
Roger is passionate about the benefits to living an intentional life through crossing items off his bucket list and helping others do the same.  Supporting others to intentionally live out their bucket list as great way to build confidence, get outside their bubble and bring themselves joy.
Links for Roger:
FB: https://m.facebook.com/CrosserOffer
IG:https://instagram.com/crosser.offer?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
LinkeIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crosseroffer/
Podcast: https://crossingitoffpodcast.com/show-1

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NOTE: Luke and Kyle are on vacation, so we have left you with one of our most listened to episodes from 2 years ago, and will be back next week!
Rhiannon is amazing. What she went through is almost unfathomable. Luke and Kyle discuss how life can change in the blink of an eye, and how Rhiannon, like many of our guests, embarked on a long journey of recovery through seemingly unbearable trauma. We are here to support one another.
Helpful Info from Rhiannon
24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
RAINN: https://www.rainn.org
Rhiannon's Insta: @mybeautyfromashes

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NOTE: Luke and Kyle are on vacation, so we have left you with one of our most listened to episodes from 2 years ago, and will be back next week!
It was just an ordinary day, Rhiannon was washing her car in broad daylight, she was 19 years old. Moments later she would be kidnapped at knife point and put though a harrowing ordeal including physical and sexual assault. 20 years later, she is telling her story, to help others realize that they too can reclaim their lives. Thank you, Rhiannon, for this brave and extraordinary chat with us.
NOTE: As hard as this story is to listen to, we do focus on Rhiannon's recovery, how  she made it through her ordeal, and what the last 20 years has been like on her road to recovery.
TW / CONTENT WARNING: This story involves details of kidnap and sexual assault and may be triggering. Listener discretion advised.
Links from Rhiannon
24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
RAINN: https://www.rainn.org
Rhiannon's Insta: @mybeautyfromashes

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Marci Marie Simmons was from a good upbringing, and had a good job. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison for in 2011 for stealing a total of $367k. Although a lot of money, the punishment did not match the crime. She was in a maximum security prison with violent offenders, and even spent time in solitary! Luke and Kyle discuss this amazing previous episode!!!
Links from Marci:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/marci.simmons.7927
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@marcimarie114
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwzWXFkhQ-Le2dgcIEPvncg
Site: https://linktr.ee/marcimarie114

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