Above Ground Podcast

The loss of a child to a family is devastating. When it’s suicide, there are many more levels of grief to traverse. What happens to the siblings left behind? Cassandra Pratt answers that question this week with us on Broadcast Day. 

Broadcast Day was a poem by Jonathan Pratt. He was musically gifted, an academic standout and an enthusiastic writer and poet. Friday February 13th , 2009 Jon entered into eternal peace, and changed the worlds of everyone he touched. 

Cass, his only sibling, joins us today to share her story of what going from the cool big sister to the protector of the family is like. What living through and coming out of the fog does to your sense of self.

Cass was very forth coming with her feelings and shared her brother's poetry with us. We are so grateful. The Collective Poetic Works of Jonathan Pratt was released in 2012 by Troy Book Makers ISBN: 978-1-61468-112-0. Please email the show and I will track down copies.

Thanks for listening this week. Find us below from following the links. Happy Thanksgiving and may your holiday season be well, safe and Above.

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Memoir (Despair & Mayhem) [feat. Kevin Maloney] - Single by Will Foley

https://music.apple.com/us/album/memoir-despair-mayhem-feat-kevin-maloney-single/1569777715

The lasting legacy of mental illness has far reaching ramifications on generations of families. Left unattended and unspoken, the subconscious toll may be worse still. This week we talk about what we not only leave behind; but, what was left for us to end the cycle of. 

Merriam-Webster defines legacy as something transmitted by or received from an ancestor, predecessor or from the past. This week Will & Tim discuss a question many of us ask, what will you leave behind? In this case will you leave the wreckage of anxiety, depression, abuse, un-lived lives and regret? Or will you human up and step in to your purpose? To end suffering that you didn’t ask for, but were gifted with. This is your mission, should you accept it. Truth is, if you don’t, you will leave gifts under your family tree no one likes. 

The boys both blow Hippocrates’ name and get down and dirty digging into the legacy they will leave, some tips to stay here now and wax poetic about therapy. Therapy should be available to everyone who seeks it. But it is not a panacea, you need to do the work. 

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode of Above Ground Podcast. Find us at the links below and never miss an episode. Every Wednesday wherever you pod. If you like the show, please rate, review, share, follow and turn on notifications. You can donate to AGP at our PayPal link below. Until we meet again. Be Well, be Safe, be Above…

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Memoir (Despair & Mayhem) [feat. Kevin Maloney] - Single by Will Foley

https://music.apple.com/us/album/memoir-despair-mayhem-feat-kevin-maloney-single/1569777715

Steve Yaciuk is a mental health and suicide prevention advocate from CNY. He has been a volunteer firefighter since 1982. He has battled fires, traumas, abuse, disability and a suicide attempt. Hear how he is thriving in the Long Run.

Steve was an employee assistance coordinator who had taken many suicide prevention classes. He thought he knew the land until he realized he had the wrong map.  When someone says they are there 24/7, be there 24/7. 

Luna, Steve’s service dog saved his life the night of his attempt. Laying across his body until he fell asleep. Proving to us once again of why we need our animal friends. 

Steve was a guest along side Tim and Will on the recent WNYT Suicide Survival:Hope in the Darkness program. His hope is to bring awareness, resources and the openness to share his story of overcoming the raging fires of the human condition. 

Check out the website below for New York Fire Chiefs behavioral health information. 

https://www.nysfirechiefs.com/firefighterbehavioralhealth

Thanks again for listening to another episode of AGP.

Please follow, click the notifications, friend and share. We are grateful to you, our listeners and brave survivors who share their stories of hope. Here are the links to everything AGP. Until next time, be Well, be Safe, be Above.

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Memoir (Despair & Mayhem) [feat. Kevin Maloney] - Single by Will Foley

https://music.apple.com/us/album/memoir-despair-mayhem-feat-kevin-maloney-single/1569777715

When we lose our song we lose our way and ourselves. Authenticity and autonomy go by the way side when you try to become something you're not. This week Will & Tim talk autonomy, authenticity and the ability to be who you were put on this stage to be. Don't Let the Music Die. 

Authenticity and autonomy skip through the tulips together in some ways. But, you can be authentic and still have no autonomy. We walk in uniforms we don't want to wear. Out of service, duty, responsibility, or even fear. 

We need only our approval to create the lives we wish. If we give ourselves permission. Give yourself permission to be who yo were born to be. Every one else is already taken. 

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Memoir (Despair & Mayhem) [feat. Kevin Maloney] - Single by Will Foley

https://music.apple.com/us/album/memoir-despair-mayhem-feat-kevin-maloney-single/1569777715

Our guest this week is Dr. Michele Finneran PhD. Her work with incarcerated females led her to the realization that many were victims of domesticate abuse. This work forced her to take a hard look at the system and the formal and informal services provided in the community. 

Dr. Finneran's mission in writing,"Surviving Domestic Abuse: Formal and Informal Supports and Services" is to help victims of domestic abuse navigate effectively through the myriad of formal and informal supports and services. She interviewed real-life survivors and utilized their voices to translate what was helpful in escaping the realm of domestic abuse. Dr. Finneran's passion in writing this book is to provide knowledge, give support options and ultimately empower victims of domestic abuse. It is also the intent of this author to leverage victims perceptions, reflections and feelings...and to document recommendations for policy, strategy and decision making for supports and service providers.

HOW TO REACH AND FOLLOW DR. MICHELE FINNERAN

WEBSITE:  

https://www.drmichelefinneran.com

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/dr.finneran

INSTRAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/dr.finneran/channel/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelefinneran/

Pinterest 

https://www.pinterest.com/veccandassociates/_created/

TO ORDER: “SURVIVING DOMESTIC ABUSE: FORMAL AND INFORMAL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES”:

Routledge:  Taylor & Francis Groups

https://www.routledge.com/Surviving-Domestic-Abuse-Formal-and-Informal-Supports-and-Services/Finneran/p/book/9780367859589

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BVTFSVZ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=surviving+domestic+abuse%3A+formal+and+informal+support&qid=1593787581&s=books&sr=1-2

The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached by phone at 1(800)799-SAFE(7233), text "START" to 88788.

Thanks for listening to this week's episode of AGP. Please follow the links below to find us. Be well, be safe, be Above

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Memoir (Despair & Mayhem) [feat. Kevin Maloney] - Single by Will Foley

https://music.apple.com/us/album/memoir-despair-mayhem-feat-kevin-maloney-single/1569777715

If self love is the acceptance of a pain point and removing it, how do you engage in self love? If you do not have self worth, can you engage in self love? So many questions we will tackle this week. This is a therapy prompt broken-down in real time. A question we should all answer, but are too afraid to ask. 

Therapy is a wonderful concept and useful tool for many. Removal of pain points sound's like a useful idea. But, is it possible to remove every pain point in your life? I don't believe you can, nor should. Pain is a great teacher. Pain needs to be examined, not removed. 

Landmines and triggers are everywhere. Invite your demons out to the corn maze and share a candy apple with them. We are worthy of our own love first. We have to have it for survival. We have to have it for 'thrival. 

Thanks for listening to another week of AGP. We are very grateful to everyone following, subscribing, sharing and staying Above...

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Scars are beautiful. They are souvenirs of the battles of the human condition. Benjamin Lerner speaks of his scars with reverence and respect. Metaphorical or literal scars are carried by us all. Can you look at your scars like a postcard from the edge?

Benjamin Lerner is a conservatory level pianist, rapper, songwriter, radio host and most of all Recovery advocate. He was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome and a key to unlocking his talent. He is also the great grand son of Irving Berlin. Yes, that Irving Berlin. 

His vulnerability and intelligence are immediate and his talent is a gift to us all. Patterns and coping mechanisms make his perceived deficit to social norms a benefit. Benjamin is honest and gaining comfort in his skin. His story is a true inspiration that  everyone needs to hear. His honest reflections on his addictions and the roads he has traveled is a testament to the human drama.

You can find Benjamin Lerner at these spots:

https://benjaminlerner.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbFlmBuxNFpICaClwnx9mKA

https://open.spotify.com/artist/41MMhKDTmXIA52gShnNsKq

Thank you for listening every week. Here are links for you to follow us, friend us and give us the approval we seek.

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Is it possible to fail forward? Thanks to listener, Aylssa, for the question! Damn right it is!! As a matter of fact it's the only choice we have! It is what we tell ourselves about perceived failure that renders us impotent to affect change in our lives. We need to fail to succeed. It's called learning. It's called resilience. It's called will. 

Hey hey what can I do, I feel like a failure to myself untrue. I know you're tapping your foot in disdain to the musical stylings of failure.  One of my idols of youth, Evel Knievel said that, "you're never a failure until you fail to get up." After a gut kicking loss, grief sets in. It may take until  the count of 9. But you need to get up.

We need to process this before we can move on. If we don't we store this as perceived failings. Those will add up to a lot of extra weight to along your journey. Most undoubtedly unnecessary. Take a load off Manny...

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The death of a child is like a roller coaster you can never get off. Jayme from Indy shares the story of losing her 20 year old son Griffin to suicide. Griffin died in September of 2018. This is our final September Suicide Awareness Month Inner-View. 

On the day Griffin  left for college he sent a text to his mom. “Don’t be sad mama, be happy. God is with me." Thirty three days later he was found by one of his best friends. Jaime still feels his energy. Jaime has her share of good vs. bad days.

He was a funny. He was loving. He was a practical joker. He was always scaring his sister, Bailey and making her cry or mad. Griffin loved his friends and family. 

Her faith keeps her strong and living. Her ties to the Out of the Darkness walks and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention give her grief and remembrance a vehicle. But there are days when just getting out of bed takes a Mack truck effort.

We thank Jayme for trusting us and sharing her story with us. We curate these conversations to perpetuate hope and start a conversation regarding mental health. Remember it just takes one person to make a difference. You can make a difference by donating to AFSP in honor of Griffin by clicking this link

https://afsp.org/give-a-gift

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Patsy embodies strength, wisdom and survival. He fights his way through grief by sharing his words in his Facebook videos. He helps people heal with the touch of his tattoo gun. He is finally standing in his own power. Patsy Grieco lost his wife, Heather to suicide. But she was more than his wife. She was his high school sweetheart, his best friend, and a reason to breathe. 

This episode is a tough one. Grab a tissue. Pet your cat. We talk about the period leading up to Heather's death. The moments following and the days after. We talk about how a YouTube video prompted Patsy to take control of his grief. 

It's not all heavy. We share lighthearted moments too. Because after all life's joke is that while you are laying on the ground in despair, you have to get up and pee. So you can't stay down. Words to live by.   

Patsy owns and tattoos at Fast Lane Tattoo at 1522 Columbia Turnpike, Castleton, NY. He is a rat rod builder, welder and healer. Our word, not his. Follow him on Facebook to see his walking wisdom videos. 

https://www.fastlanetattoony.com

This Sunday, September 26th, is the Out of the Darkness walk for R.I.T.A. to benefit the Capital Region chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We will be there. Please support our team Patrick's Shamrocks

https://supporting.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&teamID=267322

Thanks for listening to this or any episode. Please continue to follow us on all the platforms and places you pod. 

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Memoir (Despair & Mayhem) [feat. Kevin Maloney] - Single by Will Foley

https://music.apple.com/us/album/memoir-despair-mayhem-feat-kevin-maloney-single/1569777715

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjfwOJ_Szj0