Advertise on podcast: Kevin Polky - The Journey

During this reflection, I talked about different ways, awareness, education, action and empathy to keep our Light burning bright for others who are struggling in the darkness. Together, we can prevent suicide. Enjoy!

A Mom on a Mission to Make a Difference. Laura Kane joins us again on The Journey. She shares the story of Zach’s death and the origin of Marshmallow’s Hope. She took a leap of faith over 2 years ago and now her organization is providing counseling services for over 88 counties in Illinois. Check out her site www.marshmallowshope.org to learn more and about her upcoming event.

Matt Weldon returned to The Journey to share about a special organization, www.dontbenext.org that raises awareness and funds for local organizations who are making a difference in people’s lives. Check out his story and what they have coming up.

September is suicide awareness month. Shatter Our Silence is 10 years old and we are celebrating by having our biggest fundraiser yet. Check it out at www.shatteroursilence.org

Xavier Whitford returns to The Journey. It has been 12 years since her son has died from suicide. She has been committed to suicide awareness and education through her non-profit, Tommy Corrall Memorial Foundation. Today, she is reaching hundreds of people each year with the services they provide. They are starting a new event on September 10 th , Hope in Motion. Check it out at www.tommycorralmemorialfoundation.com.

This is an exceptional episode which Mike talks about his son, Ben and his wonderful gifts and talents and his tragic death by suicide. Mike shared about his grief journey and what helped battle the shame of feeling he failed his son. Enjoy!

During this reflection, I talk about setting goals for the upcoming school year and having the intention and daily discipline to create the story you want to tell at Christmas. Enjoy!

As summer begins to wind down and we prepare for the fall season, I’ve been reflecting on the value of stepping away from our normal routines and experiencing new places. Some of the trips Diane and I have taken have given us more than just memories. They have created meaningful moments of peace, perspective, and spiritual connection. In this episode, I share how those experiences inspired me to create a sacred space in my own backyard for prayer, meditation, daily devotionals, and quiet reflection. You do not have to travel far to find renewal. Sometimes, creating a place to slow down, reconnect with God, and take care of your well-being can begin right at home.

Heather returns to The Journey to share her story about her near-death experience when she was healthy, athletic 28-year-old educator who collapsed from a sudden heart attack. Thank goodness for the educators who were with her performed CPR and saved her life. Today, she openly talks about the primary reason for her heart attack was stress. More importantly, not managing her stress. During the episode, Heather talks about her soon to be released book, Stressed to Death and some of the takeaways. Great conversation!

In this Reflection on The Journey, I share a lesson that started for me when I was a teenager preparing for a bodybuilding competition. During a difficult stretch of dieting and training, I began to realize how much the words we use can shape the way we experience what we are going through. Over time, “Today’s better than yesterday” became a phrase that helped me shift my perspective. More recently, I have been practicing another simple reframe: changing “I have to” into “I get to.” In this episode, I reflect on how small changes in the way we talk to ourselves can begin to change our attitude, our perspective, and the way we approach the difficult things we know we need to do.

During this reflection, I share about recent article from Adam Grant who reviewed 35 year study on the impact of perfectionism on mental health which predated the digital age of social media. Though, I do believe social media and digital media have amplified the validation of perfection and think this is a good conversation about self judgment, fear of being judged by others and wanting to avoid making mistakes. Enjoy and share your thoughts!

This week on The Journey, Kevin is joined by Heather Hackman for an honest and heartfelt conversation about family, community, grief, and carrying love forward after loss. Heather shares about her life in the Rockford area, her upcoming wedding and event venue, and the importance of staying connected to the community. She also opens up about the significant losses her family has faced, including the pain of traumatic loss and suicide, and how those experiences have shaped the way she supports others. Together, Kevin and Heather discuss the complicated questions that come with grief, the importance of remembering people for how they lived rather than how they died, and how memories, nature, faith, family, and community can help people keep moving through difficult seasons.

Diego shares his story of losing two of his friends to suicide. He is using his music to remember them and make a difference so that others will not have to go to a funeral. Being a Light in the darkness. This week on The Journey with Kevin Polky, Kevin sits down with Diego Rosas to talk about the parts of life that shaped him: wrestling, music, friendship, grief, and purpose. Diego shares his background as a wrestler, his journey into music, and the story behind his current band. The conversation also moves into deeper territory as Diego reflects on the loss of friends Peyton and Ryan, the impact of suicide, and how music has become an outlet for grief, remembrance, and suicide prevention awareness. Diego also shares details about an upcoming July 11th music event at The Vault, featuring local bands, a silent auction, and proceeds supporting Shatter Our Silence and suicide prevention efforts.

Movement in Nature | Nick returns to The Journey to share about the expanded services of Rockford Barbell. We had engaging conversation about what Barbell is doing to help combat the youth exposure to digital platforms. Enjoy!

Noelle shares about her 20 years of experience working as a school counselor and her transition into clinical counseling. She has a passion for helping young people, as well as supporting other counselors. She also shares exciting news about her first book coming out in July, an online resource for counselors, and an in-person conference taking place in October.