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What if the patterns running your life were never yours to begin with? James Kawainui reveals how ancestral trauma, childhood wounds, and unconscious “operating system” beliefs quietly shape the choices we make, the relationships we repeat, and the leadership we bring to work and home. Dave Roberts guides a powerful conversation with James, a native Hawaiian Kahu healer, teacher, and mentor whose path took him from Navy service and corporate success to a life-changing ancestral awakening at 42. Together they unpack why geographic escape never fixes internal pain, how unresolved conflict keeps recreating itself, and why real transformation begins when you stop outsourcing your power. You’ll discover: Why the same emotional script keeps showing up with new people and new circumstancesHow Pono, grounding, and somatic awareness help you recognize what’s happening inside your body before you reactThe difference between helping someone and becoming their guruWhy integrity means knowing your limits, telling the truth, and refusing to give advice that disempowersHow Ho’oponopono works as a process of accountability, listening, self-inquiry, and true resolutionJames also shares the story behind his forthcoming book, What My Ancestors Knew, and explains why the traditional Hawaiian practice of Ho’oponopono is far deeper than a simplified “forgiveness” mantra. He breaks down the sacred process of bringing people together, holding space without interruption, and restoring balance only after every voice is heard. This episode is especially resonant if you’ve been carrying old pain, repeating the same conflict in different forms, or trying to lead others without first getting honest with yourself. If you’re craving clarity, peace of mind, and a more sovereign way to move through the world, this conversation will meet you right where you are. Perfect for anyone ready to stop repeating the past, reclaim personal responsibility, and discover what healing looks like when it is rooted in culture, humility, and deep inner truth. James Bio and Contact Information James Kealiipiilani Kawainui is a Native Hawaiian Kahu, healer, teacher, and mentor carrying a Kahuna lihim James lived a full and driven life—serving in the Navy, building custom homes and yachts, and spending 17 years as a corporate executive. Despite outward success, something essential was missing. At 42, he experienced an awakening when his ancestors spoke to him and called him home. He left corporate life and began the path back to his lineage and healing work. Today James works with people stuck in unresolved conflict, repeating patterns, or quiet self-doubt. He helps them uncover and clear what lies beneath those struggles and find clarity, confidence, and courage. Rooted in pono—the Hawaiian practice of living in balance, harmony, and integrity—his work includes healing, mentoring, teaching, speaking, and retreats. James is the author of the forthcoming What My Ancestors Knew and is the owner of Red Rock Property Reset, bringing ancestral clearing practices to real estate professionals. He lives in Sedona, Arizona. Website : jameskawainui.com Email; [email protected] Linkedin: James Kawainui Subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: XA9V4K1DDGNELK62, P4E3UP60Y6T9BTKQ

What if the life you were handed was never the life you had to keep? KAYR Robinson turns a childhood of poverty, instability, and repeated setbacks into a blueprint for unbreakable success. If you need proof that mindset, discipline, and the right people can change everything, this conversation delivers it. Dave Roberts talks with Kevin "KAYR" Robinson, a two-time USA Today bestselling author, real estate investor, and former Goldman Sachs finance professional who built a portfolio of more than 160 rental units after growing up in Philadelphia with uncertainty, hardship, and constant movement. KAYR shares how he moved from survival to structure to stability - and why the turning point was not talent, luck, or timing, but vulnerability. You'll discover the exact mindset shifts that helped him go from skipping school and struggling academically to becoming valedictorian, student leader, Wall Street professional, and multi-million-dollar entrepreneur. KAYR breaks down his "three D's" - desire, discipline, and determination - and explains why motivation fades but discipline lasts. He also shares the role mentors, sponsors, and a "personal board of directors" played in helping him build a life that was bigger than his circumstances. We also unpack what vulnerability really means for men, why asking for help is a strength instead of a weakness, and how to stop confusing personal pain with personal destiny. KAYR opens up about loss, identity, resilience, and the responsibility of creating your own safety net when no one is coming to save you. This episode is a powerful reminder that where you start does not decide where you finish. Perfect for anyone rebuilding, reinventing, or trying to level up with more clarity, structure, and purpose. Kevin Bio and Contact Information Kevin “KAYR” Robinson (pronounced KAY-R) is a real estate investor, entrepreneur,and operator who built a multimillion-dollar portfolio after growing up in poverty in West Philadelphia. After beginning his career in finance — including roles at Goldman Sachs and other investment firms — he went on to build a real estate company from the ground up. Today, his portfolio includes 160+ rental units, supported by a professional team focused on acquisition, development, and operations. KAYR is also a sought-after speaker and business advisor focused on discipline, mindset, leadership, and wealth-building systems. His work bridges street-level lived experience with institutional business training — offering a powerful lens on what it actually takes to break generational cycles. He serves on the boards of Philadelphia Young Playwrights, The Great Young Society II Organization, and the Grove Collective Foundation, and has been recognized as a nominee for Philadelphia’s 40 Under 40 Leadership Awards. His story and perspectives have been featured by outlets including MarketWatch, NPR, PBS, NBC, The Atlantic, and KBS (Korean Broadcasting System). His memoir, Can’t Break Me, became a USA TODAY Best Seller and landed on the list for consecutive weeks in 2026. His life journey is also highlighted in Black in White Space: The Enduring Impact of Color in Everyday Life by Yale professor Elijah Anderson. KAYR earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Bowdoin College and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Website: kayrmotivates.com Instagram: @kayrmotivates LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/krobins2 TikTok: @kayrmotivates YouTube: @kayrmotivates His book: Can't Break Me, is available wherever books are sold. Subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 4HRTIHB177D6UXAU, 1WLKUMBZSHD7HOYT

Trauma may not need years of talk therapy to shift. Dr. Judith Swack shows how the body stores emotional pain, why it keeps repeating in your life, and how to interrupt it in minutes using simple techniques you can do yourself. Host Dave Roberts sits down with Dr. Judith A. Swack, the originator of Healing from the Body Level Up, for a conversation that blends science, somatic healing, and surprising hands-on demonstrations. Judith explains why the conscious mind often misses the real problem, how trauma gets frozen into the nervous system, and why uncovering the structure of a pattern is the missing piece in lasting healing. You'll discover: Why trauma lives in the body, not just the story you tell about itThe four-step framework Judith uses to identify and clear stuck patternsHow hugging and tapping can calm the nervous system fastWhy frontal occipital holding can shift guilt, fear, and old childhood painHow ancestral trauma and root causes can keep showing up across generationsDave doesn't just ask the questions - he steps into the process and experiences the techniques in real time, making this episode especially powerful if you've ever felt stuck in the same emotional loops, relationship patterns, or body-based stress responses. Judith also shares how HBLU integrates biomedical science, psychology, hypnosis, NLP, applied kinesiology, energy psychology, and spiritual techniques, plus how her work extends to root-cause healing, past lives, and ancestral patterns. If you've ever wondered why talking about trauma isn't always enough, this conversation will change how you think about healing. Essential listening for therapists, coaches, healing practitioners, and anyone ready to understand trauma at the level where it actually lives. T Judith Swack Bio and Contact Information Judith A. Swack, Ph.D., biochemist/immunologist, Master NLP practitioner, mind/body healer and best-selling author is the originator of Healing from the Body Level Up (HBLU), an innovative and powerful methodology with transformative results. HBLU integrates biomedical science, psychology, hypnosis, NLP, applied kinesiology, Energy Psychology and spiritual techniques with original research on the structure of complex damage patterns. She has presented her dramatic results on national television and at international conferences and has published in scientific, professional, and popular books and journals. Dr. Swack is a recipient of the 2015 Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) award for major contribution to the field of Energy Psychology and author of CLEAR TRAUMA NOW A Powerful Solution for Getting Unstuck. Dr. Swack works with clients in person and by Zoom https://hblu.org/ Purchase Heal Trauma Now on Amazon Subscribe to the podcast to get more great episodes. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: POTKA3Y0RA1PYUZE, PNIMPQA0KTF6NM94

Shame can look like freedom on the outside and still keep you locked up for years. Matilde Hernandez reveals how she turned incarceration, silence, and self-protection into a life of real freedom, and why the hardest prison to escape is often the one in your own mind. Host Dave Roberts sits down with Matilde Hernandez, certified coach, speaker, author of Beyond These Walls, and founder of Dare to Lift It, for a powerful conversation about what it takes to stop surviving and start truly living. Matilde shares the experiences that shaped her, from incarceration to years of mental imprisonment after release, and the moment she realized healing had to begin with forgiveness, self-awareness, and community. You'll discover: Why incarceration is not just physical, but deeply mental and emotionalHow shame, fear, and silence can keep you stuck long after releaseThe difference between strength and freedom, and why one does not guarantee the otherHow forgiveness becomes a tool for liberation, not just a moral idealWhy community, honest conversation, and aligned support matter for lasting change This episode is a reminder that your past does not get the final word. Whether you're navigating trauma, recovery, self-doubt, or a season of reinvention, Matilde's story offers something urgent and deeply practical: freedom is a choice, healing is a process, and your voice matters.Essential listening if you need encouragement to forgive yourself, reclaim your voice, and step into the life waiting beyond your walls. Matilde’s Bio and Contact Information Matilde Hernandez is a , certified coach, speaker, author, and founder of Dare 2 Lift It. For years, she carried the weight of expectation, silence, and responsibility. Matilde knew how to be strong, but didn’t always feel free. She poured into others, held things together, and kept moving — even when she hadn’t fully acknowledged what I needed to heal. Matilde’s life shifted when she stopped surviving and started asking better questions. When she chose to pause and examine the patterns that kept pulling her back. When she started reclaiming the parts of myself that were hidden or buried. Dare 2 Lift It was born out of that process. Not just personal growth, but personal liberation. She is also the author of Beyond These Walls. Website: Dare 2 Lift It — spelled “D-A-R-E,” the number 2, “Lift It”Podcast: Unpack That Be FreeListen on: YouTube and SpotifyAvailable through her website: book information, workshops, a free assessment, and a complimentary 30-minute callSubscribe to the podcast for more great episodes. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: IPWCP5GHVDFOUAWL, A44QH5EYCGOVCTYH

The most painful part of Alzheimer’s is not always the diagnosis - it’s the slow, heartbreaking loss of the person you love before they’re gone. Sarah Vosburgh shares the story behind Who Will Name the Bees? and the moment a simple question about bees became the title of a memoir about memory, grief, and holding on.Sarah - a psychologist, mother, wife, and memoirist - opens up about her mother’s decline, the emotional toll of caregiving, and the impossible choices families face when autonomy begins to disappear. She and host Dave Roberts talk candidly about memory care, the grief that starts long before death, and why caregivers so often feel isolated even when they’re not alone. You’ll discover: Why the title Who Will Name the Bees? carries so much emotional weightWhat Sarah’s mother was like before Alzheimer’s and how dementia changed their relationshipThe painful reality of losing autonomy, driving, and independenceHow Sarah navigated the decision to place her mother in memory careWhy caregiver guilt is so common, and why grace matters more than perfectionDave also draws on his own experience with loss, creating an honest, compassionate conversation about anticipatory grief, end-of-life decisions, and the burden so many families carry in silence. If you’ve ever cared for a parent, walked alongside someone with dementia, or questioned whether you made the right choice, this episode will meet you where you are.Sarah’s memoir itself was born in the middle of the night from dreams, memories, and a pile of Sharpie notes on the glass beside her bed - and the result is a deeply personal book shaped by prose, poetry, and family. This is essential listening for anyone navigating Alzheimer’s, caregiving, grief, or the search for meaning inside loss. Sarah Vosburgh is a psychologist, memoirist, and member of the International Memoir Writers Association and San Diego Writers, Ink. Sarah’s Bio and Contact Information It was never in Sarah Vosburgh’s plan to be an author or to write a memoir. As a busy mom, wife, and psychologist, she always saw her life as full (sometimes overfull). But in the dark of night, memories knocked on her brain, compelling her to commit them first to paper, then to bits and bytes. Sarah is a member of the International Memoir Writers Association and San Diego Writers, Ink. Her work has been published in A Year in Ink and numerous volumes of Shaking the Tree: brazen. short. memoir. A native New Englander, she now lives in San Diego with her husband, her daughter, her granddog, and a most extraordinary feline. Her book Who Will Name the Bees? is available at whowillnamethebees.com, sarahvosburgh.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 3DFUAJAMXM8978CV, 65FERJUZUZMY3PKW

Discover the inspiring story of resilience and rebirth in our latest episode featuring Ron Klopfanstein, an adjunct professor at Utica University and host of Hot Seat Media Monday. After suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome for over a decade, Ron shares how he transformed his life from debilitating illness to impactful educator and community activist. Ron’s journey is not just about overcoming a health crisis; it’s a testament to the power of choice in the face of adversity. He candidly discusses the struggles that come with chronic fatigue syndrome, including the physical and emotional toll it takes. You’ll hear about the innovative treatments that finally helped him reclaim his life, including the surprising role that colloidal silver played in his recovery. In this episode, you'll discover: - The lesser-known symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and its elusive causes. - The unconventional treatment paths that led to Ron's recovery. - How his experiences shaped his teaching philosophy and approach to life. - Insights into the importance of choosing gratitude over bitterness after loss. - The ways in which chronic illness can redefine one’s purpose and passion. Ron’s story is a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always a path forward. He emphasizes the importance of resilience, the strength found in vulnerability, and the impact of maintaining a positive outlook. Whether you’re facing your own challenges or simply seeking inspiration, this episode is essential listening. Ron’s journey will leave you motivated to confront your own obstacles with courage and determination. Tune in and be inspired to live with intention and purpose Ron’s Bio and Contact Information Ron Klopfanstein is an adjunct professor at Utica University and has taught in the Utica New York school system for several years. He is also involved in various social causes in the Utica area, with his husband Jim Hale. Ron is also the host of Hot Seat Media Monday, a live podcast which highlights individuals and organizations who are having a positive impact in the Utica, New York community. Ron’s Contact information All Social Media: Ron Klopfanstein Podcast: Hot Seat Media Monday uticapheonix.net/media-monday , 95.5 FM The Heat, Mondays from 5–6 p.m, and on all major podcast platforms Music licensed through Soundstripe.( For Audio) Code: KSVELDKHTBG33F1B, VIFGXBNKLK8BORNN

What if the behaviors that make you great at helping others are also the ones that keep you stuck, burned out, and disconnected from yourself? Trauma expert and award-winning professor Dr. Adam McCormick joins host Dave Roberts for a deeply practical conversation about adverse childhood experiences, emotional survival, and why so many helping professionals are drawn to this work long before they ever realize it. Adam shares how growing up with an alcoholic father and becoming a parentified child shaped his path into social work, and why so many adults recreate familiar pain in relationships, work, and self-sabotage without meaning to. He breaks down the difference between ACEs and trauma, why trauma is the wound rather than the event, and how shame, control, and survival adaptations like fight, flight, freeze, overfunctioning, and people-pleasing follow us into adulthood. You’ll discover: Why emotional and relational trauma often shapes professionals more than overt abuseHow childhood survival skills get rewarded in social work, teaching, and other helping rolesWhy “just do self-care” fails when someone has disconnected from their authentic self to surviveHow countertransference can reveal unresolved childhood material in the roomWhy connection, co-regulation, and being truly seen matter more than perfect advice Adam offers a powerful framework for understanding how meaning gets made, how trauma spreads when it goes unrecognized, and how healing begins when someone finally stays present without judgment. This conversation is essential listening for anyone who works with trauma, supports young people, or is trying to break generational cycles in their own life. About Adam Adam McCormick, MSSW, PhD, is an award-winning professor, social worker, keynote speaker, and author whose work explores trauma, burnout, emotional development, helping professionals, foster care, resilience, masculinity, and the emotional lives of boys and men. Over the course of his career, Adam has delivered nearly 300 keynote presentations, workshops, conference sessions, continuing education trainings, and professional development programs for social workers, counselors, healthcare professionals, educators, universities, and helping organizations across the United States. In 2026, Adam received the Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award, widely regarded as the highest honor for teaching excellence in the state of Texas. He is also a candidate for the 2028 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching, one of the most prestigious teaching awards in higher education in the United States, and was the recipient of St. Edward's University's Distinguished Teaching Award in 2025. Adam is the author of Healing the Helping Professional: The Unfinished Business of Childhood (NASW Press, 2026), a book exploring childhood trauma, emotional survival adaptations, burnout, authenticity, and the journey back to the self. He is also currently completing The Cost of Becoming a Boy: Trauma, Boyhood, and a Return to Self, a forthcoming book examining the emotional, developmental, and cultural experiences that shape boys and men. Dr. McCormick is the author of LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care (Routledge). Known for blending trauma science, storytelling, vulnerability, humor, and practical application, Adam's presentations help audiences better understand both the people they serve and themselves. Connect with Adam McCormick: Follow Adam on LinkedIn for his social links and weekly trauma-focused newsletter. His book is available through Amazon and NASW Press. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: XWLO67WFURMT2DN2, ABDSVWEN4S5MUN7Y Subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes.

Some paintings are beautiful. Mary Marquiss makes paintings that answer back. In this conversation, the Oregon artist and author of Behind the Painting reveals how grief, synchronicity, travel, and 30 years of watercolor work turned her art into a mirror for the most life-changing moments of her story. Mary and host Dave Roberts trace the deeply personal paintings in her memoir, including the poppy that became a symbol of unexpected strength, the bird that felt like her sister Betty's spirit, and a cave in Scotland that opened into a moment of profound release. What begins as an art conversation becomes something much larger: a meditation on how creativity helps us survive loss, recognize meaning, and keep moving through the dark toward the light. You'll discover: How Mary's psychology background shaped the way she sees art, memory, and emotionWhy watercolor became the perfect medium for play, layering, and transformationThe role of synchronicity in her travels through Ireland, Scotland, Paris, and southern FranceWhy she believes life is not linear and neither is healing, forgiveness, or growthHow kindness, boundaries, and self-compassion became central themes in both her life and workMary also shares the hard-won wisdom behind surviving divorce, miscarriage, cancer, and the death of loved ones without becoming bitter - and why one small act of kindness can echo for a lifetime. Dave brings his own reflections from psychology, teaching, grief, and spiritual meaning, creating a thoughtful conversation about what art can hold when words fall MARY MARQUISS – BIO AND CONTACT INFORMATION Marquiss developed her interest in art as a child, surrounded by the lush beauty of Oregon. Originally from Corvallis - she is a fifth generation Oregonian and has lived in Bend for 34 years. Marquiss attended both the University of Oregon and UCLA, earning her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. After graduating she became the Admissions Director for a private psychiatric hospital in Reno, Nevada, owned by HCA with 500 hospitals worldwide. After two years as the hospital Admissions Director she was promoted to Marketing Director and then became a Marketing Consultant for HCA. In 1995 she moved to HCA’s corporate offices in Nashville to become the product manager for Seniority – a benefit that only comes with age - which was franchised in hospitals across the country. When her daughter was born 38 years ago, she left her corporate career and returned to her love of art and writing. “I focused primarily on watercolor because it can be playful, has a beautiful transparency and teaches me about the challenge of controlling this medium – when to take it and when to let go – as in life,” she explains. Marquiss has written and illustrated two cookbooks, and taught art and design classes to both adults and children in Bend for over 30 years. Combing her art and writing she is the author of the forthcoming book: Behind the Painting – An Artist’s Memoir which holds ten of her paintings and a story interwoven behind each one over a thirty years trajectory. This book takes the reader on an adventure with both the high notes in Paris and finding love late in life through challenges she faced including family suicide, a stroke and cancer. Her original art and book information can be seen at www.marymarquiss.com. Email: [email protected] Book: Behind the Painting on Amazon Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: EUVL5TMU3OAME5WY, 0EMPZ9AVHFR3XLNJ Subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes.

Fear does not disappear by accident. It gets transformed when you finally face the root, reframe the story, and stop calling stuck "fine." Claudia Wyatt returns with the energy, honesty, and hard-won insight to help you break the loops that keep you repeating the same patterns. Dave Roberts and Claudia go deep on the hidden ways fear shows up - in change, in grief, in old childhood wounds, and in the pressure to stay comfortable. Claudia explains why the very thing you keep avoiding can become the doorway to your next level, and why your brain often clings to safety even when safety is keeping you small. You'll discover: Why "fine" is often code for stuckHow fear of change quietly shapes your decisionsThe difference between changing something and reframing itWhy childhood moments can echo through adult behaviorHow to spot the patterns that keep replaying like Groundhog DayWhy awareness is the first step to breaking the cycleClaudia also shares how her own walkabout method grew out of her refusal to keep repeating the same emotional patterns. She and Dave explore what it really means to sit with pain instead of outrun it, and how that process can unlock confidence, clarity, and momentum you may not realize you already have. If you are navigating a transition, carrying old baggage, or simply tired of living on autopilot, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are. It is a powerful listen for leaders, coaches, and anyone ready to move from fear into freedom. Claudia's Bio and Contact Information Claudia Wyatt is a globally recognized inspirational leader, international keynote speaker, consultant, coach and writer known as The Enthusiasm Igniter™ and Self-Doubt Eraser™. With over 20 years of experience coaching high-performing teams and leaders, she helps individuals and organizations break free from limiting beliefs, strengthen communication, and lead with unshakable confidence. Claudia is a certified confidence, cognitive behavior and life purpose coach with emphasis in leadership, empowerment and wellness. She is the founder of The Walkabout Method™, her signature framework guiding leaders & individuals to reclaim their power, elevate emotional intelligence, and lead boldly from within. Showing up as themselves for themselves and living on purpose. Claudia was recently named Professional Training and Coaching Provider of the Year, New York, 2026. Claudia’s impact is immediate, audiences leave energized, empowered, and ready to rise. Social Media Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiawyattcoaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theclaudiawyatt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554805040594 Company pages: LinkedIn: : https://www.linkedin.com/company/claudia-wyatt-coaching-llc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567176611416 Website: https://claudiawyatt.com/ Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: YRJTM1LEAQOJS5RU, ULOO0HBNYD8BM6JH Subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes.

Grief is grief is grief - and if you support people, lead teams, or live with loss yourself, this conversation will change how you think about it. Suzanne Jabour returns to unpack the overlooked world of pet loss, why it hits so hard, and how intuition led her from grief education into a new mission that many people desperately need. After the death of her son Ben, Suzanne built a life around helping others understand grief more clearly. Now she’s following a new trail of breadcrumbs into pet-loss support, where shame, dismissal, guilt, and complicated family dynamics often leave people grieving in silence. She and Dave explore why pet loss is so often disenfranchised, why it can reopen older grief, and why animals can become anchors of comfort, identity, and survival. You’ll discover: Why “you can just get another one” is one of the most harmful responses to pet lossHow pet grief can be intensified when an animal is linked to a deceased loved oneWhy some pets become lifelines during the hardest seasons of lifeWhat actually happens inside Suzanne’s pet loss gatheringsThe surprising framework that makes support more effective: say something open, offer something specificWhy grieving people need long-term help, not just sympathy in the first few daysDave also brings his own lived experience of profound loss, creating a raw, honest conversation about how grief reshapes identity, how support groups help people find language and belonging, and why the emotional load of loss cannot be measured by society’s approval of it. Together, they make the case for a kinder, smarter, more human way of showing up for people in pain. This episode is essential listening for grief professionals, pet lovers, caregivers, workplace leaders, and anyone who has ever felt dismissed in their mourning. If you’ve ever wondered how to support someone after a loss - or what to do with your own - this conversation gives you the language, the perspective, and the reminder that no grief deserves to be minimized. Suzanne’s Bio and Contact Information Suzanne is a grieving mom who has found meaning in her loss through providing grief education – sharing how grief really works and how we can support people experiencing it. She works with organizations and businesses to build the skills and protocols to better support people who are grieving at work. She is available as a speaker to share her story and help normalize grief as a healthy response to losses big and small. She has a BA and BEd and decades of experience as a trainer. She is a certified Grief Educator, Transformational Coach and Workshop Leader. Connect with Suzanne Jabour Website: https://suzannejabour.com Pet Loss Gatherings: https://suzannejabour.com/pets LInkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-jabour Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: GW8LVRKETJYGTSDH, L0WYQCAOBIARQYKK Subscribe to the podcast for more great episodes.

What if your next chapter is not a restart, but a metamorphosis? Dr. Vasundhara Tolia - physician, former pediatric gastroenterologist, and self-taught visual artist - shares how she turned a distinguished medical career into a second act built on creativity, resilience, and purpose.Host Dave Roberts sits down with Dr. Vasu to trace the path from India to Michigan, from pioneering pediatric gastroenterology to finding a new voice on canvas after medicine. Along the way, she reveals how the same skills that made her a strong clinician - observation, listening, empathy, and comfort with uncertainty - became the foundation of her art.You'll discover: Why practice and persistence matter more than innate talentHow a medical mindset shapes abstract and semi-abstract paintingThe meaning behind her mixed-media pieces, including Entangled and Twilight TidbitsHow she uses found objects, texture, acrylics, and symbolism to create emotionally layered workWhy she sees art as a form of healing, not just decorationDr. Vasu also opens up about the identity shift that comes with leaving a career that defined you, and how she rebuilt meaning without discarding the wisdom of everything that came before. Her story is a powerful reminder that reinvention does not require erasing your past - it asks you to build on it.They also explore the charitable mission behind her art, including her support for mental health awareness, trafficking survivors, women's empowerment, neurodivergent individuals, and environmental protection. She even shares how she donates 50% of original artwork sales to the charity chosen by the buyer.This episode is essential listening for physicians, artists, educators, caregivers, and anyone standing at the edge of a major life transition. If you need a reminder that creativity can renew purpose, and that your experience still belongs to you no matter how your life evolves, this conversation will stay with you. Dr Vasu's Bio and Contact Information Dr. Vasundhara (Vasu) Tolia is a physician and visual artist whose work bridges science and creativity. After a distinguished career as a tenured Professor and Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Wayne State University — where she established Michigan's first pediatric endoscopy unit and published over 150 peer-reviewed papers — she reinvented herself as a visual artist. Her artwork has been selected by The Washington Post as one of the nation's Top 20 COVID-era artworks, featured on the cover of the CDC's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, and shown in numerous solo and juried exhibitions. She has contributed a chapter to the anthology Mastery Unleashed: Stories & Strategies to Unleash Your Potential, and her story has been featured on over 45 podcasts. Website: www.vasutolia.art Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/vasundhara.tolia Instagram @toliavasu L inkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasundhara-tolia-79695a34/ Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: YXHDHQOKAYUGB5ZG, YF5RNCZOBCAXNDPU The Teaching Journeys Podcast can be found on your favorite podcast platforms.

Death does not have to be a family emergency. Niki Weiss, a digital thanatologist, shows why the smartest move you can make is to build your plan while life is good, everyone is of sound mind, and the paperwork is still manageable. If you think end-of-life planning is only about wills, this conversation will change the way you think about your phone, your passwords, your photos, your subscriptions, your bank accounts, and even your AI chats. Dave Roberts and Niki break down why we are the first generation to die with more digital assets than physical ones, and why that makes legacy planning more urgent than ever. You’ll discover: Why “digital hygiene” is now a real part of adultingThe legal, financial, physical, and digital pieces every family needs to organizeWhy a HIPAA release form matters the moment a child turns 18How legacy contacts on iPhone and Android can save your loved ones from court orders and chaosThe “intention-action gap” that keeps people from ever getting startedWhy different end-of-life scenarios require different playbooksNiki also explains how her company, Endevo, uses a “Final Playbook” to help people prepare for three very different paths: sudden death, terminal diagnosis, and long-term care. Along the way, she shares the real-world consequences of doing nothing, from probate headaches to family conflict to the emotional and financial cost of being unprepared. This episode is especially important if you’re a parent sending a child to college, managing a blended family, caring for aging relatives, or simply trying to make sure the people you love are not left with confusion when they need clarity most. About Niki Niki Weiss is a digital thanatologist and the creator of Endevo and the Digital Legacy Podcast, where she helps people and organizations face death and dying in the digital age with clarity, dignity, and intention. Contact Information LinkedIn: Niki Weiss Website: https://endevo.life Website: https://finalplaybook.com If you want to live fully and die ready, this is essential listening. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: VREUEHGU2PQTS8UY, SBYXWJSM1QWGEPF0

What if your best performers are the ones most likely to quietly break your company? Jackie Roby reveals why "palatability culture" creates stalled leaders, hidden burnout, and the kind of polite silence that kills innovation, retention, and trust. Executive leadership advisor Jackie Roby and Teaching Journeys host Dave Roberts unpack the real cost of rewarding agreement over honesty, and why so many high achievers end up shrinking themselves just to stay safe at work. Jackie shares the personal and professional experiences that shaped her mission, from early workplace bullying to the family role that trained her to become the peacemaker. You’ll discover why insecure leadership turns teams into battlegrounds, how survival mode shows up as overworking, appeasing, and analysis paralysis, and why even your strongest people may not know how to rest. Jackie breaks down the difference between productivity and contribution, and explains how simple practices like pausing, naming what you feel, breathing, and writing for two minutes can create real change. They also explore the leadership traps that come with scaling businesses, why delegation often fails when founders can’t model healthy behavior, and how to introduce dissent without destroying collaboration. Dave adds sharp insight from his own leadership experience, making this a conversation that connects workplace psychology to practical, everyday management. Jackie also shares the story behind Inspired Journey Consulting, the thinking behind her upcoming book, Palatable, Profitable and Dying Inside, and the kind of culture she wants to help leaders build instead: one where people are trusted, heard, and able to contribute fully instead of just being agreeable. Essential listening for executives, founders, HR leaders, and anyone who knows the cost of a team that looks fine on the surface but is quietly running on empty. Jackie’s Bio and Contact Information Bio: Jackie Roby is an Executive Leadership Advisor and founder of Inspired Journey Consulting. She helps organizations spot the hidden cost of high performers who've learned to make everyone else comfortable instead of speaking up, and what that costs in retention and leadership pipeline. Her book, Palatable, Profitable, and Dying Inside, comes out this October. She chairs the Global Wellness Institute's Inclusive Wellness Initiative and has spoken internationally, from Dubai to Ibiza to Mexico. Website: https://inspiredjourneyconsulting.com/ Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredjourneyconsulting https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-roby/ The Teaching Journeys Podcast can be found on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: R0IFSLGYMMLGJNJR, TUOOAHKL1IZUZT4C

Grief can break you open - or become the force that rebuilds your life with more truth, purpose, and peace. Chris Mamone returns to share the raw, practical, and unexpectedly hopeful lessons that have emerged from his journey after the loss of his son Caden, and why he now sees grief not as something to “get over,” but as something that can transform you. Chris and host Dave Roberts go deep on the moments that change everything: how Chris turned pain into purpose through The Empowered Grief Journey: 23 Stories of Grief that Carved a New Path Forward, why surrounding yourself with the right people matters more than forcing your way back to “normal,” and how to recognize when grief is asking you to release what no longer serves you. They also unpack Chris’s “rules of engagement” for reclaiming life, including why not every relationship belongs on your path, why rejection can be redirection, and how to quiet the outside noise long enough to hear your own inner voice again. You’ll discover: Why Chris believes grief is a brutal but beautiful teacherHow an anthology of 23 grief stories became a powerful healing toolWhat “redirection is repurpose” really means in real lifeWhy support circles change as you heal, and why that’s okayHow to move from fear and self-blame into gratitude, presence, and contributionDave and Chris also talk candidly about surrender, spiritual perspective, and the courage it takes to keep moving forward after unimaginable loss. Chris shares what changed for him when the heavy weight of grief finally lifted, and how that shift helped him see Caden not only as a loss, but as a lasting source of meaning, guidance, and growth.Essential listening if you’re navigating child loss, miscarriage, trauma, or any season where life feels shattered and you need proof that healing is possible without pretending the pain never happened. Chris’s Bio and Contact Information Chris Mamone is an acceptance coach, the founder of My Becoming Path Coaching Practice and Podcast, and the author of The Empowered Grief Journey. He helps people move from pain into hope, self-acceptance, and personal power through grief so they can create an inspiring future grounded in healing, truth, and purpose. He is also the host of The Empowered Grief Journey Coaching Practice and Podcast, which can be found on your favorite podcast platforms.. Relevant Links Facebook: Chris Mamone Website: MyBecomingPath.com Email: [email protected] Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: PQIGXIAM7JG2WZRW, 8BAAISDHCS84UYWM The Teaching Journeys Podcast can be found on your favorite podcast platforms

A charity can become a movement when it’s built on love, music, and one unforgettable mission. Mike Gomoll shares how Joey's Song turned personal loss into a one-of-a-kind live music event that raises epilepsy awareness while creating moments you cannot hear anywhere else.Mike’s story starts long before the stage lights. From his years in IBM management to the college music scene that shaped his connections, he explains how a series of small, unexpected choices eventually led to a fundraising platform honoring his son Joey, who lived with Dravet syndrome. What began as an idea for compilation CDs evolved into a live, all-covers celebration powered by some of the most respected names in music.You’ll discover: How Joey's Song grew from a simple fundraising concept into a must-see annual event in MadisonWhy Butch Vig became a key creative force and musical directorThe “world’s greatest live jukebox” formula that brings artists together for unpredictable, once-in-a-lifetime performancesHow the event quietly educates first-time attendees about epilepsy while keeping the night fun, communal, and unforgettableWhy music became both a tribute to Joey and a vehicle for healing, awareness, and actionMike also opens up about Joey’s life, the family’s grief, and the deeply human reality behind the mission. He explains what a cure for epilepsy would actually mean for parents and caregivers, and why even small acts of support matter when you’re trying to change the future for families facing devastating diagnoses.If you care about music, grief, purpose, or the power of community to turn pain into impact, this conversation will stay with you. Essential listening for anyone who believes one person, one song, and one idea can still change lives. Mike’s Bio and Contact Information Bio : Mike Gomoll lives in Sun Prairie, WI, with his wife, Nory, and their 3 dogs. His children, Julia (26) and Sam (24), live within 30 minutes. Mike spent most of his professional life with IBM in a series of management roles before retiring in 2017. He now spends full-time managing and building Joey's Song with the hope of soon finding more effective treatments and cures for epilepsy. Contact Information Website: (joeyssong.org) All Social media platforms: @JoeysSong Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: GMAGNTHKCKYVOBCJ, DLRYDXS1CNO25ASR