“You have to work at hoping for the positive,” says Carol Graham, host of the bi-weekly podcast Never Ever Give up Hope. She has survived the challenges of major illnesses, devastating personal losses and financial ruin more than once, yet has refused to become a victim. Her goal is to share hope with others and lessons on how to survive and thrive.   Don't Give Up Hope...Choose to Forgive Carol is an excellent example of how necessary it is to keep a positive mindset during some...

Any bonafide writer calls themselves a writer because they write. There's really no other way of describing a writer than that. All you need to do to call  yourself a writer is pick up the pen and begin to write.   Highlights from the interview: * Luis' mother died when he was five and he was homeless for three years after that before being adopted into the United States * Luis found trouble: expelled from middle school, smoking pot, getting into trouble. However, he...

A mental health speaker just got real about his own mental health. Only 5% of people with chronic health conditions practice self-care says Mike Veny. "So statistically that's zero. Basically, it's a nonsense term that we throw around telling each other to do, but nobody's doing it."   Mental Health is a Journey Highlights from the interview: * Mike is America's leading mental health speaker and a corporate drumming facilitator. Drumming helped him overcome his mental health...

Do you have enough adversity in your life to have an adversity bio? Sharon Roth-Lichtenfeld does! This founder of Good Grief Coaching has survived hardship and heartache amazingly well. Listen to the episode to discover how she finds peace and joy in the midst of very tough circumstances.   Good Grief in Adversity Highlights from the interview: * A lot of research has proven that you are not born resilient. It's a skillset that every individual has inside of them and can...

Your brain on ADHD is a Lamborghini, you just need to know how to drive it! Peter Shankman has discovered how ADHD can be a gift and shares that wisdom in his book: Faster Than Normal.   The Gift of ADHD Highlights from the interview: * Peter came by his expertise with ADHD by growing up with it. But it was called sit-down-you’re-disrupting-the-class-disease. He didn’t realize his brain was just looking for that extra dopamine that it wasn’t getting. * ADHD is a superpower...

Is it possible to foster resiliency in the direct aftermath of the pain and grief of infertility and miscarriage? Jeanette White has allowed her experiences to help her grow in areas she never imagined. She now reaches out to others to offer support. Listen to find out why she recommends the Memory Resolution Technique.   Fostering Resiliency in the Aftermath of Infertility and Miscarriage Highlights from the interview: Resiliency is not just about the ability to recover quickly...

We are storied people. Rachael Anne Clinton helps us understand why discovering the stories that have shaped our past benefits our present and future. Find out why she believes everyone has known some heartache, but why you can't enter the trauma olympics. Listen to her fascinating story...   Your Storied Past Does Inform Your Present and Future Highlights from the interview: * We all need witnesses to our stories, especially formative stories where we've known heartache and...

According to Dr. Dan Allender, we all need to look at those trauma stories we've written off as already resolved and say "What more am I to learn and how can I engage these stories with kindness?"   Realizing and Recovering from Trauma and Shame Highlights from the interview: * The Allender Center of Abuse and Trauma addresses the heartbreaking reality that nobody goes through life without some level of violation and assault. At some point in our lives, we will all know some...

"How did you get into my living room?" That's what people ask country music singer/songwriter Radney Foster. His songs get to the heart of heartbreak, and life in general. But are his songs borne from experience? You bet!   Radney Foster, Iconic Country Music Singer/Songwriter Highlights from the interview: * Radney has written a book of short stories that match with songs on his album. Both are entitled: For You to See the Stars. Autographed copies can be ordered at...

Both writing and the Christian tradition of contemplative prayer depend on us facing our fears and anxieties, and the path to healing is about going through our pain rather than numbing it or distracting ourselves from it.   What does contemplation have to do with it? * Ed has long struggled with anxiety from his parent’s contentious divorce and from various incidents that involved them during his high school years. Writing and prayer have served as vital outlets that have...

Becoming a “man” isn't a new idea – there are centuries of precedence. But it’s been pretty much forgotten – especially in terms of some sort of ceremony, some sort of moment. Developing Manhood From Boyhood Highlights from the interview: * When does a boy become a man? If you're a man and you're reading this, there probably isn't one moment you can pinpoint. * Becoming a “man” isn't a new idea – there are centuries of precedence. But it’s been pretty much forgotten – especially...

"I am the courageous heart that passionately beats to empower the hurt, broken, and lost. I believe that people are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole," says life coach Matt Gagnon. "And it's never too late to write your own comeback story." Time for Your Own Comeback Story Highlights from the interview: * The day he officially became a life coach – September 29th 2014 – was the greatest day of validation for him, because it felt like he was completely on the right track. ...

Why worry twice? We can’t necessarily stop things, but we can stop freaking out about them. Dr. Kathy Gruver explains that the future always starts now. With every exhale we can make a more resilient choice.   Resilient Rather than Freaking Out Highlights from the interview: * Affirmations help to reduce stress – particularly if you handwrite them, because they’ll more easily go into your subconscious. * People who wrote down affirmations about who they are, or positive...

Manny Wolfe believes that changing yourself will probably be the hardest thing you ever do...especially if you grew up in a cult in one of the most violent cities in America like he did. If you want to change, you have to take to it like a drowning man taking to a life preserver. Cult + Violence = Tough Childhood Highlights from the interview: * Just because you’re born into something – in this case, a cult – doesn’t mean you can’t get out of it. And it doesn’t have to take you...

Writing love letters to her seven failed relationships was cathartic and a learning experience for author Kamala Chambers. She made each letter, and it's subsequent learned wisdom, into a chapter in her book Road to Love.  Listen to discover how writing made her a better person. Writing Yourself Into a Better Person According to Kamala, writing has helped her become a better person. She reflects on where she's at, and can dissect some things that are tumbling around in her head. And she...