In this episode, I chat with Katie. She shares about her time growing up in Ukraine as a missionary, her experiences in Ukraine and her love for the country, and the impacts the recent war has had on her emotionally. Big thanks to Katie for her patience as this was recorded in early May and I just got around to editing it with how crazy things have been. If you’re interested in donating to organizations devoted to helping Ukraine and their citizens, please consider the following organizations provided by Katie:   Come Back Alive (Military supplies)Website: savelife.in.ua/en/donatePatreon: patreon.com/savelife_in_uaArmy SOS (Military supplies)armysos.com.ua/en/help-the-armySupport Ukrainian Hospitals (Healthcare)uahospitals.org/donateKyiv independent (Independent journalism)Patreon: patreon.com/kyivindependentTabletochki (Helping children with cancer)tabletochki.org/en/donate_nowHappy Paws (Homeless cats and dogs)happypaw.ua/en/contributionHappy Old (Senior care)happyold.com.ua/helpWomen's Perspectives (Helping domestic abuse survivors and promoting gender equality)women.lviv.ua/en/pidtrymaty-2    

In this episode, I chat with comedian, musician, and actor Zach Dresch. In this episode, we talk about his comedy and music career, how his anxiety and depression has impacted him, his struggles with body image issues, and how the stage helps him to cope. Big thanks to Zach for his patience as this interview was recorded back in April! Also want to note that this guy has blown up in the last few months. It seems like every month I'm hearing about more and more accomplishments coming from his determination to entertain. Get to know more about Zach here: Facebook: Zach Dresch Instagram: @zadreschYouTube: The Dresch Code Twitter: @zachdresch 

I wouldn’t necessarily call this an episode but this week I share a little update regarding the future of the podcast. As much as I want to keep producing weekly content, it just can’t continue due to the current circumstances. Listen as I explain what’s currently going on and what the future plans are for the podcast. 

In this episode, I chat with Matt. Matt shares about growing up with a mother who struggled with alcoholism, how 9/11 turned his life upside down in a unique way, and how many of his years have been spent caretaking for his parents. Matt openly shares his struggles with supporting his family but also desiring his independence and freedom from the stress that accompanies such a role.   

In this episode, I continue my conversation with Ali from last week. We continue to discuss her rocky road of recovery, her exposure to patient brokering and other predatory actions of some addiction providers, how her relapse after seven years of sobriety was triggered due to her desire to start a family and her bipolar disorder, and how she continues to fight daily using her “secret sauce” for recovery. 

In this episode, I have a deep conversation with Ali. Ali shares about her childhood and early years of drug addiction. We discuss the impacts our fathers’ addictions had on our self esteem, her strong desire to escape from emotions with substances, and how her addiction led her into a world of even more trauma and despair. This episode ends with Ali beginning to share more about some of the horrible things that individuals with addiction experience when trying to get clean.      

In this episode, I talk with my friend and former colleague, Kristen. Kristen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a mom of two. Since experiencing some struggles herself with postpartum depression and anxiety, she has felt drawn to helping others in similar situations. We discuss some of the common emotions of parenthood, the concerns regarding the lack of maternal mental health assessment in postpartum care, and the importance of reaching out for support. I absolutely love Kristen’s vulnerability throughout this episode. If you’re interested in connecting with Kristen for therapy services for Virginia residents only, you can call or text her business line at 540-579-2318.    

In this episode, I chat with my former client and nomad friend, Sarah. We discuss how a difficult relationship helped her to get on the road and how losing her job during the pandemic combined with our work together helped her to go towards her goal of starting her own successful business while also having a better quality of life. Sarah is definitely one of those people who knows how to take advantage of life’s challenges. If you’d like to learn more about Sarah’s business, feel free to connect with her through www.flourishwriting.com.   

In this episode, I chat with Craig Wynne. Craig is a professor, coach, author, and happy bachelor. After a breakup in 2015, Craig stumbled across literature online regarding singlehood and the stigma surrounding it. After learning more about the topic, he became inspired to do his own research and writing on the topic. He has since created a blog at www.thehappybachelor.org, joined other professionals in the field to complete research, written a book called “How To Be a Happy Bachelor”, and started a coaching business specifically for helping others find happiness while being single. 

In this episode, it’s just me, myself, and I reflecting back on my first full year of podcasting. I talk about the difficult behind the scene moments in the early days, my amazing guests along with begging for more amazing guests for the future, and share my goals for the future as well as my gratitude for you listeners. I honestly couldn’t do it without you. If you want to connect with me to chat, be a guest, or offer feedback, please email me at [email protected] or reach out to me via social media!