Above Ground Podcast

 Grant, was a James Beard Award winning chef. He was on the verge of opening a new Houston, TX restaurant. He was also diagnosed with MS. Two days before he was set to visit his sister, Devin, he died by suicide. Devin Tomiak opens up about losing, her brother, Grant. While healing from the tragic loss, Devin took all the knowledge she learned to create the Biggies Conversation Cards. 

There is a myth that if you have all your ducks in a row, you don't have any substance issues or deal with chronic depression, that suicide can't effect you. False. We are proven wrong year after year with the losses of cultural icons, loved ones, or you. 

The Biggies Conversation Cards are conversation starters for us adults to bring to children to help them understand 25 emotional concepts. Big in size and concepts. 

Please connect with Devin and order yourself a set, or multiples for your children at the Biggies Cards

https://thebiggiescards.com

Connect with Devin on social at

https://www.instagram.com/biggiescards/

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Thanks for listening to another episode of AGP. Until next week

be Well, be Safe, be ABOVE

Ameliorate means to make something bad or unsatisfactory better. This episode embodies the definition of the word. This anonymous discussion covers all the bases of mental illness and crisis. Suicide, control, narcissistic and depressive disorders.  This ‘thrival story is another in our special September Suicide Awareness Inner-Views. 

The boys get a lesson on the Stamford Prison experiment, the Lucifer Effect and just how much damage the human condition has endured. Sometimes we are left to just have to figure it all out on our own for ourselves and no one else. Don't be discouraged if today is tough, the Day After Tomorrow, it may get better. 

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This week starts our special suicide prevention and awareness month ‘thrival story September.  Our guests are Michael and Jessica Domingos. The couple started the 501(c)3, Tiny Evie Rocks, following the loss of  their daughter, Evie,  to suicide at age twelve. Sharing the story of their loss and a new mission to spread kindness one rock at a time. Michael and Jessica embody hope. If you Don’t Stop Believing, you can hold on and create something wonderful out of tragedy.

Kindness rocks were painted and left at Evie’s memorial service and this provided the Domingos’ with a creative way to process their own grief and started painting and leaving rocks for others to find. 

Positive responses and interaction with people who have found a Tiny Evie Rock led to the realization that acts of love, kindness and hope can change the day or even the life of the person who receives it. The creation of this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and its programs honor the memory of Evie Domingos while bringing awareness to the community to help remove the stigma of suicide and mental illness.

Michael and Jessica are currently collaborating with the City of Tyler Parks Department to add mental health features to existing parks.  They are working towards their dream of establishing their own park dedicated to mental health.  

Find them https://www.tinyevierocks.org

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https://www.instagram.com/tinyevierocks/

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Hard to believe that summer is rounding the bend and we are days away from September. September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness month.  For AGP that is a 365/24/7 endeavor. 

This month we are bringing you five ‘thrival’ stories of loss, grief, love and resilience. Five stories of loved ones lost to suicide. Five stories of the survivors that faced life without their loved ones and turned it into a story of remembrance and rebirth. 

No, we are never the same following such a loss. But, we can carry on and create wonderful new stories. Life is about learning. Learning to let go. Learning to face life and take it as it comes.  These stories will bring you hope. After all Nothing Else Matters, but hope. 

9/1 #116 Don’t stop believing w/ Tiny Evie Rocks

9/8 #117 Day After Tomorrow an anonymous discussion 

9/15 #118 Asking Big with Devin Tomiak of the Biggies Conversation Cards

9/22 #119 Patsy Grieco is Standing in His Own Power 

9/29 #120 No Hopeless Soul w/Jayme of Indy

Thanks for listening and being a part of the conversation. Find us here… until next time be well, be kind be Above…

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Our guest this week is Carl Waggett. Carl is an Ontario Fire Fighter , Storyteller, host of PTSD Bunker Gear for Your Brain and wearer of boss tee shirts.  

Carl says he Forest Gumped his way into being an advocate. He patronized mental health as something that happens to get the summer off, until he found himself trapped in the burning house of depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder.

Until we broach the subject of mental illness the stigmas will burn like a five alarm fire in the middle of the night.  Carl is the guy you want answering that alarm bell.  Kicking in the door. Pulling you to safety. 

You can find Carl hosting PTSD Bunker Gear for Your Brain on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. 

Thanks again for your ears and time. We appreciate all of you. Please find us out there. Hear Will's single, Memoir (Despair & Mayhem) digitally everywhere. 

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This week we are joined by our good friend, Jordan. We are talking love.  Self love, unconditional love. Loving a partner or others. What’s the difference between  essential care, love and survival? This plate is heaping with all kinds of greasy morsels for us to chew on.  We only have two choices in my estimation, love or fear. What choice will you make? 

Special thanks to Janneke from the Netherlands for a recent donation. She was awesome enough to lend us her Danish accent for a show plug. 

Thanks to all of you for listening to 113. We have Canadian First Responder and host of the PTSD Bunker Room, Carl Waggett. Cannot wait for everyone to hear that convo. Don’t miss an episode or update. Click one of these links

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Our guest this week is Rich Johns.  Retired school teacher, tennis coach and storyteller. Coach Johns taught and coached for Saratoga Springs High School, here in the 5-1-8. We get the serve right into what Rich does and why. It’s that you Act with Respect Always. It’s the power of I & I. 

Rich has seen more than 70,000 people in person at his events.  He visits schools all over New York State and beyond. His resonant self empowerment conversation reaches children and teachers alike. His passion for treating people with respect always shines through in the many testimonials that fill the pages of his book. Rich truly embodies holding space and gives every ounce of himself to the mission. 

https://actwithrespectalways.com/coach-rich-johns/

Find out more about Act With Respect Always and Rich Johns at the link ABOVE

Thanks everyone for the continued support of the pod. Follow us

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Until next week...be well, be kind, be ABOVE

Be it burned out buildings of an industrial collapse or the beautiful landscape of an open green space. Our rooms can hold different views just by opening a different window. The boundaries of wisdom lie within the the solitude of kingdom. 

This week we discuss what two plus years of podcasting about the human condition and mental health have shown us about our worlds. Have they becoming larger, brighter and more open? Or have they made us dig our heals in deeper to our own bullshit? 

We thank Death Angel for the inspiration of this episode's tag. A great San Francisco thrash band that influenced many a teen to pick up an instrument and bang their head. 

If you dig what you're hearing every week, follow us on social at all the usual suspects; Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter and on AboveGroundPodcast.net. 

You can donate to the show at our PayPal.me. Please star, scribe and share on Apple podcasts. 

Our awesome guest this week is Lisa Scott. Lisa is a masters level licensed professional counselor and creator of the What’s Next w/Lisa podcast. A podcast about managing life for all us humans.  

We were stoked for this conversation with such a passionate professional who willingly shares her tools and professional help with everyone. We talk about access to care, cost, burnout.

We get deep into attachment. Patterns that were set in childhood cause issues with our relationships in adulthood. Worthiness, subconscious behavior, and having your needs met. Our emotional memory often fail us in navigating the adult world.

You can find Lisa's podcast at What's Next w/Lisa  

Connect with Lisa on Instagram

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Support the show through our PayPal.Me

Until next time be well, be safe, be Above... 

Your toxic inner core belief will pollute every garden you try to plant. Cultivating that garden will reinforce negative seeds. Our guest this week is Vicki Savini. She is a 5-1-8 resident and a mother, teacher, author, writer and coach. She is helping us pull the weeds. 

We talk about raising vibrations in our energetic circle. We are all energy, after all. We discuss getting to the core toxic beliefs that we have about ourselves that lead us into toxic relationships with ourselves, the most important relationship. 

Is it serving or sabotaging you? That is one of the biggest questions we can ask ourselves. Stopping in that moment to ask that question can ignite the light to change. 

Vicki Savini is the author of three books and has contributed to several others. She is a teacher and life coach. She is available for private consult by contacting her at (518)441-9919. 

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You can donate at our PayPal link directly to support the show. You can also purchase a tee or hoodie at Close Knit Co. 

Until next time,

be well, be safe, be ABOVE