Join Rock the Bottom Podcast’s hosts as they have a roundtable discussion with Dr. Marni Hill Foderaro about her transformation from devout atheist to believer in the supernatural after having said experience at her garage sale. Hear how this and other similar experiences have allowed her to reshape her life, perspective, and how she has evolved from the distraught divorcee to the empowered, confident woman who inspires thousands with her story. Purchase Dr. Foderaro’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/God-Came-My-Garage-Sale/dp/198223475X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BOXYEEL5ZR03&keywords=god+came+to+my+garage+sale&qid=1667672363&sprefix=%2Caps%2C67&sr=8-1

Dr. Marni Hill Foderaro was living the American Dream – great income, married with children, big, beautiful home. But then she would start to see a huge fault line in her perfectly constructed world when she discovered her husband of many years was deceiving her, mismanaging their finances, and jeopardizing all they had worked for. Navigating a divorce and feeling her kids slip away from her left Marni in a state of turmoil and trauma, but this would begin to change in the most unexpected way: a supernatural experience at her garage sale. An atheist all her life, Dr. Foderaro couldn’t believe the supernatural experience she had at a garage sale she’d put on to rid herself of things she’d accumulated within her marriage. Without giving too much away of it here, let’s just say it included a swarm of dragonflies. Dr. Foderaro was so touched by this experience that she published a book entitled God Came to My Garage Sale. Purchase Dr. Foderaro’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/God-Came-My-Garage-Sale/dp/198223475X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3BOXYEEL5ZR03&keywords=god+came+to+my+garage+sale&qid=1667672363&sprefix=%2Caps%2C67&sr=8-1

Last week’s interview with Judging Meghan podcast host, Meghan Judge, led to a roundtable discussion about the power of positive self-talk that Meghan used to initially break through the difficulty of being concerned with what others thought about her. Rock the Bottom hosts engage this podcast host in an uplifting conversation about ways we can all use our pain to help ourselves and others. Listen to Meghan’s podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3qGVLI2yQPoTCl0m2WYh4X Follow Meghan on Instagram @judgingmeghan Meghan’s website: http://judgingmeghan.com/

Host of the popular mental health podcast, Judging Meghan, opens up about her mental health struggles, trauma, isolation, and self-esteem issues that started in childhood and exacerbated as she became an adult. Meghan’s rock bottom includes intense suicidal ideation after being triggered by being excluded by her closest friends that eventually led to her reclaiming her power by using her pain to help empower others reclaim theirs. Meghan started a podcast to highlight her mental health woes and show people they are not alone. She had no idea it would be downloaded hundreds of thousands of times, rated in the top 1% of over 2 million podcasts, garner corporate sponsorships, and literally save lives across the world. But Meghan is also candid about the fact she still has down days despite her success and offers encouraging nuggets that help her through these battles. Listen to Meghan’s podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3qGVLI2yQPoTCl0m2WYh4X Follow Meghan on Instagram @judgingmeghan Meghan’s website: http://judgingmeghan.com/

In last week’s interview with Helen, we had to follow up with discussing the way she was able to stubbornly refuse to allow her disability to define her or even limit her fulfillment in life. Her sheer determination to purposefully maximize her potential and satisfaction in life is nothing short of remarkable, and we wanted to dive deeper with her so you may come away inspired and enlightened on ways you can replicate this mindset. Follow Helen on Instagram @wheelybraw View her work on YouTube Here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wheely+braw

Helen Lear-Grant was a young, vibrant, adventurous woman who instead of exploring her world in a care-free sense was suddenly battling for her life after being stricken with a rare medical affliction that, initially, she assumed was a virus that would subside but in fact left her paralyzed. Having every reason to sulk, lament, and bemoan what had been taken from her at no fault of her own, Helen rejected such a response and instead decided her energy would be channeled into what she could still do: enjoy new adventures in life more profoundly understanding life is not guaranteed from day to day. In this newfound approach, Helen has not only lived her life to the fullest but in doing so has been confronted with the many challenges many face in accessing public places. This has compelled Helen to take up this fight in bringing to the fore the need to greater wheelchair access in public places. Follow Helen on Instagram @wheelybraw View her work on YouTube Here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wheely+braw

Mary Beth’s Rountable Last week’s interview with retired federal judge, Mary Beth O’Connor, who had to overcome a fierce addiction to methamphetamine to get her life on track led to a further exploration into the topics of self-awareness and individualized recovery. Hear how she was able to carve out her own path for recovery and why she thinks others should as well. Should we strictly adhere to a well-established recovery program because it is proven to be effective? How does self-awareness play into this decision? Listen to your Rock the Bottom hosts and Mary Beth delve deep into these concepts. Purchase Judge O’Connor’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Junkie-Judge-Womans-Triumph-Addiction/dp/0757324568 Follow Judge O’Connor on Twitter @MaryBethO_

Before she was the Honorable Mary Beth O’Connor, administrative law judge, she was a woman who struggled mightily with an addiction to methamphetamine for over a decade. This was the result of prolonged childhood abuse that was never acknowledged or treated, leaving her to fend for herself in trying to cope. Drugs became that mechanism. After initially being introduced to the 12-Step model, Mary Beth was resistant to buy in completely because she was an atheist who did not like the idea of relying on a higher power for her recovery; thus, she carved out a path that suited her needs and provided her with recovery tools that were personalized. Mary Beth became Judge O’Connor years later and became a staunch proponent advocate, and board member of treatment programs that encourage personalized treatment goals, plans, and strategies. She retired from the bench in 2020 but still serves on the board of She Recovers Foundation and LifeRing Secular Recovery. Purchase Judge O’Connor’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Junkie-Judge-Womans-Triumph-Addiction/dp/0757324568 Follow Judge O’Connor on Twitter @MaryBethO_

Bob’s Roundtable Discussion Last week we interviewed Robert Lustyik, former FBI agent who went to prison for obstruction of justice, and one of the main tenets to his story was his ability to humble himself while incarcerated, and in doing so it allowed him to find his humanity. Listen to this roundtable discussion with Andrea, Martin, and Robert as they discuss the concept of humanity, how we find it, and why it is critical to our well-being.

Decorated veteran of the FBI, Robert Lustyik (Bob), went from an esteemed career as a counterintelligence officer to a 6 by 9 prison cell for eight years after being convicted for obstruction of justice. Robert candidly and humbly discusses how his ego-driven career got the best of him and led him to the other side of the bars where he underwent a radical transformation of humility, self-discovery and humanity. Bob details how he as a former law enforcement officer had to carefully navigate the rigors of prison culture where he knew he would have a target on his back daily. In his new identity, he found ways to relate to those he had spent his career looking down upon. He came to see men differently and realized he – as we all do – has a duty to use his gifts to enhance those around him. Before long, Bob was teaching and training men in exercise, yoga, music, and other forms of self-care. In turn, this taught Bob the valuable lesson of our connectedness as humankind. Book Bob to speak through the link below: https://speakerhub.com/speaker/robert-lustyik