Billy Dees Podcast

Donika Gunther was born in Albania and grew up with five siblings and two wonderful parents. Now living in the United States, she is the proud mother of one daughter.

For as far back as she can remember, Donika has had a lifelong desire to help others and assist them in leading happy, successful, worry-free lives. She has a degree in biology and chemistry and has worked as a teacher for past 30 years. She has also been a mentor and motivational international speaker for the last thirteen years.

After discovering the power that meditation, yoga, and mindfulness have for improving health and wellness, Donika decided to take her 13 years of experience in these studies and turn them into a career that she is passionate about!

Mindfulness with a Purpose was created in part due to Donika’s aspirations of making positive change in the lives of children, by providing higher education, confidence, and self-worth.

During this interview Donika shares her story of childhood and how she choice her life and career path.

You can find @donika_gunther on Twitter https://twitter.com/donika_gunther?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Donika’s Website DonikaGunther.com https://www.donikagunther.com/

Timothy Gager has published 16 books of fiction and poetry. He hosted the Dire Literary Series of author interviews in Cambridge, MA from 2001 to 2018, and spun off a virtual series starting in 2020.

Gager co-founded The Somerville News Writers Festival and has had over 1,000 pieces of fiction, micro-fiction, and poetry published—including 17 nominated for Pushcart Prizes. His work has also been nominated for a Massachusetts Book Award, The Best of the Web, The Best Small Fictions Anthology, and has been read on NPR.

Joe the Salamander is his third novel.

On this episode, Timothy Gager discusses his writing, love of poetry, and shares some of his own personal journey as part of the recovery community.

You can find out more about Timothy on his website: https://www.heatcityreview.com/timothygagerindex.html

Our guest on this episode is Jolene Barletta.

As she says in the bio of her Twitter account, “Hi. I’m Jolene.” She also welcomes you into her journey.

Jolene wears many hats; she has battled cancer and is a champion for those who are also battling cancer and other chronic diseases. She is also an advocate for mental health awareness. She loves to dance, drink coffee, and is passionate about art and NFTs.

Jolene is an inspiration on so many levels, and this interview gives the audience a glimpse into the light that she shares with the world.

You can follow and find Jolene on Twitter at @JoleneBarletta
https://twitter.com/JoleneBarletta?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Christian Feraria is an author, publicist, public speaker, and YouTuber! His screen name is qtc_christian on various platforms including YouTube.

Christian’s book, “The Mediocre Student’s Guide to Graduating College,” is a book for struggling or unmotivated students who wish to navigate college successfully. Growing up, Christian’s sisters were both stellar students who went to elite colleges and medical school. Christian felt mediocre in comparison to them having been, at times, a more insecure student academically.

Shortly after graduating college, Christian was inspired by the Toni Morison quote, “Write the book you would want to read.” After hearing the quote, Christian immediately thought of a book for mediocre students because that’s the book he would have killed for!

Throughout his book, Christian elaborates on how to succeed academically and socially on a college campus. He writes about picking professors and the presence of drugs, sex, etc.

Since his book was released, Christian Feraria has been doing public speaking at schools to get struggling students to believe in themselves. He also has been doing interviews like this one, not only to promote his book but to also raise awareness that the challenges many of us face in school are not that unique.

Christian Feraria's book is here on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Mediocre-Students-Guide-Graduating-College/dp/B0BJGYKQ2M

Patricia Tate M.S. from Willow Grace Mystik, LLC is our guest on this episode of the Billy Dees Podcast. Patricia is an astrology consultant and spiritual health & wellness coach.

During the interview she discusses what some of the basic tenets of astrology and mysticism are as well as some of the misconceptions about both. She also provides a brief reading about the host, and I must say it was pretty good.

You can find out more about Patricia on her website:

https://willowgracemystik.com/

You can find Billy Dees on Twitter @BillyDees
https://twitter.com/BillyDees?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

(The views, opinions, and claims offered by guests are the sole responsibility of the guests.)

This episode contains discussion that some listeners may find triggering.

Author Barbara Legere

“Keven's Choice: A Mother's Journey Through Her Son's Mental Illness, Addiction and Suicide”

Keven had spent half his life struggling with addiction while his single mom battled courts, health care companies, rehab facilities and mental health professionals to protect him. As their relationship strained and his drug use progressed, Legere was forced to accept and love Keven as he was in their limited time together—two years before his suicide.

In Keven’s Choice, Legere tells the story of trying to navigate the dark worlds of her son’s substance use and depression while also addressing her complicated guilt and regret over how she handled it. In the process, she shines a light on the hidden anguish of countless parents who are taking care of children that society tells them to abandon.

For parents who have borne witness to overdoses, arrests, addiction treatment and incarceration and even death, Keven’s Choice is a raw and intimate memoir of a mother’s grief that shows it’s possible and necessary to go on, even amidst the unimaginable.

You can find out more about the author's story at her website:
https://www.barbaralegere.com/

How certain is certainty? Dare we consider, even for a moment, that we could be wrong?

What we might refer to as an absolute truth is very elusive. What we often must base decisions on is what is most likely. However, what is most likely can change based on how fluid the situation happens to be, and in fact, we as individuals may also evolve into a different set of needs and desires.

Does this ability to adapt to changing circumstances or more information on a given topic erode when we are certain?

This episode was recorded live on Fireside Saturday February 18, 2023.

Two members of the audience joined in the discussion.

You can follow Billy Dees on Twitter @BillyDees
https://twitter.com/BillyDees?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

M.K. McDaniel

#1 Best Selling Author of “MISFIT IN HELL TO HEAVEN EXPAT”

We have all heard stories of someone’s account of a near death experience. There is almost always a description of a brilliant white light and euphoric sensation.

However, not all near death experiences are pleasant, in fact, some are traumatic.

What would you do if you found yourself in “the other place?”

Our guest on this episode is author, M.K. McDaniel. Her book, “MISFIT IN HELL TO HEAVEN EXPAT,” chronicles such a journey. Her story is hopeful and has given her insights into a realm that we do not need to fear.

You can find the author’s website here: https://misfitinhelltoheavenexpat.com/

and you can find her on Twitter @MKMcDaniel3 https://twitter.com/MKMcDaniel3

Disclaimer – The host, Billy Dees, was experiencing an allergic reaction at the time of the interview that affected his voice.

On this episode we are interviewing Gigi Langer, PhD.

As of February 2023, Gigi has completed her new book “Love More Now: Facing Life’s Challenges with an Open Heart.” You may remember this author from her previous offering, “50 Ways to Worry Less Now.”

Both titles are very recovery-related in their approach to the subject matter.

The book covers how to dissolve the negative beliefs restricting love for yourself and others. With your true self liberated, you’ll be able to handle difficult relationships and other challenges with wisdom, strength, and serenity. Gigi Langer, author of award-winner, “50 Ways to Worry Less Now,” illustrates how she overcame alcoholism, codependency, and trauma to discover the love at her center.

Drawing on ideas from A Course in Miracles, the Twelve Steps, and positive psychology, Gigi shows you how to become a loving, open-hearted person (with firm boundaries). Langer holds a PhD from Stanford University and has been sober for over 35 years.

You can find out more about Gigi at her website: https://gigilanger.com/

Twitter @gigi_langer https://twitter.com/gigi_langer

This episode discusses mental health and suicide. It may contain triggers for some members of the listening audience.

This episode was recorded LIVE on Thursday Feb 2, 2023, on Fireside.

This interview centers on Ananda and her Soul Spaces in which she often features subjects regarding poetry, mental health, and what she describes as the Universe’s Heartbeat.

The first part of the discussion is a one-on-one interview with Billy Dees. Billy then opens the discussion to his guest cohost, Kristy Mickelsen, and then other members of the audience.

You can find Ananda and her Twitter Spaces, “The Soul Space,” @AJinspire4ever
https://twitter.com/AJinspire4ever?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor