FIGHT LIKE DAVID

Thirty-six years ago, Scott Silverman found himself at an open, 44th-story window, on the brink of suicide. Just then, a colleague entered the room and asked him what he was doing. Silverman entered rehab the next day and has been sober ever since. Two decades of escalating substance abuse, blackouts and depression had brought him to this moment. Scott Silverman started Second Chance to help people in shelters, the homeless and inmates leaving prison.

Fast forward to 2008. Silverman has turned not only his own life around but also the lives of thousands of others. Rehab and volunteering brought him close to a community of others in need: people in shelters, those who were homeless, others who had come out of jail.  They all shared one problem, Silverman saw: They were unable to find and keep a job.

Scott created a program to help the addicted and the homeless find success and stability. 

On this podcast, we discuss life on the streets in Arizona. Trying to leverage assists her in Arizona has been more difficult than expected. We need a model in place to help those suffering from homelessness and addiction. We need to reduce the number of deaths by connected, providing resources and demonstrating human kindness. 

Please share this podcast with your friends and family. Go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe to hear the next episode first. 

Sergeant Chris Scallon retired as a 24+year veteran with the Norfolk Police Department, holds a Masters in Psychology, BS in Criminal Justice, and certified in Critical Incident Stress Management from the University of Maryland BC Emergency Health Services.

He is the Founder of Survival Mindset Training and Consulting, the current Director of Public Safety Support for Chateau Recovery. He connects first responders, veterans, and their families to mental health and/or substance abuse programs.

He was the founder, and first Director, of the Norfolk Police Department’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) & Peer Support Unit, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Co-Coordinator for the Norfolk Police Department. Sgt.

Chris is a U.S. Navy Veteran, served as a line officer in the Port Washington, NY Fire Department, Atlantic Hook & Ladder, Light and Heavy Rescue.

​Chris was directly involved in multiple traumatic incidents within the aforementioned fire, military, and police agencies; in addition, to multiple deadly force encounters during his tenure as a police officer, both directly and indirectly. He has first-hand experience with the primary, secondary, and tertiary, effects of trauma related to personal and professional relationships.

Chris has received numerous awards to include the National Top Cop award (NAPO), Virginia’s Public Safety Medal of Valor (presented by Former Governor Tim Kaine), and the Norfolk Police Department’s Medal of Honor. He has received multiple certifications from the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Long Island, NY.

Chris is a legend in the arena of mental health and addiction recovery. He has dedicated the majority of his life to helping first responders heal from in the line of duty traumas. 

After listening and subscribing to the podcast, please share it with those who will immediately benefit from Chris's testimony. 

Are you battling alcoholism, addiction, depression, or trauma? We have two. Keith Knotek and Brock Bevell share the good life on the other side of fear, addiction, sorrow and sadness. This life is not possible without surrendering to Christ and having a daily spiritual connection with God.

These two share words of wisdom, love, redemption and the way Christ has saved us from utter destruction. Brock and Keith have both struggled with PTSD, addiction and trauma as a result of working as Police Officers. 

The goal of this podcast is to shine light on the redemption powers of making the next right decision and aligning with the right people. Keith and I have survived the difficulties of taking a life and watching a life being taken from us. These are the cause and affects that come from choosing the life of a police officer.

We invite you to listen, like, share and comment on this podcast. We thank you for the support and ask you to check out Keith's book, "From Sorrow To Amazing Grace, One Cop's Journey" and the Fight Like David Challenge found at www.fightlikedavid.com/jumpstart. 

Danielle Gregorich is an Arizona native, an Air Force wife and a sober Mom of two amazing children.  She is a multiple suicide attempt survivor, a kidney cancer survivor and a stroke survivor.  In short, she is a living miracle!

Danielle started writing about her sobriety daily.  She wrote raw and  authentically about her struggles with sobriety, marriage and motherhood.  Writing quickly became therapeutic and played a crucial role in her first years of sobriety.

Her writing culminated in her first book - Stroke of Sobriety - The Essential Daily Guide.  Her book is available for purchase exclusively on Amazon.  Today, Danielle is an active member in the recovery community and works at a treatment center.  She is a public speaker sharing her experience, strength and hope anytime she gets the opportunity to do so. (Lionrock)

Danielle and I get real about her steps to recovery and the grit it takes to stay sober. Danielle shares her journey and hope about doing the next right thing. 

I invite you to like, share and subscribe to the this podcast. This one is a must listen.

Dr. Tracy S. Hejmanowski is a licensed clinical psychologist, with 20 years of clinical expertise working with service members, first responders, veterans, and their families. Her work began at a VA Medical Center, followed by neuropsychological and emotional assessment of repatriated prisoners of war. She was stationed overseas and stateside as an active duty U.S. Navy psychologist, followed by work as a DoD contractor for 11 years as the Program Manager of Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s Deployment Health Center.

Dr. Hejmanowski is a nationally and locally requested speaker on trauma-related subjects for military and civilian first responder communities. She has been a regular presenter for Special Warfare and Operations reintegration programs. 

In this episode, we get open and honest about leaving the battles and the new battles we face upon retirement. She provides the listener with amazing tools that are life saving. 

After listening to this episode, I invite you to like, share and subscribe to the episode and check out the fight like David challenge at www.fightlikedavid.com

My next guest is a veteran firefighter who has been through the fire, and has come out the other side a better man. Jason Sautel shares his personal tragedies, how the love of his life saved his life and what role faith plays in his life. 

Jason has pulled people out of fires, talked people off bridges and rescued many.  But during these heroics acts of bravery, Jason needed to be rescued. He was coming apart on the inside and was overwhelmed with grief, loss and tragedy.  

A series of emergency rescuing calls imprisoned him in darkness. At one point, it got so bad that Jason decided to take his own life. But during the chaos and storm, Jason met a women that changed everything. She demonstrated authentic love and grace. While dating this women, his life began to change. The darkness lifted and Jason was seeing and feeling hopeful again. 

In a triumph and heroic conclusion, Jason has learned to put his trust in the true "Rescuer." His life has been rescued by The "Rescuer."  Jason's life has been changed forever, at one point, "All I knew was that nearly dying in the high-rise was a turning point. So I prayed." 

I invite you to share this podcast with your friends and family members who would benefit from this information. Like and subscribe to become the first to receive new releases.

Also check out www.fightlikedavid.com/jumpstart to learn how to step up and fight your Goliath.  

On today's episode of Chase The Vase, I am blessed to have on the show Officer Amanda Dozanti, or better known as A.K. A.K. started her career in law enforcement at just 19 years old doing covert operations. She was Vice-President of her police academy class at 20 years old and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies and Sociology in under 4 years.

She served for several years as a Deputy Sheriff on the Road Patrol Division as well as the Marine Patrol Division. In 2015 she was named Officer of the Year (American Legion Heroes Award).  After leaving full-time law enforcement, A.K. went on to spend another several years as a Criminal Court Victim Advocate, 

A.K and I speak out loud about the internal issues surrounding the Thin Blue Line. When we burry the trauma deep down inside, we create a ticking time bomb. As retired LOE's, it is critical that we create a dialogue with those actively engaged in the work!

Please like, share and subscribe to the podcast. We appreciate the feedback and 

"Get Up" is just one of three books written by my next guest Marc Hayford. What do you get when you mix a professional DJ and a WWE referee? You get Marc Hayford. Marc is a motivational speaker sharing his message to anyone who listens. 

During the show, we spoke about changing your life. Not the cliché, mumbo jumbo crap, but the real stuff. Marc believes that if you "change the way you think, you can change the way you live. 

In life there are excuses and then there are answers. It is believed that unsuccessful people focus on pleasing activities while successful people focus on pleasing results. 

Marc is open and honest about doing more, being more and Getting Up! He said, "The one thing that scares me to death is regret. When I'm 95 and I wish I had just done something when I could. The message I have for people is to step over your doubt and fear.”

Come Chase The Vase with us and "Get Up!

In the midst of all the chaos, death, sadness and sorrow, their reigns One who can heal us all. We may be praying for the wrong thing. We keep expecting Him to lift the sad, break the chains, heal the sick and mend the heart. All while we sit idly by and expect mighty miracles. 

That is not how He works. In James 1:22-24 it reads, "

22: But be ye a doers of the word, and not heares only, deceiving your own self. 

23: For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass.

24: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

I wonder how we can do better and be better? We can make the change necessary to begin the healing process. 

Join the movement by logging into the Agents of Recovery Facebook Page and sharing your story with us. 

In this quick episode, Brock shares the idea behind the "Take 10 Initiative." The goal of the initiative is to slow down the overdose rate. 93,000 in 2020 and 2021 is on schedule to be record breaking. That is 255 humans an hour or better said, 10 an hour are losing the battle. 

The "Take 10 Initiative" is geared towards bridging the gap between addiction and connection. We have to do more and we have to be better. No one is coming to save us. No One! It is our responsibility to reach out and lend a hand. 

Brock shares ways to connect with active addicts on the streets, via Facebook Messenger, Instagram, call or text them. Just "Take 10" and make contact. 

Please like, share and subscribe to the podcast. The goal is to help make the connection and to humanize addiction.