Air-Check Your Life

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How trauma from childhood manifests in adult life

Mathew, Dr. Frank, and Summer Silva discuss what happens to children when they are exposed to inappropriate situations at a young age, how she can overcome and not become overwhelmed, and the importance of practicing patience when choosing a partner. Dr. Frank tells us that even when children grow up in less-than-ideal circumstances, having positive influences early on can give them an alternative to aspire to. This rang true for Summer. She knew she wanted to be the opposite of her own mother, and she felt a desire to live up to the example set for her by her grandfather. Today, Summer finds strength in focusing on the things she is grateful for, leaning on her community and loving partner, practicing transcendental meditation, and enjoying live music. She has learned it's not just about having the tools but knowing when to use them as well.

"Strength shows up in a lot of ways, but then there is also your natural instinctual fight or flight. I’m fighting."

Follow the podcast: 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 

Resources:

• Dr. Frank Bevacqua

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Additional Credits:

• LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• Why would someone be embarrassed to tell people they are suicidal?

On March 10, 2017, David was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukemia. His doctors told him if he didn't start treatments immediately, he would have three to four weeks to live.

Right before his diagnosis, David was working as a youth pastor, had just met the woman who would become his wife and was living his dream life. Shortly after their engagement, he began noticing symptoms and was misdiagnosed a handful of times, but eventually, the correct diagnosis came.

Over the next nine months, he had seven hospitalizations, spent over 100 nights in the hospital, endured four rounds of chemotherapy, received a stem cell infusion, and received 37 blood transfusions. Thankfully, on December 19, 2017, his cancer was in remission.

In the years before his diagnosis, David went through several seasons of depression and struggled with suicidal thoughts that he kept to himself for nearly three years. Eventually, he gained perspective on the long-term impacts of suicide and how it would negatively affect the people around him. He never knew how important the lessons he learned in middle school would be when he was diagnosed with cancer. He learned that leaning on people and relying on loved ones is one of the most important factors in making it through hard times. When he was younger, he felt like he could never tell anyone he was hurting, but when he faced cancer, he found he had to do it, and that was one major factor that helped him stay alive. David tells us there is great power in just being there for people who are struggling. Treating them like people and giving them time where they can forget the struggle and remember what it means to be alive.

There is a lot in life that can't be controlled, so David seized every opportunity to take control of what he could. Whether it was shaving his head when he began losing his hair from chemotherapy or realizing that gratitude is a mindset and cultivating a mindset is also a choice. Sometimes being faced with death is the thing that shakes people into developing a mindset that will help them go forward for the rest of their lives. This rang true for David. Cultivating a positive mindset, learning gratitude, and finding humor in the dark times will serve him regardless of what is happening. Cancer threatened to kill him, but it actually gave him this life he loves so much and a chance to make the most of it. 

“You have to be ready at all times, everyone, to hear those words… Are you prepared if you heard those words today? Are you okay with your life? Are you satisfied with your life? Do you feel like you made an impact?”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• Why would someone be embarrassed to tell people they are suicidal?

Follow the podcast: 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 

Connect with the guest:

• Dr. Frank Bevacqua

Resources:

• Battles & Blessings: My Experiences with Cancer by David Rees

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Additional Credits:

• LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson

First up, hope you will enjoy your Memorial Day. Instead of a new release on this holiday I wanted to make sure you were aware of some of the things we are doing here at LEARN FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVED IT.  

First up - July will be INTIMACY month here on the podcast. We will sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick and hash out everything from:

What is intimacy?

What do I do if I lose it?

How can I get it going?

Plus week is just for you. We want to know what questions you have surrounding sex, intimacy, connection, etc.

The other thing I want to make sure you are aware of is our podcast series being recorded from the Durango Detention Center. This powerful podcast series aims to get good information to the kids inside the system and let them see someone who overcame the obstacles and put their life back together.  It's one of my favorite podcasts to record because of the room, the people and the stories.

We've release 3 so far I'd love for you to tell me what you think.  

Click this LINK to the podcasts. 

Follow the podcast:

Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h)

Listen on iHeart (link: https://ihr.fm/3MEY7FM)

Listen on Spotify (Link: https://spoti.fi/3yMmQCE)

Connect with Mathew Blades:

Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Instagram - instagram.com/MathewBladesmedia/

Facebook - facebook.com/mathewbladesmedia/

Website - learnfrompeoplewholivedit.com/

Additional Credits:

LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson

As mentioned today's podcast is my recording with Dr. Todd Hurst, my cardiologist. He has a podcast about heart health and what we can do to prevent most of the things that kill us. That is very interesting to me because as some of you know my father died in my arms of a heart attack at 47.

I have always wanted to sit down with a cardiologist and discuss that event, and what I can do to make sure my own children never witness that same.  

So today we get to have that chat on the "The Healthspan Podcast" with your host, Dr. R. Todd Hurst.

His show notes and links below:

In today's episode, we have an insightful conversation featuring Arizona celebrity Mathew Blades, Dr. Hurst, and Rielyn Hoffman, discussing heart health, personal stories, and the importance of preventative measures. Mathew Blades shares his own heart-wrenching story, emphasizing the significance of awareness and understanding of heart-related issues.

Throughout the discussion, they explore the role of CPR and defibrillation, silent heart attacks, and emotional impact of heart health experiences. They also share incredible personal stories and reflections on pain and dying during a heart attack, as well as the importance of proactive heart health care.

At 00:04:34, Mathew Blades shares his personal story. At 00:13:20, the importance of CPR and defibrillation is discussed. At 00:23:53, they talk about how heart attacks can be silent. At 00:29:56, the conversation delves into the emotional impact of heart health experiences. At 00:39:06, the incredible save of a retired Marine colonel is shared. At 00:41:12, they reflect on dying and pain during a heart attack. At 00:42:29, they emphasize the importance of proactive heart health care.

Find his new insurance based practice here: https://www.healthspanmd.com/

*The following podcast was recorded inside the Durango Detention Center

Welcome back to another episode from the DDC. Today we are going to be treated to Lawyer Johnson and his journey. When he was 8 years old a trusted family friend molested him. That event forever changed his trajectory. After facing 200 years in prison a meeting with his mother snapped things back into shape. He vowed to make a change and never looked back.  

Things you'll here:

• The after effects of being molested 

Connect with Lawyer Johnson on linked in here

Lawyer Johnson company here

Follow the podcast: 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Additional Credits:

• LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson

In today's episode I wanted to expose you to and make sure you knew about my other project called, I Needed That.  It's a podcast about mental and physical health with my friend Chris Powell.  The podcast is fun, we share a lot of personal stories and hope to spread some joy while we are at it.

Our goal is simple, we want you to feel like "you needed that" after listening.  

In this episode you will hear:

- Chris on a dating show

- Mathew riding a bull

- And a whole lot more...

Please connect with the I Needed That podcast and pick your platform here:

https://chrispowell.com/i-needed-that-podcast/

Raising Great Guys with Jennifer L.W. Fink

In this episode, you'll hear:

• What it means to build strong boys

In this episode, Mathew and Jennifer discuss what it means to raise strong boys in today’s society, including dealing with teenage drinking and social media usage. All parents want to raise well-rounded, good human beings, but we're just not quite sure how best to do that. To help, Jennifer and Mathew talk about the definition of "good human" and explore if there is a difference between being a good human, a good man, and a good woman. Mathew also shares a vulnerable moment about his parenting, and we get a great discussion about why it's healthy to step outside of yourself and look at the things you're doing as a parent. Jennifer has ten rules that parents can use to guide their parenting choices. In this conversation, she shares three: discussing and demonstrating, accepting him, and keeping him close. Be sure to check out her newest book, Building Boys, for the rest!

Jennifer L.W. Fink is a mother of four sons and has been parenting her boys for two decades. She is an award-winning freelance journalist and author. She is also the founder and creator of BuildingBoys.net, a website and global community for parents of boys, and co-host of the podcast On Boys: Real Talk about Parenting, Teaching, and Reaching Tomorrow's Men. Jennifer intimately understands male development and the challenges currently facing boys and their families, but like all parents, she still finds herself in situations where she has no idea exactly what to do. Jennifer is in it with you, navigating the parenting trenches, learning for her boys daily, and is passionate about sharing what she has learned with all of us.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• What it means to build strong boys

Follow the podcast: 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 

Connect with the guest:

• JenniferLWFink.com

Resources:

• On Boys podcast

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Additional Credits:

• LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The proper way to address someone who has died by suicide

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Frank, and Jill discuss the suicidal mind and the impact suicide has on the people left behind. Jill explains why language matters, why we should not shy away from the word suicide, and why we should not use phrases like "committed" or "completed" suicide but instead "died by" suicide. She also talks about the suicidal mind, how gifted minds think differently, and what is going on inside the heads of suicidal people. According to Jill, an average of 60 people are impacted when someone dies by suicide. She gives us tips on what we can do for someone who just lost someone to suicide and early interventions when we think someone may be struggling.

Jill McMahon is a licensed professional counselor focusing on grief, trauma, and loss due to suicide. She had been working with families and survivors of suicide for 20 years. Jill owns a private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, and spends her time providing suicide prevention presentations and training around the community, as well as speaking about survivors of suicide and complicated grief, both nationally and internationally.

Follow the podcast: 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 

Connect with the guest:

• Jill McMahon Counseling 

Resources:

• Black Dog Institute

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Additional Credits:

LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson

LFPWLI: Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse, Setting Boundaries, and Fixing Your Picker with Lucy Alvarez

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Frank, and Lucy discuss childhood sexual abuse, the importance of setting boundaries, and understanding what is appropriate. They also discuss what it means to lose sight of your "picker" and the negative impacts of letting the wrong people into your life, both platonically and romantically. Lucy speaks on the flip side of that as well and talks about  how choosing the right romantic partner can have many benefits, including improved orgasms you may not have even known were possible.

Lucy Alvarez is a first-generation American citizen and native of Phoenix, Arizona. She is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. She tells us she doesn't feel like she is fully on the other side of her trauma, but that she is still working every day to walk in the right direction. Lucy has traveled the world, overcome so much in her life, and is now passionate about sharing her story to help others understand how to set boundaries and be the best version of themselves, even when it gets hard.

"I do it for my eight-year-old self."

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Understanding what is appropriate and setting boundaries

Follow the podcast: 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 

Connect with the guest:

• Dr. Frank Bevacqua

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Additional Credits:

• LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson

The Mindset Makes the Man + Choosing Your Path Past Prison 

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The path that led Drakkar to prison

Drakkar Wright grew up with six sisters, a single mother, and the pressure to be the man of the house as the only boy. Drakkar’s father tried his best to be present but wasn’t always around like Drakkar needed him to be. Drakkar used to blame his shortcomings on his upbringing. He wished he had the kind of dad who played football with him or taught him how to fish, but his father was an addict, in and out of prison. Eventually, those generational patterns caught up with Drakkar, and he found himself in a detox center. Drakkar recognizes that his father was dealing with his own traumas and expresses a kindred understanding of those struggles to this day.

Drakkar began wrestling at age 6 and tells us it was a great outlet for him, but around age 12 he began losing interest in the sport. This is about the same time he started failing school and spending most of his time with a group of friends that were selling drugs, carrying guns, and robbing people. Eventually, his best friend was sent to a juvenile detention center, and Drakkar was skipping class and spending most of his time on in-school suspension when he did show up.

A few years later, Drakkar got into a high-speed police chase in a stolen vehicle. He was sentenced to 2 years in the job corps, and from age 16 to 18, he worked on getting his high school diploma and learning a trade in carpentry in Lexington, Kentucky. Before he could find a union carpentry job, he found out one of his sisters was pregnant, so he left Lexington and went home. As soon as he returned, he found his old friends doing the same things they were doing when he left. Drakkar fell back into the old pattern, and not even 10 months after arriving home, the police were raiding his mother’s home looking for drugs and guns. Drakkar, his sister, his aunt, his mother, and his friend were all arrested. This arrest caused Drakkar and his family to lose their Section 8 account and required him to come up with $50,000 for bail. This is where his prison story begins.

Drakkar hopes his story reaches young people who are at a crossroads in life and helps them understand they have a decision to make. He tells us he chose the streets and sees now that was the wrong choice. He wants people who hear his story to know that their time, friendships, family, and all the things life has to offer hang in the balance of each good or bad decision made. Drakkar is on a mission to encourage young people to continue to try their best every day, no matter what they are going through at the moment.

"It's not what you go through. It's what you grow through."

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The path that led Drakkar to prison

Follow the podcast: 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Additional Credits:

• LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson