Addictions run rampant in our society. In an effort to understand them, I reached out to a renowned life coach with a specialty in addictions, Tricia Parido. In this episode, we explore the many nuances of addiction. Tricia brings to light how and why addictions occur. If you or someone you love suffers from an addiction, you will not want to miss this episode.

I had the unique honor to talk with my long-time friend Patsy Pease about the Rust tragedy that happened a few weeks ago.  She had a unique perspective on the situation as she has been in the entertainment industry for years. You may have seen her playing Kimberly Brady on Days of Our Lives or Lola in the digital series the Bay- (for which she was nominated for an Emmy btw). In talking with Patsy, we found that there was a greater tragedy than the obvious one in front of us. There was a hateful ugliness surfacing that we both agreed needed to be addressed. Since Patsy is my spiritual advisor, we walked down the spiritual path of recovery. In the end, we come to a beautiful ending to help heal from this hateful underbelly of society.

People are dying in masses. Families are suffering losses at a record level. You would think I was talking about COVID, but I am not. I am referring to the other epidemic sweeping the streets, taking countless victims in its path- The Opioid Epidemic. As with all my episodes, the experts are the people struggling with the problem.  In this episode, I interview a recovering opioid addict who champions help for the hopeless addict out there. She is also a mom whose daughter is actively using heroin. She is passionate about showing compassion towards the person who suffers from substance abuse disorder rather than the contempt society has for them. If you suffer from an addiction to opioids of any kind, or you have a child suffering, you will not want to miss this podcast.

Does your child hate tags? Do they complain about the textures of food? Do their feelings get hurt very easily? Do you sense that there is something different about your child, but you just don't know what it is? You may be raising a Highly Sensitive Child. Dr, Elaine N Aron explains in her book entitled "The Highly Sensitive Child" that about 15-20% of the population qualify as an "HSC". Studies have shown this type of child to have an advanced neurological system. This causes them to be extremely sensitive to everything around them. If you are a parent raising this type of child, it can be extremely perplexing. My friend Leslie and I talk about our experiences in our journey to raise this extraordinary type of child. 

Jeff Key is an advocate for veterans suffering from the traumas of serving our country. He, himself served in the Iraq war during the "Don't Ask- Don't Tell" era as a gay marine. Talk about adding extra stress to an already stressful circumstance! He has found a path to healing through his writing. He actively works with the Warrior Writers in New Orleans to help others struggling to recover from trauma. In this episode, he shares his journey as a gay soldier serving in the military, his time, in Iraq, and his recovery from the effects of Trauma. This is an extremely important episode to add to the daily fight that these heroes endure each day. 

Everyone has to eat to live and survive. What if the act of eating or not eating hindered your ability to live or survive? So many people suffer from eating disorders. It is an epidemic in line with Opioids. It is also an extremely misunderstood disorder. There are so many different types of eating disorders and so many different types of people who suffer from them. Mary K has recently undergone treatment to recover from her own eating disorder. Mary admits that she felt that she was "too old" to suffer from a food disorder. However, it nearly took her life. She shares with us her harrowing lifelong journey to control and manage her eating. She also shares the message of hope for anyone out there who feels that they need help from this misunderstood addiction.

What came first, the addiction or the mental illness? This is a question many may wonder who suffer from a dual diagnosis addiction. People trying to recover from dual diagnosis are fighting an uphill battle against both a mental illness such as depression, anxiety, borderline personality, bipolar... and active addiction. In this episode, Jess W shares her experience in her climb from the clutches of this dilemma into freedom. She highlights the highs and lows of someone facing this prospect and offers hope for a way out.

Death is not a subject anyone wishes to think about until they are forced to. When confronted with losing someone we love, we know that we will endure excruciating pain and grief. How do doctors deal with losing loved ones? In this episode, I talk with my friend Katherine who is a Physician's Assistant about how she coped with the loss of both of her parents, who died in very different ways. Her perspective is intriguing and healing. 

Anyone who suffers from an addiction knows the baffling nature of the disease. Most people think of drugs and alcohol when it comes to talking about addiction, but there are so many more out there. One of the most curious addictions out there is Sex and Love addiction. This addiction shows itself in the form of toxic relationships, cheating, acting out sexually, and seeks to destroy the addict's life. In this episode, I interview Mindi who is a recovering sex and love addict. She shares her journey as a sex and love addict from the heart of her illness to recovery. If you think you or someone you care about, suffers from this disease, you will not want to miss this powerful 30-minute episode.

There has been so much in the news about the plight of the immigrants trying to enter this country. Some enter illegally but many others are fleeing for their lives.  What happens when something you watch on the news becomes personal? One day I discovered my friend Paula in tears. While seeking to comfort her, I discovered that her world was in danger of collapsing due to her status as an immigrant trying to start a new life in America. Her story is extremely inspiring as she overcame the many obstacles of ignorance and hate to achieve a new life. In this interview, she talks about her journey as an immigrant seeking to save her life and attain what everyone desires-" freedom".