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  <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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  <description><![CDATA[<p>The Hears How podcast is hosted by entertainment journalist Erin Jensen, who has a long-standing fascination with resiliency. Whenever she comes across a remarkable story of triumph, Erin wonders to herself, "How on Earth did they do that?" In this podcast, for which new episodes are released every other Sunday, Erin and her guests explain Hears How.</p>]]></description>
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    <itunes:title>The Power of Feeling Seen with Viral Principal Zac Bauermaster</itunes:title>
    <title>The Power of Feeling Seen with Viral Principal Zac Bauermaster</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Videos giving his students high-fives and hugs have gone viral online. Despite the duties piled high on the school principal’s lunch tray, Zac makes it a point to greet his student and teachers so they feel seen. The resulting joy is dopamine-inducing.  In this episode of Hears How, Zac shares how simple acts of kindness performed with the intention of connecting can transform schools, families, workplaces, and communities. He also opens up about his own journey, from battling “crippling...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><a href='https://www.instagram.com/zbauermaster/?hl=en'>Videos giving his students high-fives and hugs</a> have gone viral online. Despite the duties piled high on the school principal’s lunch tray, <a href='https://www.zacbauermaster.com/'>Zac</a> makes it a point to greet his student and teachers so they feel seen. The resulting joy is dopamine-inducing. </p><p>In this episode of Hears How, Zac shares how simple acts of kindness performed with the intention of connecting can transform schools, families, workplaces, and communities. He also opens up about his own journey, from battling “crippling” anxiety and depression, to finding strength in vulnerability, faith, and purpose.</p><p>Host Erin Jensen sits down with Zac to explore:</p><ul><li>How a few seconds of presence can change a child’s entire day</li><li>What Zac’s mental health journey taught him about slowing down and asking for help</li><li>The small ways we can show up more fully for others</li><li>Why creating environments of encouragement matters more than we realize</li><li>What his viral moments reveal about our universal longing to be seen</li></ul><p>This heartfelt conversation is for anyone feeling burnt out, disconnected, or unsure of how to make a difference. You’ll walk away reminded that slowing down to truly <em>see</em> people might be the most powerful thing we can do.</p><p>Stream now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href='https://www.instagram.com/zbauermaster/?hl=en'>Videos giving his students high-fives and hugs</a> have gone viral online. Despite the duties piled high on the school principal’s lunch tray, <a href='https://www.zacbauermaster.com/'>Zac</a> makes it a point to greet his student and teachers so they feel seen. The resulting joy is dopamine-inducing. </p><p>In this episode of Hears How, Zac shares how simple acts of kindness performed with the intention of connecting can transform schools, families, workplaces, and communities. He also opens up about his own journey, from battling “crippling” anxiety and depression, to finding strength in vulnerability, faith, and purpose.</p><p>Host Erin Jensen sits down with Zac to explore:</p><ul><li>How a few seconds of presence can change a child’s entire day</li><li>What Zac’s mental health journey taught him about slowing down and asking for help</li><li>The small ways we can show up more fully for others</li><li>Why creating environments of encouragement matters more than we realize</li><li>What his viral moments reveal about our universal longing to be seen</li></ul><p>This heartfelt conversation is for anyone feeling burnt out, disconnected, or unsure of how to make a difference. You’ll walk away reminded that slowing down to truly <em>see</em> people might be the most powerful thing we can do.</p><p>Stream now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 09 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>2233</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>How Rachel Zimmerman &#39;found joy again’ after her husband died by suicide</itunes:title>
    <title>How Rachel Zimmerman &#39;found joy again’ after her husband died by suicide</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this episode of Hears How, we talk about suicide and its emotional aftermath. If this topic is sensitive for you, please take care of yourself — whether that means pressing pause or choosing another episode. Remember that help is available, you are not alone, and your life matters. For the 988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988To reach the Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741Visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for additional resources   Journalist ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><em>In this episode of Hears How, we talk about suicide and its emotional aftermath. If this topic is sensitive for you, please take care of yourself — whether that means pressing pause or choosing another episode.</em></p><p><em>Remember that help is available, you are not alone, and your life matters.</em></p><ul><li><em>For the 988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988</em></li><li><em>To reach the Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741</em></li><li><em>Visit </em><a href='https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/#'><em>the International Association for Suicide Prevention </em></a><em>for additional resources </em></li></ul><p><br/></p><p>Journalist and author Rachel Zimmerman met Seth Teller in her mid-30s. <br/><br/></p><p>“He was a devoted father to our 8 and 11 year old daughters,” she shares. “He was a tenured professor of robotics at MIT. He was very close with his family.” </p><p>Rachel and Seth were together for 15 years, married for 12.</p><p>“That’s partially why it felt so out of the blue,” Rachel says. “From the outside, it looked like he had a charmed life.”</p><p>In this profoundly moving episode, Rachel opens up about her search for answers, drawing from her book &quot;<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Us-After-Memoir-Love-Suicide/dp/1951631358'>Us, After: A Memoir of Love and Suicide</a>.&quot; She shares the grief, guilt, confusion, and ultimately, the resilience that followed her loss.</p><p>“The questions were, ‘Why did he do this?’” she says. “&apos;What was going on in his brain?’ And also, of course, the flip side of that, which is, ‘Could I have stopped it?’ And, ‘Did I miss the signs?’”</p><p>This conversation is about the messiness of grief, the stigma that surrounds suicide, and the slow, sacred return of joy. It’s about a mother rebuilding a life for her daughters, and it’s a reminder that we can survive the unimaginable.</p><p>“Grief does not unfold in tidy stages; it lurches,” Rachel says. “It isn’t, ‘At first you’ll feel this, then it’ll move to this and then it’ll be this and you’ll never feel that first thing again.’ It’s messy and ugly and not fair. And you feel all of these things, and it’s okay. And it does get better.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>1:40 Rachel and Seth’s life together: “He loved being a hero to the girls.”</p><p>3:57 Signs: “It wasn’t the signs we typically look for, but I think in retrospect, there were other signs.”</p><p>5:14 Rachel&apos;s search for answers: “I really believed that finding answers would give me some form of relief.”</p><p>8:33 What Rachel learned in her interviews with doctors and experts</p><p>10:45 Rachel interviews Leonard, a man who attempted suicide: “I thought maybe he would unlock this truth about what he was thinking right before.”</p><p>13:10 Rachel’s stopping point: “I am never going to understand it fully.”</p><p>14:26 Reclaiming joy: “Let’s allow pleasure and joy to come back in.’&quot;</p><p>17:54 Rachel’s advice for people who have lost their spouses: “It does get better…and you need to ask for help.”</p><p>20:13 Final thoughts: “Obviously it was a disaster and caused tremendous pain. But in the back of my mind, as I was writing, the good was that we survived and thrived and found joy again.”  </p><p><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more of Rachel’s story, read <a href='https://www.rachelzimmerman.net/us-after'>her book, “Us, After,”</a> and <a href='https://www.rachelzimmerman.net/ '>visit her website</a>. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>In this episode of Hears How, we talk about suicide and its emotional aftermath. If this topic is sensitive for you, please take care of yourself — whether that means pressing pause or choosing another episode.</em></p><p><em>Remember that help is available, you are not alone, and your life matters.</em></p><ul><li><em>For the 988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988</em></li><li><em>To reach the Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741</em></li><li><em>Visit </em><a href='https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/#'><em>the International Association for Suicide Prevention </em></a><em>for additional resources </em></li></ul><p><br/></p><p>Journalist and author Rachel Zimmerman met Seth Teller in her mid-30s. <br/><br/></p><p>“He was a devoted father to our 8 and 11 year old daughters,” she shares. “He was a tenured professor of robotics at MIT. He was very close with his family.” </p><p>Rachel and Seth were together for 15 years, married for 12.</p><p>“That’s partially why it felt so out of the blue,” Rachel says. “From the outside, it looked like he had a charmed life.”</p><p>In this profoundly moving episode, Rachel opens up about her search for answers, drawing from her book &quot;<a href='https://www.amazon.com/Us-After-Memoir-Love-Suicide/dp/1951631358'>Us, After: A Memoir of Love and Suicide</a>.&quot; She shares the grief, guilt, confusion, and ultimately, the resilience that followed her loss.</p><p>“The questions were, ‘Why did he do this?’” she says. “&apos;What was going on in his brain?’ And also, of course, the flip side of that, which is, ‘Could I have stopped it?’ And, ‘Did I miss the signs?’”</p><p>This conversation is about the messiness of grief, the stigma that surrounds suicide, and the slow, sacred return of joy. It’s about a mother rebuilding a life for her daughters, and it’s a reminder that we can survive the unimaginable.</p><p>“Grief does not unfold in tidy stages; it lurches,” Rachel says. “It isn’t, ‘At first you’ll feel this, then it’ll move to this and then it’ll be this and you’ll never feel that first thing again.’ It’s messy and ugly and not fair. And you feel all of these things, and it’s okay. And it does get better.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>1:40 Rachel and Seth’s life together: “He loved being a hero to the girls.”</p><p>3:57 Signs: “It wasn’t the signs we typically look for, but I think in retrospect, there were other signs.”</p><p>5:14 Rachel&apos;s search for answers: “I really believed that finding answers would give me some form of relief.”</p><p>8:33 What Rachel learned in her interviews with doctors and experts</p><p>10:45 Rachel interviews Leonard, a man who attempted suicide: “I thought maybe he would unlock this truth about what he was thinking right before.”</p><p>13:10 Rachel’s stopping point: “I am never going to understand it fully.”</p><p>14:26 Reclaiming joy: “Let’s allow pleasure and joy to come back in.’&quot;</p><p>17:54 Rachel’s advice for people who have lost their spouses: “It does get better…and you need to ask for help.”</p><p>20:13 Final thoughts: “Obviously it was a disaster and caused tremendous pain. But in the back of my mind, as I was writing, the good was that we survived and thrived and found joy again.”  </p><p><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more of Rachel’s story, read <a href='https://www.rachelzimmerman.net/us-after'>her book, “Us, After,”</a> and <a href='https://www.rachelzimmerman.net/ '>visit her website</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 18 May 2025 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1381</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>How Laura Cathcart Robbins recovered from an Ambien addiction and embraced her true self</itunes:title>
    <title>How Laura Cathcart Robbins recovered from an Ambien addiction and embraced her true self</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Laura Cathcart Robbins’ story is for anyone who has ever felt like they had to bury who they really are to be seen, loved, and accepted. She has written about her recovery in her memoir, “Stash: My Life in Hiding,” and candidly shares her experience in this episode of Hears How.  Laura and her husband welcomed two sons in consecutive years. They were energetic little boys, who slept as long as Laura cradled them in her arms. When they got a little bit older, the children went to an elite...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Laura Cathcart Robbins’ story is for anyone who has ever felt like they had to bury who they really are to be seen, loved, and accepted. She has written about her recovery in her memoir, “Stash: My Life in Hiding,” and candidly shares her experience in this episode of Hears How. </p><p>Laura and her husband welcomed two sons in consecutive years. They were energetic little boys, who slept as long as Laura cradled them in her arms. When they got a little bit older, the children went to an elite private school, which tapped Laura as president of its parents’ association. From the outside, her family had everything to be envious of.</p><p>&quot;We had all the things that people thought, ‘If I had that, I would be happy,’” Laura says. “They looked at us, including me at the time, and thought they have it all together. This is the goal,” and Laura, “worked hard to keep up that facade. </p><p>“The only thing I really cared about, <em>really</em> cared about was my connection to my children,” she continues. “But in order for me to do anything, I needed the Ambien and the booze. I had to wash it down with booze in order to get it to be as effective as I needed it to be.”</p><p>When Laura was first prescribed Ambien in 2002, it gave her, “the best sleep of my life,” she says. “I woke up the next morning full of energy. I can be the fun mom and, ‘Let’s go to the pumpkin patch,’ and let&apos;s do all the things that I would be dragging myself to normally.”</p><p>“I think that the addiction probably wouldn&apos;t have come into play if I weren&apos;t so separated from who I am authentically,” she assesses. “By the time I had my kids and was physically just kind of devastated by the lack of sleep and by the kids who wanted my attention all the time, I think I was ripe for an addiction. And because I have this front that I like to keep up, I&apos;m not great at asking for help.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>1:26: How Laura’s desire to be the perfect mom and wife resulted in silent suffering and anxiety-fueled insomnia</p><p>2:54: The start of an addiction and her life in hiding</p><p>7:04: How being disconnected from her authentic self made her vulnerable to addiction</p><p>9:26: The breaking point: When Laura knew she had to make a change</p><p>13:23: Her difficult time in treatment where she met her “person”</p><p>15:47: The moment she realized she <em>wanted</em> sobriety</p><p>18:56: What has aided her recovery</p><p>20:39: Laura’s message to those impacted by addiction</p><p>22:50: How to recognize the signs in your own life</p><p>23:57: Laura’s “biggest lesson” from recovery<br/> <br/><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more about Laura’s recovery, <a href='https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Stash/Laura-Cathcart-Robbins/9781668005347 '>read “<em>Stash: My Life in Hiding.”</em></a></p><p>You can also follow <a href='https://www.youtube.com/c/TheOnlyOneintheRoomPodcast'>her podcast, The Only One in the Room</a>.</p><p>Share this episode with someone you think might benefit. Tag us with your thoughts on Instagram, using @HearsHowPodcast. We love hearing from you.</p><p><br/></p><p><b><em>Note: This episode discusses addiction, withdrawal, and recovery. Please take care while listening.</em></b></p><p>If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.</p><p>Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or <a href='http://samhsa.gov/'>visit the organization online</a>. </p><p>You may also find the websites for <a href='https://www.aa.org/'>Alcoholics Anonymous</a>, <a href='https://na.org/'>Narcotics Anonymous</a>, and <a href='https://al-anon.org/'>Al-Anon</a> to be helpful. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Laura Cathcart Robbins’ story is for anyone who has ever felt like they had to bury who they really are to be seen, loved, and accepted. She has written about her recovery in her memoir, “Stash: My Life in Hiding,” and candidly shares her experience in this episode of Hears How. </p><p>Laura and her husband welcomed two sons in consecutive years. They were energetic little boys, who slept as long as Laura cradled them in her arms. When they got a little bit older, the children went to an elite private school, which tapped Laura as president of its parents’ association. From the outside, her family had everything to be envious of.</p><p>&quot;We had all the things that people thought, ‘If I had that, I would be happy,’” Laura says. “They looked at us, including me at the time, and thought they have it all together. This is the goal,” and Laura, “worked hard to keep up that facade. </p><p>“The only thing I really cared about, <em>really</em> cared about was my connection to my children,” she continues. “But in order for me to do anything, I needed the Ambien and the booze. I had to wash it down with booze in order to get it to be as effective as I needed it to be.”</p><p>When Laura was first prescribed Ambien in 2002, it gave her, “the best sleep of my life,” she says. “I woke up the next morning full of energy. I can be the fun mom and, ‘Let’s go to the pumpkin patch,’ and let&apos;s do all the things that I would be dragging myself to normally.”</p><p>“I think that the addiction probably wouldn&apos;t have come into play if I weren&apos;t so separated from who I am authentically,” she assesses. “By the time I had my kids and was physically just kind of devastated by the lack of sleep and by the kids who wanted my attention all the time, I think I was ripe for an addiction. And because I have this front that I like to keep up, I&apos;m not great at asking for help.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>1:26: How Laura’s desire to be the perfect mom and wife resulted in silent suffering and anxiety-fueled insomnia</p><p>2:54: The start of an addiction and her life in hiding</p><p>7:04: How being disconnected from her authentic self made her vulnerable to addiction</p><p>9:26: The breaking point: When Laura knew she had to make a change</p><p>13:23: Her difficult time in treatment where she met her “person”</p><p>15:47: The moment she realized she <em>wanted</em> sobriety</p><p>18:56: What has aided her recovery</p><p>20:39: Laura’s message to those impacted by addiction</p><p>22:50: How to recognize the signs in your own life</p><p>23:57: Laura’s “biggest lesson” from recovery<br/> <br/><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more about Laura’s recovery, <a href='https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Stash/Laura-Cathcart-Robbins/9781668005347 '>read “<em>Stash: My Life in Hiding.”</em></a></p><p>You can also follow <a href='https://www.youtube.com/c/TheOnlyOneintheRoomPodcast'>her podcast, The Only One in the Room</a>.</p><p>Share this episode with someone you think might benefit. Tag us with your thoughts on Instagram, using @HearsHowPodcast. We love hearing from you.</p><p><br/></p><p><b><em>Note: This episode discusses addiction, withdrawal, and recovery. Please take care while listening.</em></b></p><p>If you or someone you love is struggling, help is available.</p><p>Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or <a href='http://samhsa.gov/'>visit the organization online</a>. </p><p>You may also find the websites for <a href='https://www.aa.org/'>Alcoholics Anonymous</a>, <a href='https://na.org/'>Narcotics Anonymous</a>, and <a href='https://al-anon.org/'>Al-Anon</a> to be helpful. </p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 13 Apr 2025 16:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1560</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>How Shayne Burke survived a grizzly bear attack: ‘In my head, I was like … You’re going to die now’</itunes:title>
    <title>How Shayne Burke survived a grizzly bear attack: ‘In my head, I was like … You’re going to die now’</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[In May 2024, army reservist Shayne Patrick Burke was enjoying his honeymoon. He and his wife, Chloe, visited national parks, with Shayne ready to snap his camera and capture a Great Grey Owl.  Two years earlier, doctors removed a non-cancerous brain tumor about the size of a golfball, and Shayne was eager to get back to doing things he enjoyed, like rock climbing and wildlife photography.  On a solo hike in Grand Teton National Park, Shayne couldn’t shake an “eerie feeling.” “I didn...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>In May 2024, army reservist Shayne Patrick Burke was enjoying his honeymoon. He and his wife, Chloe, visited national parks, with Shayne ready to snap his camera and capture a Great Grey Owl. </p><p>Two years earlier, doctors removed a non-cancerous brain tumor about the size of a golfball, and Shayne was eager to get back to doing things he enjoyed, like rock climbing and wildlife photography. </p><p>On a solo hike in Grand Teton National Park, Shayne couldn’t shake an “eerie feeling.”</p><p>“I didn&apos;t really quite feel alone,” he says. “I felt like something bad was gonna happen.”</p><p>Shayne spotted a bear cub, and merely seconds later, “the mom was jumping on me,” he says. “I just told myself I was probably gonna die.”</p><p>Miraculously Shayne survived. Listen as he reveals what was going through his mind during the attack, his rescue, and his emotional and physical recovery journey. Don’t miss this gripping story of survival, love, and resiliency of the human spirit. </p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>2:29 The honeymoon adventure: Searching for the Great Gray Owl</p><p>3:11 Shayne’s solo hike: “I did start to get a real eerie feeling”</p><p>4:37 The bear attack: A fight for survival</p><p>9:33 Rescue and recovery: “I just blew my whistle. S-O-S, S-O-S constantly.”</p><p>13:10 Reflections and gratitude: Life after the attack</p><p>14:44 Final thoughts: advice and appreciation</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In May 2024, army reservist Shayne Patrick Burke was enjoying his honeymoon. He and his wife, Chloe, visited national parks, with Shayne ready to snap his camera and capture a Great Grey Owl. </p><p>Two years earlier, doctors removed a non-cancerous brain tumor about the size of a golfball, and Shayne was eager to get back to doing things he enjoyed, like rock climbing and wildlife photography. </p><p>On a solo hike in Grand Teton National Park, Shayne couldn’t shake an “eerie feeling.”</p><p>“I didn&apos;t really quite feel alone,” he says. “I felt like something bad was gonna happen.”</p><p>Shayne spotted a bear cub, and merely seconds later, “the mom was jumping on me,” he says. “I just told myself I was probably gonna die.”</p><p>Miraculously Shayne survived. Listen as he reveals what was going through his mind during the attack, his rescue, and his emotional and physical recovery journey. Don’t miss this gripping story of survival, love, and resiliency of the human spirit. </p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>2:29 The honeymoon adventure: Searching for the Great Gray Owl</p><p>3:11 Shayne’s solo hike: “I did start to get a real eerie feeling”</p><p>4:37 The bear attack: A fight for survival</p><p>9:33 Rescue and recovery: “I just blew my whistle. S-O-S, S-O-S constantly.”</p><p>13:10 Reflections and gratitude: Life after the attack</p><p>14:44 Final thoughts: advice and appreciation</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 30 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <itunes:title>Are you being called for more? Finding strength at any age with Spartan race champion Gwendolyn Bounds</itunes:title>
    <title>Are you being called for more? Finding strength at any age with Spartan race champion Gwendolyn Bounds</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Welcome to another episode of Hears How! I was inspired to talk to Gwendolyn Bounds — or Wendy to her podcast friends like you and me — because I love her story. As she writes in her book, “Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age,” Wendy, now 53, went from the kid being picked last for dodgeball in gym class to a journalist glued to screens all day.  At a dinner party in 2016 she overheard a man ask a young girl what she wanted to be when she grew up.  “And she rattled ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to another episode of Hears How! I was inspired to talk to Gwendolyn Bounds — or Wendy to her podcast friends like you and me — because I love her story. As she writes in her book, “Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age,” Wendy, now 53, went from the kid being picked last for dodgeball in gym class to a journalist glued to screens all day. </p><p>At a dinner party in 2016 she overheard a man ask a young girl what she wanted to be when she grew up. </p><p>“And she rattled off all these incredible things, and his eyes kind of glazed over,” Wendy, says on Hears How. “I think he was sorry he asked. But it really stuck with me, hearing her rattle off all these things that, at age 45, no one was ever going to ask me that anymore. And more importantly, I&apos;d stopped asking myself. And that is what led me the next morning to wake up and Google, ‘What are the hardest things you can do?’”</p><p>Which led her to the world of obstacle course racing. To date she’s participated in more than 50 races and in November finished in fifth place for her age group at the 2024 Trifecta World Championship held in Sparta, Greece.</p><p>Wendy says she doesn’t know exactly why she searched that particular phrase, “but clearly there was a feeling inside that something was left in my tank, something I hadn&apos;t tapped.”</p><p>And that is why it is so important that you listen to this episode, so you can answer the question <em>Do you hear a whisper or feel a push telling you there’s more?</em></p><p><b>In this show:</b></p><p>1:06 The entire point of this podcast episode: Is there more left in your tank?</p><p>3:21 From journalist to athlete</p><p>5:52 The dinner party revelation</p><p>9:33 The first steps in training</p><p>15:28 Facing challenges and overcoming obstacles off the course</p><p>17:14 The hardest part of all: Mastery and the plateau</p><p>26:56 Wendy’s advice for aspiring racers</p><p>28:09 Final thoughts</p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>To learn more about Wendy, <a href='https://www.gwendolynbounds.com/'>visit her website</a> and read her book <a href='https://www.gwendolynbounds.com/books/'>“Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age.”</a>  You can also <a href='https://www.instagram.com/gbounds/'>follow her on Instagram</a>. </p><p>Be sure to subscribe to <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>the Hears How podcast</a> so you don’t miss an episode! </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to another episode of Hears How! I was inspired to talk to Gwendolyn Bounds — or Wendy to her podcast friends like you and me — because I love her story. As she writes in her book, “Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age,” Wendy, now 53, went from the kid being picked last for dodgeball in gym class to a journalist glued to screens all day. </p><p>At a dinner party in 2016 she overheard a man ask a young girl what she wanted to be when she grew up. </p><p>“And she rattled off all these incredible things, and his eyes kind of glazed over,” Wendy, says on Hears How. “I think he was sorry he asked. But it really stuck with me, hearing her rattle off all these things that, at age 45, no one was ever going to ask me that anymore. And more importantly, I&apos;d stopped asking myself. And that is what led me the next morning to wake up and Google, ‘What are the hardest things you can do?’”</p><p>Which led her to the world of obstacle course racing. To date she’s participated in more than 50 races and in November finished in fifth place for her age group at the 2024 Trifecta World Championship held in Sparta, Greece.</p><p>Wendy says she doesn’t know exactly why she searched that particular phrase, “but clearly there was a feeling inside that something was left in my tank, something I hadn&apos;t tapped.”</p><p>And that is why it is so important that you listen to this episode, so you can answer the question <em>Do you hear a whisper or feel a push telling you there’s more?</em></p><p><b>In this show:</b></p><p>1:06 The entire point of this podcast episode: Is there more left in your tank?</p><p>3:21 From journalist to athlete</p><p>5:52 The dinner party revelation</p><p>9:33 The first steps in training</p><p>15:28 Facing challenges and overcoming obstacles off the course</p><p>17:14 The hardest part of all: Mastery and the plateau</p><p>26:56 Wendy’s advice for aspiring racers</p><p>28:09 Final thoughts</p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>To learn more about Wendy, <a href='https://www.gwendolynbounds.com/'>visit her website</a> and read her book <a href='https://www.gwendolynbounds.com/books/'>“Not Too Late: The Power of Pushing Limits at Any Age.”</a>  You can also <a href='https://www.instagram.com/gbounds/'>follow her on Instagram</a>. </p><p>Be sure to subscribe to <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>the Hears How podcast</a> so you don’t miss an episode! </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/16165269-are-you-being-called-for-more-finding-strength-at-any-age-with-spartan-race-champion-gwendolyn-bounds.mp3" length="22467786" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 24 Nov 2024 13:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1866</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>3</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>How Ike Wynter battled debilitating depression and returned to his beloved wood art</itunes:title>
    <title>How Ike Wynter battled debilitating depression and returned to his beloved wood art</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[You might've seen wood artist Ike Wynter's nostalgic and inspiring work on social media. His giant rendering of a 16-pack of Crayola crayons has more than 300,000 likes on Instagram since he unveiled the piece in April. Surrounded by art in his studio, Ike says he hopes his pieces remind people “of a simpler time in their life or a person or a place that just brings a warm feeling to their heart.” But for Ike, things haven't always been as bright as Crayola's sun yellow. After contracting COV...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>You might&apos;ve seen wood artist Ike Wynter&apos;s nostalgic and inspiring work on social media. His <a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/C6U0WznuE88/'>giant rendering of a 16-pack of Crayola crayons</a> has more than 300,000 likes on Instagram since he unveiled the piece in April.</p><p>Surrounded by art in his studio, Ike says he hopes his pieces remind people “of a simpler time in their life or a person or a place that just brings a warm feeling to their heart.”</p><p>But for Ike, things haven&apos;t always been as bright as Crayola&apos;s sun yellow. After contracting COVID in 2020, he fell into a deep depression. </p><p>“It was just not me,” Ike recalls. “I know how inspired I am, how focused I am, how determined I am, and my work ethic and all that just went out the window.”</p><p>Thankfully, Ike sought treatment at a facility where things quickly improved.</p><p>“It changed my life overnight,” he says. “When I showed up at the clinic, I was sleeping about an hour-and-a-half to two hours a night for about a month straight. My nervous system was just shot, and my brain was mush. Everything was just rough, and within two days of being at the clinic, I was like, ‘Okay, I can function as a human again.’&quot; </p><p>In this episode of Hears How, Ike shares his journey, one that he cautions isn’t one size fits all. But he speaks candidly to provide others comfort in knowing they are not alone.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>Open: Introduction to Ike’s story</p><p>2:50 The start of Ike’s interest in wood art</p><p>3:58 The intention behind his works</p><p>5:00 Mental health symptoms appear months after contracting COVID: “I just woke up different.”</p><p>7:29 Ike’s symptoms worsen, and he seeks treatment at a wellness facility </p><p>9:45 How Ike gets through difficult days: “You allow yourself to have tough days”</p><p>10:34 The questions he asks himself on hard days</p><p>11:43 When experiencing mental health challenges know “You’re not alone in it”</p><p>13:06 Ike recommends “Practicing gratitude and optimism everyday&quot; </p><p><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more about Ike and his artwork, <a href='https://www.instagram.com/ike_wynter/'>follow him on Instagram, @ike_wynter</a></p><p>You can find information about <a href='https://www.nami.org/support-education/'>support groups and the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine</a> <a href='https://www.nami.org/'>at their website</a> </p><p>You can also call, chat or text <a href='https://988lifeline.org/'>the 988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline</a>. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You might&apos;ve seen wood artist Ike Wynter&apos;s nostalgic and inspiring work on social media. His <a href='https://www.instagram.com/p/C6U0WznuE88/'>giant rendering of a 16-pack of Crayola crayons</a> has more than 300,000 likes on Instagram since he unveiled the piece in April.</p><p>Surrounded by art in his studio, Ike says he hopes his pieces remind people “of a simpler time in their life or a person or a place that just brings a warm feeling to their heart.”</p><p>But for Ike, things haven&apos;t always been as bright as Crayola&apos;s sun yellow. After contracting COVID in 2020, he fell into a deep depression. </p><p>“It was just not me,” Ike recalls. “I know how inspired I am, how focused I am, how determined I am, and my work ethic and all that just went out the window.”</p><p>Thankfully, Ike sought treatment at a facility where things quickly improved.</p><p>“It changed my life overnight,” he says. “When I showed up at the clinic, I was sleeping about an hour-and-a-half to two hours a night for about a month straight. My nervous system was just shot, and my brain was mush. Everything was just rough, and within two days of being at the clinic, I was like, ‘Okay, I can function as a human again.’&quot; </p><p>In this episode of Hears How, Ike shares his journey, one that he cautions isn’t one size fits all. But he speaks candidly to provide others comfort in knowing they are not alone.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>Open: Introduction to Ike’s story</p><p>2:50 The start of Ike’s interest in wood art</p><p>3:58 The intention behind his works</p><p>5:00 Mental health symptoms appear months after contracting COVID: “I just woke up different.”</p><p>7:29 Ike’s symptoms worsen, and he seeks treatment at a wellness facility </p><p>9:45 How Ike gets through difficult days: “You allow yourself to have tough days”</p><p>10:34 The questions he asks himself on hard days</p><p>11:43 When experiencing mental health challenges know “You’re not alone in it”</p><p>13:06 Ike recommends “Practicing gratitude and optimism everyday&quot; </p><p><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more about Ike and his artwork, <a href='https://www.instagram.com/ike_wynter/'>follow him on Instagram, @ike_wynter</a></p><p>You can find information about <a href='https://www.nami.org/support-education/'>support groups and the National Alliance on Mental Illness HelpLine</a> <a href='https://www.nami.org/'>at their website</a> </p><p>You can also call, chat or text <a href='https://988lifeline.org/'>the 988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 13 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <itunes:duration>946</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:season>3</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode>
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    <itunes:title>How Michelle Dowd survived a cult: A story of endurance and rebirth</itunes:title>
    <title>How Michelle Dowd survived a cult: A story of endurance and rebirth</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this compelling episode of the Hear's How podcast, host Erin Jensen interviews Michelle Dowd, who shares her harrowing experience growing up in a religious, apocalyptic cult in the Angeles National Forest. Michelle details her isolated upbringing during which she learned how to rely on nature to survive the looming end of days. Once she was ex-communicated at 17 for defying cult rules, she applied those same skills to building an entirely new life.  “That whole thing about being lost ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>In this compelling episode of the Hear&apos;s How podcast, host Erin Jensen interviews Michelle Dowd, who shares her harrowing experience growing up in a religious, apocalyptic cult in the Angeles National Forest. Michelle details her isolated upbringing during which she learned how to rely on nature to survive the looming end of days. Once she was ex-communicated at 17 for defying cult rules, she applied those same skills to building an entirely new life. </p><p>“That whole thing about being lost is kind of central, not only to the book, but to any of us in survival situations where there&apos;s the physical need for survival,” Michelle says. “Like, where you could actually die from starvation or whatever, but then there&apos;s also times in life where you feel like you&apos;re going to die because you don&apos;t know what to do. You feel so paralyzed emotionally. I think it&apos;s very similar. </p><p>“Stop, stop moving,” she continues. “Stay still. Get quiet. Notice what&apos;s around you. The thing you do with survival is try not to let the anxiety lead you, but instead bring yourself down to stillness and find what is your next right move.”</p><p>Michelle is now a college professor and author of a memoir that chronicles her childhood,  “Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult.” Tune in to be inspired by Michelle&apos;s resilience and transformation.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>02:48 Origins of the cult founded by Michelle’s grandfather</p><p>3:39 Michelle’s relationship with her abusive, neglectful parents: “My parents didn’t say, ‘I love you.&apos; They didn’t raise us to need that.”</p><p>4:45 Daily life inside the organization: “Happiness was absolutely not allowed”</p><p>5:42 Unwritten rules: no dancing, movies, or touching the opposite sex: “You had to obey the leader, at all costs, at all times.”</p><p>07:34 Michelle faces health challenges </p><p>8:50 Michelle is ex-communicated from the cult for seeing an R-rated movie with a young man</p><p>13:03 The hardest part: “Not trusting yourself … and ultimately having no connection to self”</p><p>14:36 How Michelle rebuilt her life </p><p>17:10 Her advice for overcoming challenges: “Stop panicking. Don&apos;t let fear set in to the degree that it paralyzes you.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more on Michelle’s story, read her book, &quot;<a href='https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1643755773/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;psc=1'>Forager</a>,&quot; follow her on <a href='https://mdowd.substack.com/subscribe?utm_campaign=email-subscribe&amp;next=https%3A%2F%2Fmdowd.substack.com%2Fp%2Fcontinue-foraging-for-what-you-need'>Substack</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/michelledowdz/'>Instagram</a>.</p><p>Subscribe to Hears How so you don’t miss an episode. Let’s be friends <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>on Instagram</a>! </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this compelling episode of the Hear&apos;s How podcast, host Erin Jensen interviews Michelle Dowd, who shares her harrowing experience growing up in a religious, apocalyptic cult in the Angeles National Forest. Michelle details her isolated upbringing during which she learned how to rely on nature to survive the looming end of days. Once she was ex-communicated at 17 for defying cult rules, she applied those same skills to building an entirely new life. </p><p>“That whole thing about being lost is kind of central, not only to the book, but to any of us in survival situations where there&apos;s the physical need for survival,” Michelle says. “Like, where you could actually die from starvation or whatever, but then there&apos;s also times in life where you feel like you&apos;re going to die because you don&apos;t know what to do. You feel so paralyzed emotionally. I think it&apos;s very similar. </p><p>“Stop, stop moving,” she continues. “Stay still. Get quiet. Notice what&apos;s around you. The thing you do with survival is try not to let the anxiety lead you, but instead bring yourself down to stillness and find what is your next right move.”</p><p>Michelle is now a college professor and author of a memoir that chronicles her childhood,  “Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult.” Tune in to be inspired by Michelle&apos;s resilience and transformation.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>02:48 Origins of the cult founded by Michelle’s grandfather</p><p>3:39 Michelle’s relationship with her abusive, neglectful parents: “My parents didn’t say, ‘I love you.&apos; They didn’t raise us to need that.”</p><p>4:45 Daily life inside the organization: “Happiness was absolutely not allowed”</p><p>5:42 Unwritten rules: no dancing, movies, or touching the opposite sex: “You had to obey the leader, at all costs, at all times.”</p><p>07:34 Michelle faces health challenges </p><p>8:50 Michelle is ex-communicated from the cult for seeing an R-rated movie with a young man</p><p>13:03 The hardest part: “Not trusting yourself … and ultimately having no connection to self”</p><p>14:36 How Michelle rebuilt her life </p><p>17:10 Her advice for overcoming challenges: “Stop panicking. Don&apos;t let fear set in to the degree that it paralyzes you.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more on Michelle’s story, read her book, &quot;<a href='https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1643755773/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;psc=1'>Forager</a>,&quot; follow her on <a href='https://mdowd.substack.com/subscribe?utm_campaign=email-subscribe&amp;next=https%3A%2F%2Fmdowd.substack.com%2Fp%2Fcontinue-foraging-for-what-you-need'>Substack</a> and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/michelledowdz/'>Instagram</a>.</p><p>Subscribe to Hears How so you don’t miss an episode. Let’s be friends <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>on Instagram</a>! </p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 30 Jun 2024 12:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1119</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>3</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
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    <itunes:title>How actress Jillian Shea Spaeder navigated ‘The Noise’ when battling her eating disorder</itunes:title>
    <title>How actress Jillian Shea Spaeder navigated ‘The Noise’ when battling her eating disorder</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[In this captivating episode, actress/singer-songwriter Jillian Shea Spaeder candidly speaks about her battle with anorexia and its impact on her mental health. If you are suffering from an eating disorder, know NAMI’s HelpLine can be reached weekdays, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET at 800-950-6264. You can also text “helpline” to 62640, or find someone to chat with on their website.  The National Alliance for Eating Disorders can be reached weekdays from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET at 1-866-662-1235. ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>In this captivating episode, actress/singer-songwriter Jillian Shea Spaeder candidly speaks about her battle with anorexia and its impact on her mental health. If you are suffering from an eating disorder, know NAMI’s HelpLine can be reached weekdays, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET at 800-950-6264. You can also text “helpline” to 62640, or find someone to chat with on <a href='https://www.nami.org/'>their website</a>.  The<a href='https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/'> National Alliance for Eating Disorders</a> can be reached weekdays from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET at 1-866-662-1235. </p><p>“I couldn’t keep up with things,” says Jillian, known for her work on Disney’s “Walk the Prank” and “Godmothered.”  “I couldn’t make sentences. I couldn’t write. There was no creativity. I just was, like, dead basically.” </p><p>“So if I’m choosing between being a cool human being,” Jillian adds, “who’s fun to be around and who enjoys her life, and who’s happy and successful, or being skinny, I’m obviously going to choose the other one.”</p><p>While in treatment in 2022, Jillian wrote a short film, “The Noise,” that depicts her unrelenting inner voice that told her she was nothing.</p><p>“I think a lot of the representation out there and a lot of the media tends to just talk about, the body issues and the physical issues that come from eating disorders,” Jillian says, “and nobody ever really talks about the mental aspect of it.”</p><p>Listen to the episode now to learn how Jillian has been able to silence the noise.  </p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>2:01 Jillian’s start in the entertainment industry</p><p>3:08 Her battle with anorexia inspires her short film, “The Noise,” which conveys the mental anguish she experienced: “It felt like a mental battle.” </p><p>5:15 Show business warps Jillian’s perception of what’s normal: “It’s a very yay, self-love but there’s no self love kind of industry.”  </p><p>7:10 The depths of Jillian’s illness: “I would wake up, lay around, didn’t have energy to talk, didn’t have energy to move but would force myself to go to the gym for hours…”</p><p>9:46 Jillian enters treatment and gives insight to the valuable realizations she discovered: “It’s taken a lot of time, but I’m starting to distance myself from my need to be successful because it’s so out of my control.” </p><p>13:08 Jillian reveals her relationship with food and her body and mind today: “Food, I’m treating it like a joy.&quot; </p><p>15:22 Jillian’s advice for the hard days and those with an eating disorder: “Just try as hard as you can to keep the eye on the prize.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>Jillian’s short film, “The Noise, is available to watch on her YouTube channel. You can follow her <a href='https://www.instagram.com/jilliansheaspaeder/?hl=en'>on Instagram </a> and <a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@jillian.spaeder?lang=en'>TikTok. </a></p><p>You can also <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>follow Hears How on Instagram </a>to stay up to date on the latest from the show. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this captivating episode, actress/singer-songwriter Jillian Shea Spaeder candidly speaks about her battle with anorexia and its impact on her mental health. If you are suffering from an eating disorder, know NAMI’s HelpLine can be reached weekdays, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET at 800-950-6264. You can also text “helpline” to 62640, or find someone to chat with on <a href='https://www.nami.org/'>their website</a>.  The<a href='https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/'> National Alliance for Eating Disorders</a> can be reached weekdays from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET at 1-866-662-1235. </p><p>“I couldn’t keep up with things,” says Jillian, known for her work on Disney’s “Walk the Prank” and “Godmothered.”  “I couldn’t make sentences. I couldn’t write. There was no creativity. I just was, like, dead basically.” </p><p>“So if I’m choosing between being a cool human being,” Jillian adds, “who’s fun to be around and who enjoys her life, and who’s happy and successful, or being skinny, I’m obviously going to choose the other one.”</p><p>While in treatment in 2022, Jillian wrote a short film, “The Noise,” that depicts her unrelenting inner voice that told her she was nothing.</p><p>“I think a lot of the representation out there and a lot of the media tends to just talk about, the body issues and the physical issues that come from eating disorders,” Jillian says, “and nobody ever really talks about the mental aspect of it.”</p><p>Listen to the episode now to learn how Jillian has been able to silence the noise.  </p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>2:01 Jillian’s start in the entertainment industry</p><p>3:08 Her battle with anorexia inspires her short film, “The Noise,” which conveys the mental anguish she experienced: “It felt like a mental battle.” </p><p>5:15 Show business warps Jillian’s perception of what’s normal: “It’s a very yay, self-love but there’s no self love kind of industry.”  </p><p>7:10 The depths of Jillian’s illness: “I would wake up, lay around, didn’t have energy to talk, didn’t have energy to move but would force myself to go to the gym for hours…”</p><p>9:46 Jillian enters treatment and gives insight to the valuable realizations she discovered: “It’s taken a lot of time, but I’m starting to distance myself from my need to be successful because it’s so out of my control.” </p><p>13:08 Jillian reveals her relationship with food and her body and mind today: “Food, I’m treating it like a joy.&quot; </p><p>15:22 Jillian’s advice for the hard days and those with an eating disorder: “Just try as hard as you can to keep the eye on the prize.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>Jillian’s short film, “The Noise, is available to watch on her YouTube channel. You can follow her <a href='https://www.instagram.com/jilliansheaspaeder/?hl=en'>on Instagram </a> and <a href='https://www.tiktok.com/@jillian.spaeder?lang=en'>TikTok. </a></p><p>You can also <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>follow Hears How on Instagram </a>to stay up to date on the latest from the show. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/15217478-how-actress-jillian-shea-spaeder-navigated-the-noise-when-battling-her-eating-disorder.mp3" length="12972119" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 09 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1074</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>How Paul Luu, a Vietnam refugee, fought to became a surgeon: ‘Even if you fail, you should be proud that you try’</itunes:title>
    <title>How Paul Luu, a Vietnam refugee, fought to became a surgeon: ‘Even if you fail, you should be proud that you try’</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[When Paul Luu arrived to the United States all alone as teenage, Vietnamese refugee in 1979, he didn’t know any English. "The language barrier hit me like a rock,” he says in this episode of “Hears How.” “How am I going to communicate with people? That's when reality set in. That's when I realized, 'Gosh, I don't even know how to (tell) people when I'm hungry, how to go to school.’” Once Paul enrolled in high school and began learning English, he felt a renewed since of purpose. He graduated ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>When Paul Luu arrived to the United States all alone as teenage, Vietnamese refugee in 1979, he didn’t know any English.</p><p>&quot;The language barrier hit me like a rock,” he says in this episode of “Hears How.” “How am I going to communicate with people? That&apos;s when reality set in. That&apos;s when I realized, &apos;Gosh, I don&apos;t even know how to (tell) people when I&apos;m hungry, how to go to school.’”</p><p>Once Paul enrolled in high school and began learning English, he felt a renewed since of purpose. He graduated college and was accepted to medical school, but felt overwhelmed by the brilliance of his fellow students. </p><p>“I felt very intimidated, because you&apos;re surrounded by all of the competitive, top of the class,” he says. “Here I am, little Vietnamese guy, looks so young, spoke I call it broken English, with an accent and everything. The only (way) I can compete with them (is if I) study hard.” </p><p>“They are way, way ahead of you, not just IQ wise, everything,” he told himself. “So, the best thing you can do is just work hard, do the best you can.”</p><p>He experienced “a rough time,” he admits. “But I put in more hours than most of my colleagues. I think the best thing is that I realized what my weakness. So I just work on it.”   </p><p>Tune in to hear about Paul’s struggles, his resilience, and the invaluable lesson in hard work and perseverance that led him to achieve his dreams.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>Intro</p><p>1:25 Paul’s details his upbringing in Vietnam, sharing a 450 sq. ft flat with his parents and six siblings </p><p>2:35 Paul has to flee Vietnam </p><p>4:04 His crowded boat is robbed by pirates. Paul makes a promise to Buddha that if he survives he’ll use his talents to help people in need</p><p>5:50 Paul arrives in the States, where the communication barrier “hit me like a rock”</p><p>7:15 School, where Paul learned English, became his “salvation.”</p><p>10:05 Paul has a difficult time while in college and discovers therapy </p><p>13:27 How Paul overcame the temptation of giving up</p><p>14:52 Paul’s advice for when people doubt you </p><p>15:30 Paul’s advice for refugees arriving to the US</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more on Paul’s incredible journey, read <a href='https://www.amazon.com/Survivor-Surgeon-Refugees-Perseverance-Purpose-ebook/dp/B0BKJKBLXQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1988R57KIPDUB&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4oemIoenkVpN-nr9BaROxg31iHVqRdw2nxvuvekuF3nGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.2fyQ0VDZIAqv9F5S40-EYwtD2Xo9AqxJYRbpCL1TlWU&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=dr+paul+lu+survivor+to+surgeon&amp;qid=1716694251&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=dr+paul+lu+survivor+to+surgeon%2Cstripbooks%2C122&amp;sr=1-1 '>his book, “From Survivor to Surgeon: A Refugee&apos;s Memoir of Perseverance and Purpose.” </a></p><p><a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>Follow @HearsHowPodcast on Instagram </a>for more inspirational content. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When Paul Luu arrived to the United States all alone as teenage, Vietnamese refugee in 1979, he didn’t know any English.</p><p>&quot;The language barrier hit me like a rock,” he says in this episode of “Hears How.” “How am I going to communicate with people? That&apos;s when reality set in. That&apos;s when I realized, &apos;Gosh, I don&apos;t even know how to (tell) people when I&apos;m hungry, how to go to school.’”</p><p>Once Paul enrolled in high school and began learning English, he felt a renewed since of purpose. He graduated college and was accepted to medical school, but felt overwhelmed by the brilliance of his fellow students. </p><p>“I felt very intimidated, because you&apos;re surrounded by all of the competitive, top of the class,” he says. “Here I am, little Vietnamese guy, looks so young, spoke I call it broken English, with an accent and everything. The only (way) I can compete with them (is if I) study hard.” </p><p>“They are way, way ahead of you, not just IQ wise, everything,” he told himself. “So, the best thing you can do is just work hard, do the best you can.”</p><p>He experienced “a rough time,” he admits. “But I put in more hours than most of my colleagues. I think the best thing is that I realized what my weakness. So I just work on it.”   </p><p>Tune in to hear about Paul’s struggles, his resilience, and the invaluable lesson in hard work and perseverance that led him to achieve his dreams.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>Intro</p><p>1:25 Paul’s details his upbringing in Vietnam, sharing a 450 sq. ft flat with his parents and six siblings </p><p>2:35 Paul has to flee Vietnam </p><p>4:04 His crowded boat is robbed by pirates. Paul makes a promise to Buddha that if he survives he’ll use his talents to help people in need</p><p>5:50 Paul arrives in the States, where the communication barrier “hit me like a rock”</p><p>7:15 School, where Paul learned English, became his “salvation.”</p><p>10:05 Paul has a difficult time while in college and discovers therapy </p><p>13:27 How Paul overcame the temptation of giving up</p><p>14:52 Paul’s advice for when people doubt you </p><p>15:30 Paul’s advice for refugees arriving to the US</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more on Paul’s incredible journey, read <a href='https://www.amazon.com/Survivor-Surgeon-Refugees-Perseverance-Purpose-ebook/dp/B0BKJKBLXQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1988R57KIPDUB&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4oemIoenkVpN-nr9BaROxg31iHVqRdw2nxvuvekuF3nGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.2fyQ0VDZIAqv9F5S40-EYwtD2Xo9AqxJYRbpCL1TlWU&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=dr+paul+lu+survivor+to+surgeon&amp;qid=1716694251&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=dr+paul+lu+survivor+to+surgeon%2Cstripbooks%2C122&amp;sr=1-1 '>his book, “From Survivor to Surgeon: A Refugee&apos;s Memoir of Perseverance and Purpose.” </a></p><p><a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>Follow @HearsHowPodcast on Instagram </a>for more inspirational content. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/15136321-how-paul-luu-a-vietnam-refugee-fought-to-became-a-surgeon-even-if-you-fail-you-should-be-proud-that-you-try.mp3" length="13638963" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 26 May 2024 01:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1129</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>3</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>How journalist Benjamin Hall survived a deadly attack in Ukraine: ‘No matter how difficult things are, there is goodness on the other side’</itunes:title>
    <title>How journalist Benjamin Hall survived a deadly attack in Ukraine: ‘No matter how difficult things are, there is goodness on the other side’</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Season 3 of the Hears How podcast begins with the remarkable journey of Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall whose life was forever changed by an attack in Ukraine. On March 14, 2022, the British journalist and two of his colleagues — cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and journalist Oleksandra "Sasha" Kuvshynova — came under attack while covering the war between Russia and Ukraine outside of Kyiv. Ben heard a familiar whistling sound followed by a massive explosion. The soldier driving the news cre...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Season 3 of the Hears How podcast begins with the remarkable journey of Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall whose life was forever changed by an attack in Ukraine. On March 14, 2022, the British journalist and two of his colleagues — cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and journalist Oleksandra &quot;Sasha&quot; Kuvshynova — came under attack while covering the war between Russia and Ukraine outside of Kyiv.</p><p>Ben heard a familiar whistling sound followed by a massive explosion. The soldier driving the news crew tried to reverse but then came a second explosion.</p><p>“Everything went black,” remembers Ben, the only survivor of the attack. “And right in front of me, came my daughter, Honor — as real as anything, into the blackness she came. And she said to me, ‘Daddy, you&apos;ve gotta get out of the car.’ And I just came right back, flooding into the world without even thinking. And I took one step out (of the car) and then the third one hit … I’m unconscious for a bit, and I wake up about 10 feet away from the car, and I&apos;m on fire.”<br/> <br/> Ben noticed his right leg was “hanging on by some skin” as he tried to put out the flames engulfing him. His left foot had a hole in it the size of a baseball. His skull had been fractured and his left eye sliced in half. Much of his left hand had been destroyed.</p><p>“I thought of getting home to my daughters when I was injured,” Ben says of Honor, Iris, and Hero. “And I said a prayer. The two places I went, when everything else was taken away — even though I wasn&apos;t really a strictly practicing Catholic — those are the two places I went: my family, and I said a prayer, ‘Please, Lord. Please help me get home right now.’”</p><p>This conversation walks us through Ben’s tough road to recovery, during which he held tight to a vision of reuniting with his family. His recount highlights the crucial role of loved ones and community in the healing process.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>4:22 Ben recounts the day of the attack, March 14, 2022</p><p>6:40 Ben explains how a vision of his daughter Honor saved him</p><p>8:26 Ben remembers his late colleagues, Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra &quot;Sasha&quot; Kuvshynova </p><p>9:38 Ben is rescued from the site of the attack</p><p>10:46 A plan is formed to get Ben out of Ukraine</p><p>13:35 Ben begins rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio</p><p>15:05 After months, Ben is finally headed home to be reunited with his wife, Alicia, and their three daughters: “I feel a physical sense of love, which I never did before” </p><p>21:25 Ben discusses how he was able to overcome his challenges: “No matter how difficult things are, there is goodness on the other side.”</p><p>24:27 Ben shares his advice for those going through a challenging time</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More: </b></p><p>Ben details his attack and recovery in his book, “Saved: A War Reporter&apos;s Mission to Make It Home,” <a href='https://www.amazon.com/Saved-Reporters-Mission-Make-Home-ebook/dp/B0BBGLXV7W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FXI9OEXE0LRS&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Pn1kh-13zu2OC53Aw8BLNPw6tv8wXbZ9x9DFxydHYeVicqHnH23xVFLaI2KRXjMTRiYCuQg4aOjWeMy2PK7wC-cx7q0_A7gBZ1tJjMoYiUix9G_2UxXcuwiC8DY3gPXJ-r209JBgKRhoMg4aWkorWPlZk2l1rgXy3IYDM8A080-frghQFAOqcozki-44Nf7_nPifoyer_Lejp8olSGcqypZgXFErTEWEPBPIMbyONhY.YKAh-wDx4UC1GV2Xz84mPCbI8z0yICumcOf-M4hnIfs&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=benjamin+hall+saved&amp;qid=1715536497&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=benjamin+hall+save%2Cstripbooks%2C132&amp;sr=1-1 '>available for purchase</a>. </p><p>Ben’s recent work can be viewed on <a href='https://www.foxnews.com/person/h/benjamin-hall'>Fox News’ website</a>. New episodes of his inspirational podcast, <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/searching-for-heroes-with-benjamin-hall/id1718788642 '>“Searching for Heroes with Benjamin Hall” </a>are released on Wednesday. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Season 3 of the Hears How podcast begins with the remarkable journey of Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall whose life was forever changed by an attack in Ukraine. On March 14, 2022, the British journalist and two of his colleagues — cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski and journalist Oleksandra &quot;Sasha&quot; Kuvshynova — came under attack while covering the war between Russia and Ukraine outside of Kyiv.</p><p>Ben heard a familiar whistling sound followed by a massive explosion. The soldier driving the news crew tried to reverse but then came a second explosion.</p><p>“Everything went black,” remembers Ben, the only survivor of the attack. “And right in front of me, came my daughter, Honor — as real as anything, into the blackness she came. And she said to me, ‘Daddy, you&apos;ve gotta get out of the car.’ And I just came right back, flooding into the world without even thinking. And I took one step out (of the car) and then the third one hit … I’m unconscious for a bit, and I wake up about 10 feet away from the car, and I&apos;m on fire.”<br/> <br/> Ben noticed his right leg was “hanging on by some skin” as he tried to put out the flames engulfing him. His left foot had a hole in it the size of a baseball. His skull had been fractured and his left eye sliced in half. Much of his left hand had been destroyed.</p><p>“I thought of getting home to my daughters when I was injured,” Ben says of Honor, Iris, and Hero. “And I said a prayer. The two places I went, when everything else was taken away — even though I wasn&apos;t really a strictly practicing Catholic — those are the two places I went: my family, and I said a prayer, ‘Please, Lord. Please help me get home right now.’”</p><p>This conversation walks us through Ben’s tough road to recovery, during which he held tight to a vision of reuniting with his family. His recount highlights the crucial role of loved ones and community in the healing process.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>4:22 Ben recounts the day of the attack, March 14, 2022</p><p>6:40 Ben explains how a vision of his daughter Honor saved him</p><p>8:26 Ben remembers his late colleagues, Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra &quot;Sasha&quot; Kuvshynova </p><p>9:38 Ben is rescued from the site of the attack</p><p>10:46 A plan is formed to get Ben out of Ukraine</p><p>13:35 Ben begins rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio</p><p>15:05 After months, Ben is finally headed home to be reunited with his wife, Alicia, and their three daughters: “I feel a physical sense of love, which I never did before” </p><p>21:25 Ben discusses how he was able to overcome his challenges: “No matter how difficult things are, there is goodness on the other side.”</p><p>24:27 Ben shares his advice for those going through a challenging time</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More: </b></p><p>Ben details his attack and recovery in his book, “Saved: A War Reporter&apos;s Mission to Make It Home,” <a href='https://www.amazon.com/Saved-Reporters-Mission-Make-Home-ebook/dp/B0BBGLXV7W/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FXI9OEXE0LRS&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Pn1kh-13zu2OC53Aw8BLNPw6tv8wXbZ9x9DFxydHYeVicqHnH23xVFLaI2KRXjMTRiYCuQg4aOjWeMy2PK7wC-cx7q0_A7gBZ1tJjMoYiUix9G_2UxXcuwiC8DY3gPXJ-r209JBgKRhoMg4aWkorWPlZk2l1rgXy3IYDM8A080-frghQFAOqcozki-44Nf7_nPifoyer_Lejp8olSGcqypZgXFErTEWEPBPIMbyONhY.YKAh-wDx4UC1GV2Xz84mPCbI8z0yICumcOf-M4hnIfs&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=benjamin+hall+saved&amp;qid=1715536497&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=benjamin+hall+save%2Cstripbooks%2C132&amp;sr=1-1 '>available for purchase</a>. </p><p>Ben’s recent work can be viewed on <a href='https://www.foxnews.com/person/h/benjamin-hall'>Fox News’ website</a>. New episodes of his inspirational podcast, <a href='https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/searching-for-heroes-with-benjamin-hall/id1718788642 '>“Searching for Heroes with Benjamin Hall” </a>are released on Wednesday. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/15054118-how-journalist-benjamin-hall-survived-a-deadly-attack-in-ukraine-no-matter-how-difficult-things-are-there-is-goodness-on-the-other-side.mp3" length="19202399" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 12 May 2024 13:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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    <itunes:title>How Mary Purdie remained hopeful that she&#39;d be a mom after five miscarriages and breast cancer</itunes:title>
    <title>How Mary Purdie remained hopeful that she&#39;d be a mom after five miscarriages and breast cancer</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Artist Mary Purdie had a long, arduous journey to motherhood. The author of "If You Really Knew Me" experienced five miscarriages in less than two years. About three months after her fifth, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through it all, she never lost hope that she would one day be a mom.  "'It's gonna be hard, but I'm going to get to the other side, and there's going to be a baby eventually,' " Mary would tell herself. "And that was what was getting me to get out of bed and take a sho...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Artist Mary Purdie had a long, arduous journey to motherhood. The author of &quot;If You Really Knew Me&quot; experienced five miscarriages in less than two years. About three months after her fifth, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through it all, she never lost hope that she would one day be a mom.<br/><br/>&quot;&apos;It&apos;s gonna be hard, but I&apos;m going to get to the other side, and there&apos;s going to be a baby eventually,&apos; &quot; Mary would tell herself. &quot;And that was what was getting me to get out of bed and take a shower and get outside and do things for myself.&quot;<br/><br/>Mary and her husband DeAndre, whom she hails as her hype man, welcomed their son Ellis via surrogate in 2022. <br/><br/>&quot;I&apos;ve never had that much euphoria running through my body,&quot; Mary says, reflecting on her baby&apos;s long-awaited birth. &quot;And my husband cried. He just broke down for a moment in our Airbnb, and I was like, &apos;This is why we went through all of this. This is what is meant to be.&apos; And we didn&apos;t put him down for a month.&quot; <br/><br/>More:<br/>See Mary&apos;s artwork on Instagram by checking out <a href='https://www.instagram.com/drawnbymary/?hl=en'>@DrawnByMary</a>.<br/>Learn more about her story by purchasing <a href='https://www.amazon.com/You-Really-Knew-Miscarriage-Motherhood/dp/1737207516'>her beautiful memoir, &quot;If You Really Knew Me: A Memoir of Miscarriage and Motherhood.&quot;</a><br/>Subscribe to Hears How and follow the show on Instagram, <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>@HearsHowPodcast</a>.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Artist Mary Purdie had a long, arduous journey to motherhood. The author of &quot;If You Really Knew Me&quot; experienced five miscarriages in less than two years. About three months after her fifth, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through it all, she never lost hope that she would one day be a mom.<br/><br/>&quot;&apos;It&apos;s gonna be hard, but I&apos;m going to get to the other side, and there&apos;s going to be a baby eventually,&apos; &quot; Mary would tell herself. &quot;And that was what was getting me to get out of bed and take a shower and get outside and do things for myself.&quot;<br/><br/>Mary and her husband DeAndre, whom she hails as her hype man, welcomed their son Ellis via surrogate in 2022. <br/><br/>&quot;I&apos;ve never had that much euphoria running through my body,&quot; Mary says, reflecting on her baby&apos;s long-awaited birth. &quot;And my husband cried. He just broke down for a moment in our Airbnb, and I was like, &apos;This is why we went through all of this. This is what is meant to be.&apos; And we didn&apos;t put him down for a month.&quot; <br/><br/>More:<br/>See Mary&apos;s artwork on Instagram by checking out <a href='https://www.instagram.com/drawnbymary/?hl=en'>@DrawnByMary</a>.<br/>Learn more about her story by purchasing <a href='https://www.amazon.com/You-Really-Knew-Miscarriage-Motherhood/dp/1737207516'>her beautiful memoir, &quot;If You Really Knew Me: A Memoir of Miscarriage and Motherhood.&quot;</a><br/>Subscribe to Hears How and follow the show on Instagram, <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>@HearsHowPodcast</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1337</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>2</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode>
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    <itunes:title>How Sarah Levy, author of &#39;Drinking Games,&#39; regained control of her life by embracing sobriety</itunes:title>
    <title>How Sarah Levy, author of &#39;Drinking Games,&#39; regained control of her life by embracing sobriety</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[As people reflect on what changes they’d like to make ahead of the New Year, I’m so excited to present a powerful conversation with writer Sarah Levy.  In her memoir “Drinking Games,” available in paperback Jan. 2, Sarah chronicles her journey to sobriety.   Growing up, Sarah’s family moved around a lot which left her feeling awkwardly out of place. But with alcohol, “I felt like I had this key,” she says in our conversation, “like I was able to unlock this world where suddenly I wa...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>As people reflect on what changes they’d like to make ahead of the New Year, I’m so excited to present a powerful conversation with writer Sarah Levy.  In her memoir “Drinking Games,” available in paperback Jan. 2, Sarah chronicles her journey to sobriety. <br/><br/>Growing up, Sarah’s family moved around a lot which left her feeling awkwardly out of place. But with alcohol, “I felt like I had this key,” she says in our conversation, “like I was able to unlock this world where suddenly I was saying the right things, and I did feel like I was a part of the crowd.”<br/><br/>After college, the young professional living in New York City, leaned further into drinking, thanks to frequent happy hours and social gatherings. Blacking out began to happen more frequently. She woke up in the hospital twice, unaware of how she’d gotten there, and one day she’d had enough.<br/><br/>“I realized that day, when I start to drink I&apos;m powerless, and I hated that word,” Sarah says. “But the truth was, once I started to drink I really didn&apos;t know what was going to happen. I really lost control after a couple of drinks, and it just kind of hit me over the head. I was just done. <br/><br/>“I&apos;ve heard people describe that as the gift of desperation,” she continues. “I was so desperate to not feel that way anymore that I was pretty much willing to try anything, including sobriety, which seemed like the worst possible fate and outcome. I thought I would never have fun again. I thought I would never make new friends, never date. I really was like, ‘Okay, well, my life is over, but at the very least, I won&apos;t feel this way anymore.’ And my life quickly got a lot better. “<br/><br/>In our very honest chat Sarah reveals why she clung to her identity as a drinker, the shame that accompanied a spiral, how she was able to quit drinking and what a gift sobriety has been. </p><p><br/></p><p>More:</p><p><a href='https://www.sarahllevy.com/'>Purchase “Drinking Games,”</a> available on paperback Jan. 2. </p><p><a href='https://www.instagram.com/sarahllevy/'>Follow Sarah</a> on Instagram. </p><p><a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>Follow Hears How Podcast</a> on Instagram  and subscribe to the show.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As people reflect on what changes they’d like to make ahead of the New Year, I’m so excited to present a powerful conversation with writer Sarah Levy.  In her memoir “Drinking Games,” available in paperback Jan. 2, Sarah chronicles her journey to sobriety. <br/><br/>Growing up, Sarah’s family moved around a lot which left her feeling awkwardly out of place. But with alcohol, “I felt like I had this key,” she says in our conversation, “like I was able to unlock this world where suddenly I was saying the right things, and I did feel like I was a part of the crowd.”<br/><br/>After college, the young professional living in New York City, leaned further into drinking, thanks to frequent happy hours and social gatherings. Blacking out began to happen more frequently. She woke up in the hospital twice, unaware of how she’d gotten there, and one day she’d had enough.<br/><br/>“I realized that day, when I start to drink I&apos;m powerless, and I hated that word,” Sarah says. “But the truth was, once I started to drink I really didn&apos;t know what was going to happen. I really lost control after a couple of drinks, and it just kind of hit me over the head. I was just done. <br/><br/>“I&apos;ve heard people describe that as the gift of desperation,” she continues. “I was so desperate to not feel that way anymore that I was pretty much willing to try anything, including sobriety, which seemed like the worst possible fate and outcome. I thought I would never have fun again. I thought I would never make new friends, never date. I really was like, ‘Okay, well, my life is over, but at the very least, I won&apos;t feel this way anymore.’ And my life quickly got a lot better. “<br/><br/>In our very honest chat Sarah reveals why she clung to her identity as a drinker, the shame that accompanied a spiral, how she was able to quit drinking and what a gift sobriety has been. </p><p><br/></p><p>More:</p><p><a href='https://www.sarahllevy.com/'>Purchase “Drinking Games,”</a> available on paperback Jan. 2. </p><p><a href='https://www.instagram.com/sarahllevy/'>Follow Sarah</a> on Instagram. </p><p><a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>Follow Hears How Podcast</a> on Instagram  and subscribe to the show.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/14225111-how-sarah-levy-author-of-drinking-games-regained-control-of-her-life-by-embracing-sobriety.mp3" length="23190902" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 31 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1927</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>2</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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    <itunes:title>How entrepreneur Collette Divitto overcame discrimination due to having Down syndrome</itunes:title>
    <title>How entrepreneur Collette Divitto overcame discrimination due to having Down syndrome</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Collette Divitto started her own cookie company, Collettey's after being rejected for multiple jobs. She was born with Down syndrome and values her independence. After high school, she enrolled in Clemson University's Life program, which readies its participants for the workforce and living on their own.  Collette completed the three-year curriculum in just two years. After graduating, she left South Carolina with her heart set on finding a job in Boston and living independently.  "In Bo...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Collette Divitto started her own cookie company, <a href='https://colletteys.com/'>Collettey&apos;s</a> after being rejected for multiple jobs. She was born with Down syndrome and values her independence. After high school, she enrolled in <a href='https://www.clemson.edu/education/programs/programs/culife/index.html'>Clemson University&apos;s Life program</a>, which readies its participants for the workforce and living on their own.  Collette completed the three-year curriculum in just two years. After graduating, she left South Carolina with her heart set on finding a job in Boston and living independently.<br/><br/>&quot;In Boston, I went on 13 job interviews to find a part-time, paying job,&quot; she says but had no luck. &quot;Many times they&apos;d send me an email saying that, at this time (they) feel like I am not a good fit because of me, who (has) a disability.&quot;<br/><br/>So Collette took things into her own hands -- hands that I can attest are very good at baking. She started her cookie company in 2016.<br/><br/>Collette wants listeners to know, &quot;No matter who you are, you can make a big difference in this world.&quot;  <br/><br/>More:<br/>Order <a href='https://colletteys.com/'>Collette&apos;s delicious cookies</a>. <br/>Purchase <a href='https://colletteys.com/collettes-books/'>her book, &quot;Collette in Kindergarten.&quot;</a><br/>Learn more about <a href='https://www.colletteysleadership.org/'>her nonprofit </a>which helps train people with varying abilities for the workplace.<br/><br/></p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Collette Divitto started her own cookie company, <a href='https://colletteys.com/'>Collettey&apos;s</a> after being rejected for multiple jobs. She was born with Down syndrome and values her independence. After high school, she enrolled in <a href='https://www.clemson.edu/education/programs/programs/culife/index.html'>Clemson University&apos;s Life program</a>, which readies its participants for the workforce and living on their own.  Collette completed the three-year curriculum in just two years. After graduating, she left South Carolina with her heart set on finding a job in Boston and living independently.<br/><br/>&quot;In Boston, I went on 13 job interviews to find a part-time, paying job,&quot; she says but had no luck. &quot;Many times they&apos;d send me an email saying that, at this time (they) feel like I am not a good fit because of me, who (has) a disability.&quot;<br/><br/>So Collette took things into her own hands -- hands that I can attest are very good at baking. She started her cookie company in 2016.<br/><br/>Collette wants listeners to know, &quot;No matter who you are, you can make a big difference in this world.&quot;  <br/><br/>More:<br/>Order <a href='https://colletteys.com/'>Collette&apos;s delicious cookies</a>. <br/>Purchase <a href='https://colletteys.com/collettes-books/'>her book, &quot;Collette in Kindergarten.&quot;</a><br/>Learn more about <a href='https://www.colletteysleadership.org/'>her nonprofit </a>which helps train people with varying abilities for the workplace.<br/><br/></p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-14034423</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 26 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>670</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>2</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
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    <itunes:title>How Tyler Campbell found purpose in his multiple sclerosis diagnosis </itunes:title>
    <title>How Tyler Campbell found purpose in his multiple sclerosis diagnosis </title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes a love of football. This week's guest is Tyler Campbell, son of Earl Campbell, aka the Tyler Rose. While attempting to follow in his father's cleated footsteps as a college football player, Tyler was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, or MS.    The autoimmune disorder looks different in everyone but can be boiled down to one's immune system taking aim at the myelin sheath, destroying the nerve system highway that allows your brain...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes a love of football. This week&apos;s guest is Tyler Campbell, son of Earl Campbell, aka the Tyler Rose. While attempting to follow in his father&apos;s cleated footsteps as a college football player, Tyler was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, or MS.  <br/><br/>The autoimmune disorder looks different in everyone but can be boiled down to one&apos;s immune system taking aim at the myelin sheath, destroying the nerve system highway that allows your brain to tell the rest of your body what to do.  <br/><br/>Tyler detailed his journey in his book, &quot;The Ball Came Out: Life from the Other Side of the Field.&quot; He&apos;s also a motivational speaker. Tyler doesn&apos;t wallow in his diagnosis, nor does he resent it. He sees it as a stepping stone to living out his purpose, and for that he deserves stadium-sized applause.<br/><br/>More: <br/><a href='https://www.amazon.com/Ball-Came-Out-Other-Field-ebook/dp/B09R4YPYPJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29RCXAO588DOO&amp;keywords=tyler+campbell&amp;qid=1699774400&amp;sprefix=tyler+cam%2Caps%2C132&amp;sr=8-1'>Purchase Tyler&apos;s book</a>, &quot;The Ball Came Out: Life from the Other Side of the Field.&quot;<br/>Follow the show on Instagram, <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>@HearsHowpodcast</a>.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes a love of football. This week&apos;s guest is Tyler Campbell, son of Earl Campbell, aka the Tyler Rose. While attempting to follow in his father&apos;s cleated footsteps as a college football player, Tyler was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, or MS.  <br/><br/>The autoimmune disorder looks different in everyone but can be boiled down to one&apos;s immune system taking aim at the myelin sheath, destroying the nerve system highway that allows your brain to tell the rest of your body what to do.  <br/><br/>Tyler detailed his journey in his book, &quot;The Ball Came Out: Life from the Other Side of the Field.&quot; He&apos;s also a motivational speaker. Tyler doesn&apos;t wallow in his diagnosis, nor does he resent it. He sees it as a stepping stone to living out his purpose, and for that he deserves stadium-sized applause.<br/><br/>More: <br/><a href='https://www.amazon.com/Ball-Came-Out-Other-Field-ebook/dp/B09R4YPYPJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29RCXAO588DOO&amp;keywords=tyler+campbell&amp;qid=1699774400&amp;sprefix=tyler+cam%2Caps%2C132&amp;sr=8-1'>Purchase Tyler&apos;s book</a>, &quot;The Ball Came Out: Life from the Other Side of the Field.&quot;<br/>Follow the show on Instagram, <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>@HearsHowpodcast</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-13953709</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 12 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1718</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>2</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>How Jean Muenchrath survived falling 150 feet down a mountain: ‘My world went dark’</itunes:title>
    <title>How Jean Muenchrath survived falling 150 feet down a mountain: ‘My world went dark’</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Season 2 of “Hears How” debuts with the remarkable story of Jean Muenchrath, an adventurous woman who deems mountains “the joy of my life.” Jean and her boyfriend, Ken, set out for the John Muir Trail in 1982. She was just shy of 23 when she headed out for the journey, a little under 215 miles, that would end near Mount Whitney. On what the couple thought would be the last day of their trip, the weather changed abruptly. “It started to snow, and it was lightning and thundering,” remembers Jea...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Season 2 of “Hears How” debuts with the remarkable story of Jean Muenchrath, an adventurous woman who deems mountains “the joy of my life.”</p><p>Jean and her boyfriend, Ken, set out for the John Muir Trail in 1982. She was just shy of 23 when she headed out for the journey, a little under 215 miles, that would end near Mount Whitney. On what the couple thought would be the last day of their trip, the weather changed abruptly.</p><p>“It started to snow, and it was lightning and thundering,” remembers Jean. “And then the weather would get good for a while, and then it got worse. We couldn&apos;t go the way we had hoped to because the rocks were glazing up, and I decided I was going to down climb that 20 feet.”</p><p>But Jean gets to a point where she’s frozen. “I can&apos;t move up, I can&apos;t move down,” she says. “This voice bubbled up and it said, ‘God, don&apos;t let me fall.’ And then my world went dark. and I&apos;m tumbling down.&quot;</p><p>Jean fell 150 feet down a mountain, and her resulting injuries were extensive. Hear her powerful story of survival.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>0:35 Introduction to Jean and her story</p><p>3:38 Why Jean loves the mountains</p><p>5:32 A voice warns Jean “Something terrible’s gonna happen.”</p><p>8:38 The fall</p><p>10:24 Jean feels her life force exiting her body after the accident. </p><p>11:20 The mantra that kept Jean going</p><p>14:37 Jean makes it to the hospital. “In many ways, the chapters that followed, if you will, in my life were the harder ones.”</p><p>17:59 Jean embarks on fulfilling her vow to see the Himalayas. </p><p>20:21 Jean decides to return to Mount Whitney and “Death’s campsite.”</p><p>22:25 “I harbored a lot of self-hatred”: How Jean was able to finally forgive herself</p><p>25:07 “Be open to new directions. Life/the universe might have different plans for you.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More: </b></p><p>To learn more about Jean and her journey, <a href='https://www.amazon.com/Live-Until-Morning-Adventure-Transformation-ebook/dp/B07QCJDWF6?ref_=ast_author_mpb'>purchase her book “If I Live Until Morning: A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation.” </a></p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe to the show and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>follow @HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Season 2 of “Hears How” debuts with the remarkable story of Jean Muenchrath, an adventurous woman who deems mountains “the joy of my life.”</p><p>Jean and her boyfriend, Ken, set out for the John Muir Trail in 1982. She was just shy of 23 when she headed out for the journey, a little under 215 miles, that would end near Mount Whitney. On what the couple thought would be the last day of their trip, the weather changed abruptly.</p><p>“It started to snow, and it was lightning and thundering,” remembers Jean. “And then the weather would get good for a while, and then it got worse. We couldn&apos;t go the way we had hoped to because the rocks were glazing up, and I decided I was going to down climb that 20 feet.”</p><p>But Jean gets to a point where she’s frozen. “I can&apos;t move up, I can&apos;t move down,” she says. “This voice bubbled up and it said, ‘God, don&apos;t let me fall.’ And then my world went dark. and I&apos;m tumbling down.&quot;</p><p>Jean fell 150 feet down a mountain, and her resulting injuries were extensive. Hear her powerful story of survival.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>0:35 Introduction to Jean and her story</p><p>3:38 Why Jean loves the mountains</p><p>5:32 A voice warns Jean “Something terrible’s gonna happen.”</p><p>8:38 The fall</p><p>10:24 Jean feels her life force exiting her body after the accident. </p><p>11:20 The mantra that kept Jean going</p><p>14:37 Jean makes it to the hospital. “In many ways, the chapters that followed, if you will, in my life were the harder ones.”</p><p>17:59 Jean embarks on fulfilling her vow to see the Himalayas. </p><p>20:21 Jean decides to return to Mount Whitney and “Death’s campsite.”</p><p>22:25 “I harbored a lot of self-hatred”: How Jean was able to finally forgive herself</p><p>25:07 “Be open to new directions. Life/the universe might have different plans for you.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More: </b></p><p>To learn more about Jean and her journey, <a href='https://www.amazon.com/Live-Until-Morning-Adventure-Transformation-ebook/dp/B07QCJDWF6?ref_=ast_author_mpb'>purchase her book “If I Live Until Morning: A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation.” </a></p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe to the show and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>follow @HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/13840994-how-jean-muenchrath-survived-falling-150-feet-down-a-mountain-my-world-went-dark.mp3" length="20067770" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 29 Oct 2023 03:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1667</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>2</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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    <itunes:title>Justin and Alexis Black: ‘Always think opportunity: Where can I grow? Where can I do better?’ </itunes:title>
    <title>Justin and Alexis Black: ‘Always think opportunity: Where can I grow? Where can I do better?’ </title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[It should be noted that this episode briefly discusses domestic violence and sexual abuse. The Season 1 finale of “Hears How” offers two incredible stories about authors and foster care alumni, Justin and Alexis Black. Their book, “Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love,” is full of eye-opening statistics. “Only 56% of foster youth graduate high school while less than 3% of foster youth graduate college,” it reads. “40-50% of former fos...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p><em>It should be noted that this episode briefly discusses domestic violence and sexual abuse.</em></p><p>The Season 1 finale of “Hears How” offers two incredible stories about authors and foster care alumni, Justin and Alexis Black. Their book, “Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love,” is full of eye-opening statistics. “Only 56% of foster youth graduate high school while less than 3% of foster youth graduate college,” it reads. “40-50% of former foster youth become homeless within 18 months after leaving care.”</p><p>Despite their extremely challenging upbringings, Justin and Alexis defied the odds. They met in college and got married. They&apos;ve worked hard on their relationship and have had to shed flawed notions about what love means.  <br/><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>Justin’s upbringing battling generations of domestic violence, drug use, and undiagnosed mental health issues [3:01]</p><p>Justin enters foster care at 9-years-old [5:51]</p><p>Alexis’ childhood: The death of her biological mother and living with her abusive biological father [7:41]</p><p>Alexis enters the foster care system at 13, after her dad is sentenced to prison [9:20]</p><p>Justin and Alexis meet in college [10:02]</p><p>Challenges arise in their relationship due to past experiences [13:21]</p><p>How Justin and Alexis were able to overcome the harrowing circumstances of their early lives [16:44]</p><p>Their advice for those facing difficulties [19:10]<br/><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more about Justin and Alexis Black, visit <a href='https://www.re-definingnormal.com/'>their website</a>  where you can purchase <a href='https://www.re-definingnormal.com/books '>their books</a> “Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love” and “I Love You More Than Cereal: Maeva and Dad Redefine Love.”</p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe to the show and follow <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>@HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>It should be noted that this episode briefly discusses domestic violence and sexual abuse.</em></p><p>The Season 1 finale of “Hears How” offers two incredible stories about authors and foster care alumni, Justin and Alexis Black. Their book, “Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love,” is full of eye-opening statistics. “Only 56% of foster youth graduate high school while less than 3% of foster youth graduate college,” it reads. “40-50% of former foster youth become homeless within 18 months after leaving care.”</p><p>Despite their extremely challenging upbringings, Justin and Alexis defied the odds. They met in college and got married. They&apos;ve worked hard on their relationship and have had to shed flawed notions about what love means.  <br/><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>Justin’s upbringing battling generations of domestic violence, drug use, and undiagnosed mental health issues [3:01]</p><p>Justin enters foster care at 9-years-old [5:51]</p><p>Alexis’ childhood: The death of her biological mother and living with her abusive biological father [7:41]</p><p>Alexis enters the foster care system at 13, after her dad is sentenced to prison [9:20]</p><p>Justin and Alexis meet in college [10:02]</p><p>Challenges arise in their relationship due to past experiences [13:21]</p><p>How Justin and Alexis were able to overcome the harrowing circumstances of their early lives [16:44]</p><p>Their advice for those facing difficulties [19:10]<br/><br/></p><p><b>More:</b></p><p>For more about Justin and Alexis Black, visit <a href='https://www.re-definingnormal.com/'>their website</a>  where you can purchase <a href='https://www.re-definingnormal.com/books '>their books</a> “Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love” and “I Love You More Than Cereal: Maeva and Dad Redefine Love.”</p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe to the show and follow <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>@HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/12615584-justin-and-alexis-black-always-think-opportunity-where-can-i-grow-where-can-i-do-better.mp3" length="16728482" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-12615584</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 09 Apr 2023 10:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1390</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>7</itunes:episode>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Ashley Hallford outlives her dire cancer diagnosis, Part 2: ‘It’s gone. They don’t see any tumors anywhere’</itunes:title>
    <title>Ashley Hallford outlives her dire cancer diagnosis, Part 2: ‘It’s gone. They don’t see any tumors anywhere’</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Doctors estimated Ashley Hallford had about four weeks to live after diagnosing her with cancer in her jaw, an inoperable malignant brain tumor, and innumerable tumors in her lungs. They also saw spots on her liver. After four weeks of treatment, during which some of her tumors had grown, doctors advised of two options, Ashley says. She could “stop the treatment and go home and enjoy the time with your family," or try “one last ditch effort of chemo.”  With her infant son Harley in mind,...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Doctors estimated Ashley Hallford had about four weeks to live after diagnosing her with cancer in her jaw, an inoperable malignant brain tumor, and innumerable tumors in her lungs. They also saw spots on her liver. After four weeks of treatment, during which some of her tumors had grown, doctors advised of two options, Ashley says. She could “stop the treatment and go home and enjoy the time with your family,&quot; or try “one last ditch effort of chemo.” </p><p>With her infant son Harley in mind, she pushed on.</p><p>“The thought of Harley not having his mother was more than I could bear,” she says. “I thought, ‘I don&apos;t want him to read about me, and the final thing he reads about his mother is that she gave up.’”</p><p>Ashley’s fight paid off when her doctor informed her, “There’s no evidence of disease present,” after reviewing her scans. Ashley has now been in remission for more than 14 years.</p><p>“Life is hard. Nobody ever promised it would be easy and a walk in the park,” Ashley acknowledges. “(But) you can overcome it.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>A recap of Ashley’s diagnosis [Opening]</p><p>The results of Ashley’s new scans: “Maybe, just maybe I’m gonna come out of this” [2:41] </p><p>Another scan shows “There’s no evidence of disease present” [4:00]</p><p>A new lease on life: “Just the fact that you take a breath is a miracle” [6:11]</p><p>Ashley gets pregnant, despite appearing to be in early menopause [7:34]</p><p>Ashley’s advice for people going through a challenging time [13:43]</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More: </b></p><p>For more about Ashley Hallford, <a href='https://www.ashleyhallford.com/'>visit her website</a>, where you can also purchase a copy of her book, “Losing Control: How God Used Cancer and Infertility to Bring Me to the End of Myself.” </p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>follow @HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Doctors estimated Ashley Hallford had about four weeks to live after diagnosing her with cancer in her jaw, an inoperable malignant brain tumor, and innumerable tumors in her lungs. They also saw spots on her liver. After four weeks of treatment, during which some of her tumors had grown, doctors advised of two options, Ashley says. She could “stop the treatment and go home and enjoy the time with your family,&quot; or try “one last ditch effort of chemo.” </p><p>With her infant son Harley in mind, she pushed on.</p><p>“The thought of Harley not having his mother was more than I could bear,” she says. “I thought, ‘I don&apos;t want him to read about me, and the final thing he reads about his mother is that she gave up.’”</p><p>Ashley’s fight paid off when her doctor informed her, “There’s no evidence of disease present,” after reviewing her scans. Ashley has now been in remission for more than 14 years.</p><p>“Life is hard. Nobody ever promised it would be easy and a walk in the park,” Ashley acknowledges. “(But) you can overcome it.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>A recap of Ashley’s diagnosis [Opening]</p><p>The results of Ashley’s new scans: “Maybe, just maybe I’m gonna come out of this” [2:41] </p><p>Another scan shows “There’s no evidence of disease present” [4:00]</p><p>A new lease on life: “Just the fact that you take a breath is a miracle” [6:11]</p><p>Ashley gets pregnant, despite appearing to be in early menopause [7:34]</p><p>Ashley’s advice for people going through a challenging time [13:43]</p><p><br/></p><p><b>More: </b></p><p>For more about Ashley Hallford, <a href='https://www.ashleyhallford.com/'>visit her website</a>, where you can also purchase a copy of her book, “Losing Control: How God Used Cancer and Infertility to Bring Me to the End of Myself.” </p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>follow @HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/12566063-ashley-hallford-outlives-her-dire-cancer-diagnosis-part-2-it-s-gone-they-don-t-see-any-tumors-anywhere.mp3" length="10732805" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-12566063</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 02 Apr 2023 01:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>885</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Ashley Hallford outlives a dire cancer diagnosis, Part 1: &#39;I just couldn&#39;t stop&#39;</itunes:title>
    <title>Ashley Hallford outlives a dire cancer diagnosis, Part 1: &#39;I just couldn&#39;t stop&#39;</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Doctors estimated Ashley Hallford had about four weeks to live after diagnosing her with cancer in her jaw, an inoperable malignant brain tumor, and innumerable tumors in her lungs. They also saw spots on her liver.   After four weeks of treatment, during which some of her tumors had grown, doctors advised of two options, Ashley says. She could “stop the treatment and go home and enjoy the time with your family," or try “one last ditch effort of chemo.”  “I just couldn't stop,” Ashl...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Doctors estimated Ashley Hallford had about four weeks to live after diagnosing her with cancer in her jaw, an inoperable malignant brain tumor, and innumerable tumors in her lungs. They also saw spots on her liver.  </p><p>After four weeks of treatment, during which some of her tumors had grown, doctors advised of two options, Ashley says. She could “stop the treatment and go home and enjoy the time with your family,&quot; or try “one last ditch effort of chemo.” </p><p>“I just couldn&apos;t stop,” Ashley says. “If I didn&apos;t have a child, I probably would&apos;ve given up because it was that bad. It really was. But the thought of Harley not having his mother was more than I could bear. And so I thought, ‘I don&apos;t want him to read about me, and the final thing he reads about his mother is that she gave up.’”</p><p>Today, Ashley has been in remission for more than 14 years. </p><p><em>More: </em></p><p>For more about Ashley Hallford, <a href='https://www.ashleyhallford.com/'>visit her website</a>,  where you can also purchase a copy of her book, “Losing Control: How God Used Cancer and Infertility to Bring Me to the End of Myself.” </p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe to the show and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>follow @HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Doctors estimated Ashley Hallford had about four weeks to live after diagnosing her with cancer in her jaw, an inoperable malignant brain tumor, and innumerable tumors in her lungs. They also saw spots on her liver.  </p><p>After four weeks of treatment, during which some of her tumors had grown, doctors advised of two options, Ashley says. She could “stop the treatment and go home and enjoy the time with your family,&quot; or try “one last ditch effort of chemo.” </p><p>“I just couldn&apos;t stop,” Ashley says. “If I didn&apos;t have a child, I probably would&apos;ve given up because it was that bad. It really was. But the thought of Harley not having his mother was more than I could bear. And so I thought, ‘I don&apos;t want him to read about me, and the final thing he reads about his mother is that she gave up.’”</p><p>Today, Ashley has been in remission for more than 14 years. </p><p><em>More: </em></p><p>For more about Ashley Hallford, <a href='https://www.ashleyhallford.com/'>visit her website</a>,  where you can also purchase a copy of her book, “Losing Control: How God Used Cancer and Infertility to Bring Me to the End of Myself.” </p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe to the show and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>follow @HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/12516186-ashley-hallford-outlives-a-dire-cancer-diagnosis-part-1-i-just-couldn-t-stop.mp3" length="15133923" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">Buzzsprout-12516186</guid>
    <pubDate>Sun, 26 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1254</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
  </item>
  <item>
    <itunes:title>Greg Kelley is wrongfully imprisoned for child sexual assault: ‘Beauty out of ashes’</itunes:title>
    <title>Greg Kelley is wrongfully imprisoned for child sexual assault: ‘Beauty out of ashes’</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Greg Kelley’s future looked promising. His dedication to football was paying off for the high school athlete and offers to play college ball rolled in. But his bright future darkened when he was wrongfully accused and convicted of child sexual assault in 2013.   “It was always tough waking up and seeing those bars every morning,” Greg says. “It just felt like I kept waking up in a nightmare, and I'd go to sleep in a nightmare.” Thankfully Greg was exonerated in 2019, and I'm so excited t...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Greg Kelley’s future looked promising. His dedication to football was paying off for the high school athlete and offers to play college ball rolled in. But his bright future darkened when he was wrongfully accused and convicted of child sexual assault in 2013. <br/><br/>“It was always tough waking up and seeing those bars every morning,” Greg says. “It just felt like I kept waking up in a nightmare, and I&apos;d go to sleep in a nightmare.”</p><p>Thankfully Greg was exonerated in 2019, and I&apos;m so excited to share this episode with you. I first learned of Greg’s story by watching the 2020 Showtime docuseries “Outcry.” I highly recommended it if you want to know more about Greg&apos;s story. For this podcast, I wanted to find out exactly how Greg was able to stay so steadfast throughout this nightmarish ordeal and what his life is like now.<br/><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>Greg Kelley, the football star [2:24]</p><p>The first accusation is made [3:34]</p><p>Greg is convicted [5:43]</p><p>Greg’s case is reopened approximately three years after his conviction [10:50]</p><p>Greg is officially exonerated [14:19]</p><p>Greg’s grit mentality [17:42]</p><p>Greg’s advice for people facing challenges [18:10]<br/><br/></p><p><b>More: </b></p><p>This episode gets into some of the topics covered in “Outcry,” but certainly not as thoroughly as the five-hour docuseries does. I highly recommended <a href='https://www.sho.com/outcry'>streaming it on Showtime</a>, if you want to know more about Greg&apos;s story.</p><p>Follow Greg on Instagram, <a href='https://www.instagram.com/grkelley2/'>@grkelley2</a> </p><p>You can also check out <a href='https://www.tomahawktargetsatx.com/'>his axe-throwing business</a>. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Greg Kelley’s future looked promising. His dedication to football was paying off for the high school athlete and offers to play college ball rolled in. But his bright future darkened when he was wrongfully accused and convicted of child sexual assault in 2013. <br/><br/>“It was always tough waking up and seeing those bars every morning,” Greg says. “It just felt like I kept waking up in a nightmare, and I&apos;d go to sleep in a nightmare.”</p><p>Thankfully Greg was exonerated in 2019, and I&apos;m so excited to share this episode with you. I first learned of Greg’s story by watching the 2020 Showtime docuseries “Outcry.” I highly recommended it if you want to know more about Greg&apos;s story. For this podcast, I wanted to find out exactly how Greg was able to stay so steadfast throughout this nightmarish ordeal and what his life is like now.<br/><br/></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p>Greg Kelley, the football star [2:24]</p><p>The first accusation is made [3:34]</p><p>Greg is convicted [5:43]</p><p>Greg’s case is reopened approximately three years after his conviction [10:50]</p><p>Greg is officially exonerated [14:19]</p><p>Greg’s grit mentality [17:42]</p><p>Greg’s advice for people facing challenges [18:10]<br/><br/></p><p><b>More: </b></p><p>This episode gets into some of the topics covered in “Outcry,” but certainly not as thoroughly as the five-hour docuseries does. I highly recommended <a href='https://www.sho.com/outcry'>streaming it on Showtime</a>, if you want to know more about Greg&apos;s story.</p><p>Follow Greg on Instagram, <a href='https://www.instagram.com/grkelley2/'>@grkelley2</a> </p><p>You can also check out <a href='https://www.tomahawktargetsatx.com/'>his axe-throwing business</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/12421109-greg-kelley-is-wrongfully-imprisoned-for-child-sexual-assault-beauty-out-of-ashes.mp3" length="16802021" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 12 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1390</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Heather Martin is a Columbine survivor: &#39;Trauma is not a competition&#39;</itunes:title>
    <title>Heather Martin is a Columbine survivor: &#39;Trauma is not a competition&#39;</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Heather Martin is a survivor of the Columbine shooting. She was a senior when two other members of her class killed 12 students and one teacher at their Littleton, Colorado high school on April 20, 1999.   She and dozens of other students sought shelter in a choir office, where a SWAT team rescued them after three hours.  “Three hours is a long time,” Heather says, “and three hours is a long time to also fear for your life.”  What Heather shares about her healing journey speaks to trauma’s de...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Heather Martin is a survivor of the Columbine shooting. She was a senior when two other members of her class killed 12 students and one teacher at their Littleton, Colorado high school on April 20, 1999. <br/><br/>She and dozens of other students sought shelter in a choir office, where a SWAT team rescued them after three hours.<br/><br/>“Three hours is a long time,” Heather says, “and three hours is a long time to also fear for your life.”<br/><br/>What Heather shares about her healing journey speaks to trauma’s depths and its long lasting effects. She says the term &quot;the new normal” was life-altering. <br/><br/>“All of a sudden I just realized I am different,” she says. “I am not the same person that I was before the shooting, and that&apos;s okay. There&apos;s no way I could be the same person. There&apos;s no way.” <br/><br/>Heather co-founded The Rebels Project, an organization that offers support for mass shooting and trauma survivors. She has taught English at a high school in Aurora since 2013.<br/><br/><b>In this episode:</b><b><em><br/></em></b>The day of the shooting [2:35]<br/>Its effect on Heather: ‘Constant simmering of anger’ [6:25] <br/>Heather returns to Columbine 10 years later [11:25]  <br/>The origins of The Rebel’s Project [15:52]<br/>The benefits of therapy [17:22]<br/>Heather’s advice for those facing challenges [18:35]<em><br/> <br/> </em><b>More:<br/></b>If you would like to learn more about The Rebels Project co-founded by Heather Martin visit <a href='https://www.therebelsproject.org/'>the organization’s website</a>. </p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe and follow <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>@HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Heather Martin is a survivor of the Columbine shooting. She was a senior when two other members of her class killed 12 students and one teacher at their Littleton, Colorado high school on April 20, 1999. <br/><br/>She and dozens of other students sought shelter in a choir office, where a SWAT team rescued them after three hours.<br/><br/>“Three hours is a long time,” Heather says, “and three hours is a long time to also fear for your life.”<br/><br/>What Heather shares about her healing journey speaks to trauma’s depths and its long lasting effects. She says the term &quot;the new normal” was life-altering. <br/><br/>“All of a sudden I just realized I am different,” she says. “I am not the same person that I was before the shooting, and that&apos;s okay. There&apos;s no way I could be the same person. There&apos;s no way.” <br/><br/>Heather co-founded The Rebels Project, an organization that offers support for mass shooting and trauma survivors. She has taught English at a high school in Aurora since 2013.<br/><br/><b>In this episode:</b><b><em><br/></em></b>The day of the shooting [2:35]<br/>Its effect on Heather: ‘Constant simmering of anger’ [6:25] <br/>Heather returns to Columbine 10 years later [11:25]  <br/>The origins of The Rebel’s Project [15:52]<br/>The benefits of therapy [17:22]<br/>Heather’s advice for those facing challenges [18:35]<em><br/> <br/> </em><b>More:<br/></b>If you would like to learn more about The Rebels Project co-founded by Heather Martin visit <a href='https://www.therebelsproject.org/'>the organization’s website</a>. </p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe and follow <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>@HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/12375349-heather-martin-is-a-columbine-survivor-trauma-is-not-a-competition.mp3" length="15041375" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 05 Mar 2023 01:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1245</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode>
    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
    <itunes:explicit>true</itunes:explicit>
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  <item>
    <itunes:title>Tristin Criswell learns to walk again after being paralyzed in a car accident: &#39;This is a good thing!’</itunes:title>
    <title>Tristin Criswell learns to walk again after being paralyzed in a car accident: &#39;This is a good thing!’</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[On a September morning in 2020, Tristin Criswell left home, beginning her 8-minute commute to work.  “It's a very long, busy road, with no median most of the time,” she says of the drive that takes her to the highway. "One little slip-up, and things happen.”   That morning, the 20-year-old’s commute was made even trickier by rain and fog. A truck collided with her SUV, compacting it so much responders had to pull Tristin's door off to remove her from the vehicle.   Tristin was place...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>On a September morning in 2020, Tristin Criswell left home, beginning her 8-minute commute to work.<br/><br/>“It&apos;s a very long, busy road, with no median most of the time,” she says of the drive that takes her to the highway. &quot;One little slip-up, and things happen.” <br/><br/>That morning, the 20-year-old’s commute was made even trickier by rain and fog. A truck collided with her SUV, compacting it so much responders had to pull Tristin&apos;s door off to remove her from the vehicle. <br/><br/>Tristin was placed in a medically induced coma for six days. When she woke she learned that she was paralyzed on the left side of her body from her head to her feet.<br/><br/>Doctors told Tristin her recovery was in her hands. Her dad’s advice helped put things into perspective.<br/><br/>“This recovery, healing process that you&apos;re going through is inevitable,” he said. “And we&apos;re all here to support you, but you gotta help us help you.”<br/><br/>He presented her with two choices, she says. <br/><br/>“He said, ‘The first one, you can be bitter, complaining, not helping the people that are trying to help you. Or you can see this as an opportunity to strengthen your relationship with the Lord, strengthen… physically and mentally… So what do you want to do?’”<br/><br/>“I could easily be like, ‘Why, God, did you do this to me?’ ‘Woe is me,&quot; kind of thing,” says Tristin. “But I knew. I was like, ‘No, this is a good thing! This is a good thing!’”  </p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p><em>The morning of Tristin’s car accident [1:32]<br/> Tristin wakes up in the hospital [4:52]<br/>Tristin’s dad informs her of her car accident [5:38]<br/>Tristin progresses during physical therapy [10:10]<br/>How Tristin’s attitude served her [13:47]<br/>Throwing out the first pitch at a Minor League Baseball game [17:13]<br/><br/></em><b>More:</b></p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe and follow <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>@HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On a September morning in 2020, Tristin Criswell left home, beginning her 8-minute commute to work.<br/><br/>“It&apos;s a very long, busy road, with no median most of the time,” she says of the drive that takes her to the highway. &quot;One little slip-up, and things happen.” <br/><br/>That morning, the 20-year-old’s commute was made even trickier by rain and fog. A truck collided with her SUV, compacting it so much responders had to pull Tristin&apos;s door off to remove her from the vehicle. <br/><br/>Tristin was placed in a medically induced coma for six days. When she woke she learned that she was paralyzed on the left side of her body from her head to her feet.<br/><br/>Doctors told Tristin her recovery was in her hands. Her dad’s advice helped put things into perspective.<br/><br/>“This recovery, healing process that you&apos;re going through is inevitable,” he said. “And we&apos;re all here to support you, but you gotta help us help you.”<br/><br/>He presented her with two choices, she says. <br/><br/>“He said, ‘The first one, you can be bitter, complaining, not helping the people that are trying to help you. Or you can see this as an opportunity to strengthen your relationship with the Lord, strengthen… physically and mentally… So what do you want to do?’”<br/><br/>“I could easily be like, ‘Why, God, did you do this to me?’ ‘Woe is me,&quot; kind of thing,” says Tristin. “But I knew. I was like, ‘No, this is a good thing! This is a good thing!’”  </p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><p><em>The morning of Tristin’s car accident [1:32]<br/> Tristin wakes up in the hospital [4:52]<br/>Tristin’s dad informs her of her car accident [5:38]<br/>Tristin progresses during physical therapy [10:10]<br/>How Tristin’s attitude served her [13:47]<br/>Throwing out the first pitch at a Minor League Baseball game [17:13]<br/><br/></em><b>More:</b></p><p>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe and follow <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>@HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/12327758-tristin-criswell-learns-to-walk-again-after-being-paralyzed-in-a-car-accident-this-is-a-good-thing.mp3" length="13384509" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 26 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1108</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:title>Jack Grandcolas&#39; wife, Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, dies on 9/11: &#39;I fought hard not to let them get me too&#39;</itunes:title>
    <title>Jack Grandcolas&#39; wife, Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, dies on 9/11: &#39;I fought hard not to let them get me too&#39;</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[Jack Grandcolas met Lauren Catuzzi in college. “I just remember looking into her eyes and seeing the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen,” Jack says. “The sparks hit instantly. It was one of those wow moments.”  The couple wed and tried for a decade to have a baby. On Sept. 6, 2001, Lauren flew from California to attend her grandmother’s funeral in New Jersey and tell her family some good news: she and Jack were expecting. On Sept. 11, she arrived at Newark's airport far enough in advance ...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>Jack Grandcolas met Lauren Catuzzi in college. “I just remember looking into her eyes and seeing the most beautiful eyes I&apos;d ever seen,” Jack says. “The sparks hit instantly. It was one of those wow moments.” </p><p>The couple wed and tried for a decade to have a baby. On Sept. 6, 2001, Lauren flew from California to attend her grandmother’s funeral in New Jersey and tell her family some good news: she and Jack were expecting. On Sept. 11, she arrived at Newark&apos;s airport far enough in advance to get an earlier return flight home on United 93. </p><p>In the premiere of the “Hears How” podcast, Jack shares the depths of his grief and how he was able to find love again. <br/><br/><b>In this episode:</b><b><em><br/></em></b>How they met: Jack and Lauren’s love story [3:36]<br/>The morning of Sept. 11 [6:33] <br/>Jack’s grief and the benefits of therapy [9:30]<br/>Jack falls in love again [16:44]<br/>What else helped Jack [20:30]<em><br/> <br/> </em><b>More:<br/></b>If you would like to learn more about Jack’s story, purchase his book, “<a href='https://rarebirdlit.com/like-a-river'>Like a River to the Sea: Heartbreak and Hope in the Wake of United 93</a>.” <em> <br/></em>For more information on the Flight 93 National Memorial visit <a href='https://www.nps.gov/flni/index.htm'>its website</a>. <br/>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe to the show and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>follow @HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Jack Grandcolas met Lauren Catuzzi in college. “I just remember looking into her eyes and seeing the most beautiful eyes I&apos;d ever seen,” Jack says. “The sparks hit instantly. It was one of those wow moments.” </p><p>The couple wed and tried for a decade to have a baby. On Sept. 6, 2001, Lauren flew from California to attend her grandmother’s funeral in New Jersey and tell her family some good news: she and Jack were expecting. On Sept. 11, she arrived at Newark&apos;s airport far enough in advance to get an earlier return flight home on United 93. </p><p>In the premiere of the “Hears How” podcast, Jack shares the depths of his grief and how he was able to find love again. <br/><br/><b>In this episode:</b><b><em><br/></em></b>How they met: Jack and Lauren’s love story [3:36]<br/>The morning of Sept. 11 [6:33] <br/>Jack’s grief and the benefits of therapy [9:30]<br/>Jack falls in love again [16:44]<br/>What else helped Jack [20:30]<em><br/> <br/> </em><b>More:<br/></b>If you would like to learn more about Jack’s story, purchase his book, “<a href='https://rarebirdlit.com/like-a-river'>Like a River to the Sea: Heartbreak and Hope in the Wake of United 93</a>.” <em> <br/></em>For more information on the Flight 93 National Memorial visit <a href='https://www.nps.gov/flni/index.htm'>its website</a>. <br/>To stay updated on “Hears How,” subscribe to the show and <a href='https://www.instagram.com/hearshowpodcast/'>follow @HearsHowPodcast on Instagram</a>. </p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/12281228-jack-grandcolas-wife-lauren-catuzzi-grandcolas-dies-on-9-11-i-fought-hard-not-to-let-them-get-me-too.mp3" length="17890248" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Sun, 19 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>1485</itunes:duration>
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    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
    <itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
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    <itunes:title>&quot;Hears How&quot; Podcast Trailer</itunes:title>
    <title>&quot;Hears How&quot; Podcast Trailer</title>
    <itunes:summary><![CDATA[My name is Erin Jensen, and the "Hears How" podcast has been a dream in my heart for a very long time. As an entertainment writer, I've talked to a number of celebrities. But my favorite interviews are the ones that go beyond whatever project the star is looking to promote, conversations that get into topics we can all relate to -- things like failures, disappointments, grief. My therapist would tell you -- if he wasn't bound by HIPAA laws -- that I could benefit from increasing my resiliency...]]></itunes:summary>
    <description><![CDATA[<p>My name is Erin Jensen, and the &quot;Hears How&quot; podcast has been a dream in my heart for a very long time. As an entertainment writer, I&apos;ve talked to a number of celebrities. But my favorite interviews are the ones that go beyond whatever project the star is looking to promote, conversations that get into topics we can all relate to -- things like failures, disappointments, grief. My therapist would tell you -- if he wasn&apos;t bound by HIPAA laws -- that I could benefit from increasing my resiliency, which is why I&apos;m in awe of people who are able to overcome what my mind views as unimaginable loss, inconceivable heartbreak, or an insurmountable challenge. If you&apos;ve ever come across a remarkable story of triumph and wondered <em>How on Earth did they do that?</em> Here&apos;s how. Be sure to subscribe to the &quot;Hears How&quot; podcast, so you don&apos;t miss one opportunity to be inspired.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Music was acquired through Epidemic Sound.</p>]]></description>
    <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My name is Erin Jensen, and the &quot;Hears How&quot; podcast has been a dream in my heart for a very long time. As an entertainment writer, I&apos;ve talked to a number of celebrities. But my favorite interviews are the ones that go beyond whatever project the star is looking to promote, conversations that get into topics we can all relate to -- things like failures, disappointments, grief. My therapist would tell you -- if he wasn&apos;t bound by HIPAA laws -- that I could benefit from increasing my resiliency, which is why I&apos;m in awe of people who are able to overcome what my mind views as unimaginable loss, inconceivable heartbreak, or an insurmountable challenge. If you&apos;ve ever come across a remarkable story of triumph and wondered <em>How on Earth did they do that?</em> Here&apos;s how. Be sure to subscribe to the &quot;Hears How&quot; podcast, so you don&apos;t miss one opportunity to be inspired.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Music was acquired through Epidemic Sound.</p>]]></content:encoded>
    <enclosure url="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2125827/episodes/12221286-hears-how-podcast-trailer.mp3" length="1587031" type="audio/mpeg" />
    <itunes:author>Erin Jensen</itunes:author>
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    <pubDate>Thu, 09 Feb 2023 14:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
    <itunes:duration>127</itunes:duration>
    <itunes:keywords></itunes:keywords>
    <itunes:episodeType>trailer</itunes:episodeType>
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