My next guest has been tagged as the Businessperson of the Year, The Master of Motivation, The Highest Rated Speaker of Our Convention and Mr. Motivation. David Essel is a Master Life Coach, motivated and grateful recovering addict. 

David talks about the difficulty of losing his father and the impact and legacy he left behind. David continues to want to make his father proud by continuing his legacy for life. His father taught him how to be resolute, to never quit and how to serve another. 

David spends his days in recovery by giving back to others and helping America Heal one person at a time. He believes the greatest superpower all of us possess is the ability to choose for ourselves. We discussed why we as a society are looking for "Easy Street." When success isn't immediately obtained, many buckle and shift focus. If immediate gratification doesn't arrive, most quit on their goals, dreams and sobriety too quickly. 

David's message to us is the same advise his father gave to him as a young man, "Never Give Up On Yourself," he never gave up on me!

If you have any questions for david, contact him at: talkdavid.com.

To learn more about the #Take10Movement find us on FB at #Take10Movement. Keep Chasing The Vase. 

So blessed to have Officer Autumn on the show to discuss resiliency amongst first responders. Autumn has found her niche working with female first responders who are seeking the path to finding their true self. We are not replicas and need to stand out and be who God created us to be. Be authentic, be real and be you is her message to those looking for inner peace. 

If you don't know who you are society will define you! We must be clear in who we are or others will tell you how to act. 

Note to self, never respond to a "hot tone" without your gun! It's a lot like going into war unarmed. Autumn shares ideas and tools that can be used on a daily basis that reduce stress and help with depression. 

Autumn speaks to all of us who are struggling to find ourselves. She uses humor and real life situations to empower those struggling with depression, stress and anxiety. You can find her on IG @officerautumn.

Please check out the new Take10movement on Facebook and get involved!  Thank you for Chasing The Vase and may God keep you safe!

I feel privileged to share the microphone with Dr. Claudia C. Cotca. She is a 3-times graduate of University of Michigan, where she received a Bachelor of Science with Chemistry Degree and Cellular Molecular Biology, Master of Public Health in Toxicology, and Doctor of Dental Surgery. Dr. Cotca is an international lecturer and aesthetic restorative dentist.

We sat down and discussed modern medicine in America and the fact that we use medicine to cover pain. Dr. Cotca has some amazing questions for the listeners and for those in control of the crisis. 

Opioids are prescribed for the purpose of blocking pain signals between the brain and the body. They are prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. So if you break your leg in an accident, you will more likely than not be prescribed opioids for the pain. 

So why are opioids being prescribed months after the injury has healed?  Are there any other options for pain? Is it ok to feel pain and how is it helpful?

Don't miss this episode! With the opioid epidemic taking so many lives, education is the key component to safety. The more we learn about the issue, the better we can protect our tribe!

If you are struggling with addiction and have a desire to stop, contact me at [email protected]. 

*Trigger Warning* Suicidal Ideations and God are discussed openly.*

My next guest is one of the legends in the podcast space. He is the founder, host and producer at The Gametime Guru. If you're looking for a unique perspective on sports, mental wellness and real life situations, check out this episode.

My friend Shane Larson and I discuss mental wellness. Why it is so difficult to reach out and ask for help. We highlight his road of peaks and valleys and ultimately, he coming to the decision to end his life. Shane is here today because of a loving Father In Heaven. The battle of life and death becomes real to many of us. Choosing to live takes absolute courage and fortitude and a HOPE that life will get better!

Shane's story will resonate with many. Today, Shane is a husband, a father, an innovator and hope dealer. I am proud to share the microphone with him and invite you to always Chase The Vase.

Check out Shane's podcast on all the normal podcast platforms at: The Gametime Guru.

Please check out the 30-day recovery challenge at www.chasethevasechallenge.com for more details on where to start your recovery journey! 

*Trigger Warning and conversation about suicidal ideations.*

Imagine life as you know it, changed in the matter of moments. My next guest experienced her life turned upside down when she lost her husband and daughter in a violent traffic accident. 

When her husband and daughter were killed in 2004, Jennifer Tracy was diagnosed with PTSD. At the time,, Jennifer struggled with losing her identify and fell into depression. While fighting the quiet battle of depression, Jennifer learned that the man who killed her family had been waiting for five years to receive a mental health evaluation.

In open court, united hand in hand with her family, Jennifer forgave this man and became an advocate for him to receive mental health treatment. He received the much needed treatment and has since been released from custody.  

Within this episode, Jennifer will teach you about her "Quiet Confidence" It took years before Jennifer was able to talk about her battle with suicidal ideations with others. “Now, I talk about it all the time. I talk about the darkness because it takes away the power that it has over me & hopefully you. The suicidal mind is very convincing. It feeds shame, guilt, fear, & hopelessness.”

Reach out to her at www,redefineyourmission.com or on LinkedIn @Jennifertracyinspire.

Please like, share and comment on this episode. I would love to hear your feedback and comment. 

Yvonne Dam is a top notch coach who works with ambitious professionals to create more time for your personal life. Yvonne talks about how she evaluates her clients personally and shows them how to get better results, create more free time and enjoy life! Life is not all about the job! 

Yvonne breaks down the entrepreneurship of running a business. She understands that work is not all about making the money but we (humans) place value based on the price tag. 

Target=

Implementation= 

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This one is geared to help anyone of us who lack the concept of time. If you are like me, you will always put work first and family second. This episode gave me an amazing insight into working with time caps!

After listening to the podcast, leave us a comment and tell us what you liked about it. Please share it with anyone who struggles with maintaining the work-family balance.  Thank you for being a loyal listener and keep Chasing The Vase.  

A mugshot should not define who my next guest is. Nor, should it define those in recovery! It was my honor to create this episode with my friend Travis Sackett. Travis is the epitome of recovery in action. 

This episode is best described as, one man's personal journey through the struggle of addiction, pain, injury and loss of employment.  At the root of Travis's story is compassion, resiliency, and faith. This episode has something for each one of us. 

Travis shares how as a police officer, he became addicted to pills and anything that would calm the voices in his head. The addiction took over his life and he began to steal credit card information until he was arrested. Imagine sitting inside the police station and being called into the Lieutenants office. While inside, he was met by two City Police Officer's and one plain clothes Detective. He was arrested inside of his Lieutenants office and paraded through the police station in handcuffs. 

This episode is about losing everything and finding your way back. It is never an easy process, but it is worth it. Please like, listen and share this podcast with those struggling to find the road to recovery!

Check out the www.chasethevasechallenge.com for additional recovery support! 

My next guest is Retired FBI Agent Michael Van Meter. As an Agent, Michael became an instructor at the FBI Academy. As an instructor,  he created a course titled “Leading At-Risk Employees” geared toward Police Executives to help them understand alcoholism, prescription drug abuse, PTSD, suicide, and domestic violence as it relates to investigation work. 

Michael comes onto the podcast with first-hand knowledge of the devastating effects of addiction on the public, himself, and his profession. Michael has spent the majority of his career as a sheepdog. He was a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy, a Corrections Officer, a Washington DC Police Officer, and then an Agent. 

Years, and years of trauma led Michael to drinking and trying to escape his past. Interestingly enough, the "Internal Conflict" with other employees at work a an Agent fueled his addiction. He found it difficult navigating the good and bad within the Agency. 

Michaels redemption story is his to be shared. Sharing our stories becomes our therapy session. Today, Michael is sober and spreading the good news anywhere he can. 

I invite you to listen to the podcast and share it with one person who will benefit from the message! 

Keep Chasing The Vase and check out the 30 sobriety day sobriety challenge at www.chasethevasechallenge.com.

*Trigger Warning-Discussion of suicidal ideations and drug addiction.* 

My next guest shares how childhood traumas play a vital role in our mental wellness. Amanda Acker's lived her life "just wanting to be accepted." When a divorced forced her to live with her dad, Amanda's life took a turn for the worst. She watched as her mom prepared the pills for her first suicide attempt. By the grace of God, she did not go through with the attempt but left Amanda with deep scar. 

Amanda began to self-medicate with Benzodiazepines, Vicodin, and Marijuana in order to mask her ongoing traumas. At one point, Amanda overdosed and even this, did not change her desire for change. 

Amanda made of the most life changing decisions when she agreed to commit a felony with her friends. As the crime was committed, she was stopped, arrested and spent time in jail for the crime. 

Amanda made the decision to take her power back three years ago. Just when she felt like her life was back in order, she was fired from her job. She immediately found herself desperate, sad. alone sitting in her closet contemplating taking her own life, when she "had a spiritual awaking" while sitting at her rock bottom. At that moment, she realized she needed to pivot. 

First, Amanda decided to fix her marriage.

Second, She started journaling.

Third, She disassociated herself from people, places and things!

I invite you to listen, share and comment on this comment. If you have someone in your life struggling with addiction and or suicidal ideations, please reach out to your closest medical provider or contact us at [email protected].