FIGHT LIKE DAVID

Meet Tara. She is a grateful recovering alcoholic, a single mom to one incredible little boy. She is a child of an alcoholic. Her mom decided to no longer be a part of my life when she was 17 about 6 months after her dad died.

In high school she was labeled a party girl. Tara hung out with everyone or anyone who wanted to party. At 14 she was arrested for shoplifting and everything went downhill from there. She started cutting her wrists when she was 16. She grew up in a home where domestic violence was the norm. She didn’t know how to ask for help, so I turned to alcohol, pills, sex. She used anything to numb the pain.

Tara is a veteran and struggled with her time in the military. She attributes her childhood trauma as a major factor in her addiction and in her fight for recovery.

Please share this podcast with your friends and family. Subscribe to the podcast and leave us a comment for a chance to win a Hero watch from Rockwell.

Check out www.chasethevasechallenge .com for additional information on taking care of your sobriety.

Matthew Fiorenza has been a Firefighter/Paramedic in Southern California for 18 years. After ten years on the job he began having issues with anxiety, stress, and depression and was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In an effort to self-medicate, he began misusing alcohol.

Additionally, Matthew sustained a back injury on the job, which required surgery. The post-traumatic stress, alcoholism, anxiety, and depression presented the perfect storm for Matthew as he found himself spiraling out of control with pain medication and alcohol while he continued to struggle with anxiety, PTSD, and depression.

Matthew thankfully reached out for help and entered an intensive treatment program for drug and alcohol dependency and co-occurring mental health issues. His journey of resiliency and healing is one he desires to share with others so that they too can obtain optimal wellness and safely return to their community service careers.

Today Matthew is a sober mentor to men and woman in the First Responder community and a volunteer at the Save a Warrior program. He has found sobriety by doing the next right thing. 

I invite you to like, share and subscribe to the Chase The Vase Podcast. While your there check out the Chase The Vase Challenge at www.chasethevasechallenge.com.

Michael C. Koch is a former police officer/narcotics detective of 19 years. He first worked as a beat cop for first nine 9 of those years and then for as an undercover narcotics detective for 10. He knows what life and death look like in addiction as a result of the front row seat that inspired his dedication and career change. Michael understands the culture of being a First Responder and experiencing post-traumatic stress. He has dedicated his life to assist those suffering from PTS and drug and/or alcohol dependence with special emphasis with assisting First Responders.

In 2012, his career as a police officer ended when he was arrested for criminal acts that occurred in the line of duty. He was arrested and charged with numerous felonies. Michaels life had spun out of control and had become unmanageable. His arrest was his rock bottom and his pivot point. This was his moment of change!

Since his arrest,  Michael has found long term recovery and he dedicates his life to helping those who deal with substance abuse. Michael has worked as a counselor for drug and alcohol programs and intensive outpatient (IOP) facilities in the City of San Diego and was program director of a San Diego drug and alcohol detox.

Erica Spiegelman is an author, addiction and wellness specialist, and motivational speaker who works with individuals, couples, and families on personal growth and overall wellness.

Erica and I discussed the importance of emotional awareness and self-care. Erica is well versed in recovery and has helped men and women all over the country heal from truama and addiction. 

Raul Rivas served 18 yrs with Swat team and served as an Assistant Team Leader.  Raul was one of the Swat team members involved during the "Pulse night club incident" shooting in Orlando, Florida. Raul received an Award of Valor for his actions and involvement in the Pulse Incident. Raul retired from the Orlando Police department.

Raul was a field training officer and developed an interest in investigations and Swat.  Raul spent 12 years in the robbery unit with cross sworn duties with FBI Safe Streets and ATF Violent Crimes task forces.   At the same time, Raul was an assault team member on the Swat team. Raul moved to the Fugitive Investigations unit and was cross sworn with the U.S. Marshal's. Raul has received numerous awards and accolades to include the Award of Valor, Field Training Officer of the Year, and Swat Operator of the Year.  Raul currently sits on the Swat Roundup International committee.

After the Pulse Night Club shooting, Raul was forced with confronting his PTS and his childhood trauma. The effects of his career had finally collided with his personal life and it became time for Raul to confront the demons he had been running from. Over the course of his law enforcement career, Raul was a hero. He saved the life of many who were in harms way. The hardest life he had to save became his own!

I want to share with you the heroic steps he took to find freedom and peace. After listening to Raul's story, I invite you to share it with those who you feel would benefit from his journey. Please subscribe so you become notified of upcoming episodes. 

Keep Chasing The Vase.

David Essel’s mission is to help men and women feel more alive in life. David is a best-selling author, counselor, master life coach, all faiths minister, and inspirational speaker. David addresses issues that matter to you such as relationships, finances, depression, addiction, and anything that is keeping you from living your best life. 

David shares his road to recovery and what it took for his to secured long lasting sobriety. David turned his mess into a message and now he shares his story with the masses. While we spoke, I felt as if i was in a therapy session. He provided me with two tools I had not previously used in my recovery toolkit. The tools are proving to be very helpful. I challenge you to listen for ways this podcast can help you and your loved ones in and out of recovery. 

Please like, share and subscribe to the Chase The Vase Podcast and share your story to connect with us. Our goal of this podcast is to create hope, motivation, and strategies to tackle sobriety today.  

 A former NFL center, Randy Grimes lived as everyone’s all-American—with a successful 10-year career for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a beautiful and devoted college-sweetheart-turned-wife, and two healthy children. But pain took over, and the prescription pills used to treat chronic injuries eventually led to playing in blackouts. When Randy’s career ended, the pills continued—feeding an opioid addiction that would last 20+ years and erode his identity, health, and family. When addiction claimed the life of a close friend, Randy finally found the courage to raise his hand and ask for help. This single decision reclaimed Randy’s life. The decision to walk or crawl into rehab became his standing point.

Randy's life mission is to help men and women find long term sobriety. As a retired NFL player, Randy works with them to promote and advocate for the players and the players family. With sobriety becoming such a national crisis, awareness and education is becoming Randy’s life’s mission.

What an honor it was for me to interview Randy. I watched Randy play at the highest level on Sundays. Now hearing his story makes me appreciate his battle even more. Please listen like, share and comment on this podcast. I appreciate you for sharing this with those who are affected by addition.

Chris Fields is the firefighter who tenderly cradled a baby girl killed during the Oklahoma City bombing. The photo of Chris carrying the baby has become one of the most iconic photo ever taken!

Chris Fields retired from the department after 31 years, 7 months and 16 days at the Oklahoma City Fire Department. He spent much of his life rushing to emergencies, but it was that one moment — captured in the searing photo — and the attention it garnered that shook him, impacting his mental health and family relationships.

In this podcast, Christ shares his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. It took him years to process the events, but Chris says he is finally in a good place. He is a husband and the father of two grown sons. And he’s friends with the baby’s mom, a bond he calls a blessing.

The battle that ensued in Chris's life after the bombing and during his career is not for the faint of heart. Chris took his job seriously and due to the thousands of traumatic events he experienced, Christ turned to drinking as a form of self-medication.

Chris had to fight to overcome his battle with alcohol and the gripping emotions from PTSD. Today, Chris is a light. He is a true American Hero!

Check it out her on Chase The Vase Podcast. Let us know what you think and how we can better serve you.

My next guest, Michael Sugrue, suffered for a long time until he asked for help. Michael began his law enforcement career in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces Officer in 1998. As a Security Forces Officer, Michael specialized in Law Enforcement, Global Force Protection, Anti-Terrorism, Nuclear Security, Foreign Air Field Assessments and Air Base Ground Defense. 

Immediately after the Air Force, Michael was hired by the Walnut Creek Police Department where he served in a variety of assignments including: Patrol Officer, Driver Training Instructor (EVOC) Field Training Officer (FTO), SIU Detective, Undercover CA DOJ Narcotic Task Force Agent (Contra Costa County), Public Information Officer (PIO) and Patrol Sergeant.

Michael was awarded the Walnut Creek PD Distinguished Service Medal in 2014 for his heroic and life-saving actions during a Fatal Officer Involved Shooting in 2012.

Michael ultimately medically retired in 2018. He is now a Peer Volunteer at the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat (WCPR) and an Ambassador for Save A Warrior (SAW).

Michael is a dedicated advocate for awareness, prevention, education, training on Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) and First Responder Suicide Prevention. Michael continues to speak at law enforcement agencies all over the United States.

This guy is amazing, I am totally honored to podcast with him. Please subsribe, like and leave us a review. Keep Chasing The Vase. 

We are all faced with a "Standing Spot." It is the spot where big decisions are made. The spot where lives are turned around. It may be the spot where you decide to overcome addiction. The "Standing Spot" for Eric Williams was making the decision to leave the life of drugs, violence, and gangs to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Canada.

His desire to be successful outweighed his desire for addiction. Eric "got out" of the criminal life to start his empire. From an early entrepreneur in sales, his greatest strength was his mindset.

During the podcast, we dive into four very specific areas. 1. The power of the mind. 2. The power of your team. 3. Personal accountability and 4. Finding the right people to traverse life with.

This episode is full of tools that will help anyone feel motivated. Eric's laser focus and energy is contagious. So is his sobriety journey.

After listening, pleas like and share this podcast with friends and family. Make sure you subscribe in order to be notified of future episodes.