From Survivor to Thriver

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For many women, the experience of going through menopause can have a significant impact on their mental health. And due to the stigma around it, many don’t get the help they actually need. 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Ann Bell to discuss the link between menopause, perimenopause, postmenopause, and mental health and how women can educate themselves and become their own best advocates. 

Ann Bell is here to remind women that their needs matter, that they deserve an enjoyable, nourishing sex life, and that there is a deep connection between menopause and mental health. 

Her journey into this field began in 1998 as a massage therapist, where she discovered the deep need for addressing mental, emotional, and relationship health in people's lives. Clients found solace in confiding in her during their sessions and, in 2012, Ann made the decision to formalize her commitment to their overall wellness. 

In 2020, she furthered her expertise by obtaining certifications in relationships, sex, and love coaching.

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• The different stages of menopause 
• The number one symptom of menopause
• Hidden symptoms of menopause that many people don’t know about
• The impact of menopause on your mental health
• The number one thing women need to treat menopause
• Why postmenopausal women struggle to get access to HRT
• The problems in women’s healthcare 
• The impact of antidepressants on menopausal women 
• The importance of educating yourself about your health so that you can be your own advocate
• The stigmas around women’s health

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Ann! If you want to learn more from her, you can visit her website here. You can also learn more about menopause and how to find a menopause practitioner at menopause.org/. 

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

Visit Ann’s website

Visit the menopause website

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Quotes: 

“Being on hormone replacement therapy is nourishing for your body.” -Ann 

“When it comes to perimenopause and your menopause, the number one  prescription that needs to be written is hormone replacement therapy.” -Ann 

“How many women are going to therapists and are presenting with anxiety and depression and the question probably doesn't even come up of ‘are you perimenopausal? Are you menopausal?’ And then they're being prescribed antidepressants, which, as I read, often have the opposite effect on women who are menopausal.” -Erik 

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In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we had the privilege of sitting down with John Padilla to talk about how his life was changed forever by a tragedy. The devastating loss of his brother to suicide during his high school years changed the trajectory of his life. 

John shares how he turned his pain into purpose and embarked on a path of healing alongside his brother's friends. Inspired by their collective resilience, he created YouTube films centered around mental health in the mountains.

Join us as John shares his deeply personal story, showing the impact of community in navigating through life's most challenging moments.

In 2019, John Padilla lost his teenage brother, Jack, to suicide. John’s background as a professional skier and photographer prompted him to create Mountain in My Mind, the first video production company focused on mental health awareness in ski towns. This project has resulted in two, award-winning, feature length films that have been viewed by millions across the world. He and his team are currently on location in Montana shooting the third film which is set for release in the Fall of 2024.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• How to check in with loved ones who might be contemplating suicide
• John’s experience with a brother who committed suicide
• How he started a nonprofit to help others struggling with their mental health
• The impact of social media and bullying on the mental health of young adults
• The power of community
• The healing that John and the other kids found through making movies
• The stigma around mental health in ski towns 
• The topics covered in John’s movies 
• 
  

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with John! If you want to check out his movies for yourself, head over to his YouTube and follow him on Instagram. 

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

Check out the films on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MountainInMyMind

Follow Mountain in My Mind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mountaininmymind/

Follow John on Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/john.padilla/

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Quotes: 

“No suicide doesn’t have a heartbreaking end to it. It just doesn’t.” -Marc 

“​​It's very simple. Ask bluntly, but politely, ‘Do you have a suicide plan?’ That's it. And if the answer is yes, or if I even sense that the answer is not no, I'm going to start making calls.” -John

“Community was probably the one thing that saved us and saved all of Jack’s friends.” -John 

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In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we talked with Jon Katz about his journey to better mental and physical health and how he learned that real healing comes after facing pain by looking within yourself. 

Jon tells his story and talks about how important it is to take full responsibility for our own lives and happiness. Now, he helps others overcome their struggles in the same way he did.

In late 2020, Jon Katz went through a horrendous breakup. This breakup, compounded with the weight of an unstable childhood, decades of poor decision-making, poor relationship choices, and poor habits, left him obese, anxious, depressed, and suicidal at the age of 34. 

Since then, Jon has turned his life around in every conceivable way and now coaches others on how to step back from the path of negativity, poor health, hopelessness, worthlessness, fear, and suicide. 

It is now his life's mission to help folks out of the pit of suicidality, anxiety, depression, repression, and denial and take back their lives. Let’s welcome in Jon!!

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• How Jon reached his lowest point in his mental health and then changed the trajectory of his life
• How the people we spend our time with can impact our habits
• Why we have to look inside if we want true happiness 
• How Jon realized that running away from his problems wouldn’t solve them
• The problem with getting lost in the narratives of others
• The power of trying and giving things your all
• How desperation can actually make you unstoppable
• How your mental health and physical health are intertwined
• The juxtaposition between art and pain
• How the creative process impacts mental health 

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Jon! If you want to learn more from him, head over to his Instagram and you’ll find all of his links there. 

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

Follow Jon on Instagram

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Get in touch: [email protected]

Quotes: 

“The regretful man is the man that isn't leading a healthy life, that isn't really trying. If you aren't really trying, then you aren't really going to be okay.” -Jon 

“You have to remove things from your life if you want to grow.” -Jon 

“Sometimes you create these things, even if it is as therapy or to deal with the pain, and it helps and heals others, but it doesn't necessarily do that for the artist.” -Marc 

"When I’m creating something, I'm able to transpose my thoughts. It's like going on a trip. You have a suitcase and you have all this stuff in your suitcase and it's heavy and it's weighing you down. And you finally get to your room and you get a chance to unpack the suitcase and start to put things away. And I feel like that's what that creative process does from a mental health

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In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Dana Diaz. After living through years of narcissistic and physical abuse, she learned that it was time to make a change and create a better life for herself.

Join us as Dana shares her story and the importance of rediscovering who you are after leaving an abusive relationship and how she learned to put little deposits into her own happy jar. 

Dana is a wife, mother, and author of the best-selling book GASPING FOR AIR: THE STRANGLEHOLD OF NARCISSISTIC ABUSE. 

Dana has had life-long experience with narcissistic abuse, beginning in childhood. Her education in journalism and psychology at DePaul University in Chicago gave her the ability to accurately verbalize and express how narcissistic abuse creates confusion and conflict within victims, so that she can help other victims know they are not alone and better understand their own circumstances. 

Today, Dana is a proud voice for fellow victims who are unable, afraid, or ashamed to share their experiences. She strives to create awareness and understanding to ensure victims are given the support they need to first understand their situation and then begin the healing process. 

Her first book, chronicling her own abusive marriage that lasted nearly three decades, started as a journal that she hid under the couch cushion in the basement. 

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• How Dana began writing her book with a notebook hidden under a cushion
• How Covid turned into a game of survivor for Dana with her abuser
• The physical and mental abuse Dana endured from her caregivers growing up
• The traits of a true narcissist
• When Dana realized she reached a deal breaker in her marriage
• The ability people have to make you sick 
• The ongoing process of healing
• The power of asking yourself what you really want
• The stigmatized way people treat others that struggle with their mental health

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Dana! If you want to learn more from her or read her book, make sure to visit her website. You can also follow her on Instagram here! 

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

Visit Dana’s website 

Follow her on Instagram 

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Get in touch: [email protected]

“They say toxins in your environment can make you sick, but people can make you sick too. I would have never thought that in my life, but it has been such an eye-opening thing for me and such a significant part of the healing aspect of my life.” -Dana

“Thriving means different things to different people at different times.” -Erik 

“There is a better life for you and you deserve it. We are all worthy of being loved and being able to care fo

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In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Laura Renner. She shares her experiences after a traumatic brain injury changed her life forever and brought her mental health to an all-time low. 

Laura tried many forms of therapy to heal after what she experienced but found in the end that healing is an individualized experience and it is a journey that will take time. 

Laura shares more about the different types of healing modalities she tried including EMDR, therapy, hypnotherapy, meditation, and more. 

Laura Renner is an author, podcast host, and neonatal intensive care nurse who suffered a near-fatal traumatic brain injury that changed the trajectory of her life. Through her complicated recovery, she hit rock bottom and realized she needed to undergo deep work to heal her complex trauma. 

She’s spent the last two years exploring countless trauma healing modalities and sharing her experience to show others they're capable of healing, too. In her book, "No, I'm Not Fine. Thank You.," Laura openly discusses her journey of identifying her traumas, healing deep wounds, and how she reclaimed her power. 

She is also the host of her own podcast called Healing #Nofilter where she provides relatable, no-nonsense methods for healing your mind, body, and all things trauma-related. As she writes in her book, “Being on this healing journey is a lot like running. Well, running for people who are not runners, myself included.” 

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• The feelings of depression and hopelessness Laura experienced after a traumatic brain injury
• The stigma around mental health and why we struggle to talk about it
• The PTSD of a PTSD event 
• How meditation helps Laura cope with her traumas 
• What EMDR is and how it became part of Laura’s healing journey 
• The individualized process of finding therapy methods that work for you
• The trauma that your body can hold onto 
• The power of getting to the root of your traumas and understanding why you believe the things you do 

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Laura! If you loved hearing from her, we highly recommend you get a copy of her book. You can also get her free healing resource on her website. 

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

Visit Laura’s website: https://www.laurarenner.me

Follow Laura on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laura_renn/

Follow Laura on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laura_renn

Visit our website: https://fromsurvivortothriver.com/

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brushcreekthrivers

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brushcreekthrivers/

Get in touch: [email protected]

Quotes: 

“It

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In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Marcus Farris, a Post Traumatic Growth Director for Mission 22 to talk about the intricate connection between mental health and physical fitness. 

In our discussion, we dive into the importance of humor and the right mindset in navigating mental health challenges. Marcus also opens up about his own personal struggles, the resilience and purpose in endurance sports, and his work with veterans.

Marcus Farris is the Post Traumatic Growth Director for Mission 22, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans and their families. He’s also an author, master health coach, endurance athlete, and has his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.  

His life was upended when, as a result of infidelity, his marriage collapsed and ended in divorce after only four years. Today, he’s passionate about all manner of endurance sports competitions and has spent a lot of his spare time working with the US Military Endurance Sports team, a non-profit dedicated to helping service members achieve their fitness endeavors. 

Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, he now lives in the Pacific Northwest where he works with other former military service members on their own paths to healing after experiencing the trials of combat.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• The power of fitness in mental health healing
• Men’s therapy through practical activities
• The power we all have to do hard things
• The connection between endurance athletes and mental health struggles
• Social media and it’s impact on our self worth
• Accepting yourself for who you are right now
• Chasing serotonin and dopamine in healthy ways
• Rewiring your neural pathways for positive thinking

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Marcus! If you want to learn more about Mission 22 you can visit their website here. Make sure to follow Marcus on Instagram and get a copy of his book! 

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

Follow Marcus on Instagram

Follow Marcus on LinkedIn

Check out the Mission 22 website

Get a copy of Marcus’s book No Less Faithful

Visit our website: https://fromsurvivortothriver.com/

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brushcreekthrivers

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brushcreekthrivers/

Get in touch: [email protected]

Quotes: 

“You have what it takes to get yourself up, to dust yourself off, and do what it takes to do hard things.” -Marcus

“Mental health is a topic that I know can often be difficult to talk about, but we have to be able to inject some humo

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We are celebrating something special in this episode of From Survivor to Thriver- our three-year anniversary of the podcast! 

To mark this significant milestone, we're switching things up by stepping into the guest roles. Our former guest and dear friend, Susan Gold, will be our host.

Over the past 151 episodes, we've had the privilege of hosting incredible guests who shared their stories of healing and triumph over mental health challenges. Now, we're excited to flip the script and present this unique episode.

Join us as we dive into our personal journeys, the inception of the podcast, and how it has evolved into a platform for mental health awareness and support. 

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• How our deep bond and friendship began 
• Why and how we decided to start this podcast
• The joy and challenges we have faced creating this podcast
• The first step to beginning your healing journey
• The different ways mental health issues impact different people
• How our podcast has impacted our own lives and mental health
• How we overcome imposter syndrome
• Our reflections on three years of podcasting 

We hope you enjoyed this episode! We have so much gratitude for this show, the people we have met through it, and the platform it has given us to end the stigma around mental health conversations. We hope you will continue to join us week after week as we share these powerful conversations. 

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

Visit our website: https://fromsurvivortothriver.com/

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brushcreekthrivers

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brushcreekthrivers/

Get in touch: [email protected]

Quotes: 

“This podcast has opened my eyes to how mental health plays into so many different aspects of so many different people's lives. And it presents itself differently. It's not just the DSM-5 that we're all familiar with. Trauma comes in all shapes and all sizes and all different ways.” -Erik 

“I hope that our message of hope and searching for answers and realizing that we're all important enough to do this work for ourselves and the people around us is coming through.” -Marc

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What if we told you that the secret to healing your mental health is actually quite simple? 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Josie Warren to talk about her own struggles with autoimmune diseases, mental illnesses, and addiction, and how she learned to heal it all in one fell swoop by taking a hard look at herself and what she really needed to do to be happy. 

Josie discusses the narratives we tell ourselves when it comes to our illnesses, why we struggle so much to just be happy, and why the path to healing is simpler than it seems. 

Josie Warren is an autoimmune and mental health expert whose life used to be defined by her autoimmune problems. By the time she was a teenager, she had anxiety, depression, rheumatoid arthritis, an eating disorder, and a drinking problem. 

In her darkest of days, she had become suicidal. 

After struggling for years with her mind and behaviors, Josie has completely resolved all of her addiction and mental health issues. Today, she is a responsible social drinker who is emotionally at peace. 

As a businesswoman, Josie uses her experience with addiction and her past challenges to help individuals emotionally heal as she has 

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• Josie’s struggle with autoimmune diseases, mental health illness, and addiction
• The connection between how autoimmune diseases and mental health diseases are healed
• How you’ll know if the healing methodologies you’re using aren’t working
• Why you aren’t as alone in your struggles as you think you are
• The power in simplicity 
• Why people struggle so much with choosing to be healthy
• Why we have to stop viewing life as suffering
• The importance of honesty and truth in the healing process
• The impact men and women have on each other’s mental health
• Why you have to start looking within for your own happiness

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Josie! If you want to learn more from her, make sure to visit her website.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

Visit Josie’s website

Visit our website

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Get in touch: [email protected]

“Healing is a very simple process and the reason that people aren't getting better is people don't really know how to heal.” -Josie 

“My life that I have is a product of my choices and decisions. That's what I had to realize. I'm not a product of my circumstances or suffering.” -Josie 

“We know people aren’t comfortable doing the hard things. But doing the hard things is what will lead to the path to healing.” -Erik 

“The definition of sanity is to keep doing the same thing and think you're going to create a different outcome, but it's much easier to say that than it is to push through.” -Marc 

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For someone who is in the depths of an abusive relationship, it can be hard to make sense of what’s happening. But the impacts on your life, and your mental health, can be profound. 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we had the great honor of sitting down with Nikki La Croce, who experienced an abusive relationship that changed her life. She discusses the growth that came from this hard situation and also delves into the mental health challenges that people in the LGBTQ community face and how we can all become more open-minded and accepting people. 

In early 2021, Nikki La Croce experienced what she now refers to as her “personal armageddon”, as she left a decade-long abusive relationship and simultaneously was faced with the unexpected loss of her mother amidst the peak of the pandemic.  

Navigating these events and being forced to cope with two very different types of grief at once, Nikki’s perspective on mental health, personal growth, and healing through trauma shifted drastically. 

She has always felt strongly about the importance of human connection and thanks to a tremendous amount of support from her family, friends and her therapist, she made the decision to return to the mic to share her own story in May 2022. 

Now, you can catch new episodes of Who The F*ck? every week to hear guests from all over the globe share their unique stories of resilience, gratitude and their missions to make meaningful change in the world. 

Nikki sees the continued growth of her show as a way to help others feel seen and heard, so they can learn how to prioritize their well-being and find the inner peace we all deserve.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• The power of a strong support system
• The gaslighting and manipulation Nikki endured in her previous relationship
• The impact - good or bad- that your partner can have on your life 
• Why boundaries matter so much
• How low self-esteem can impact your view on the love you think you deserve
• The growth that can happen after leaving abusive situations
• The mental health struggles within the LGBTQ community 
• Embracing an open-minded approach to life
• Living your truth  

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Nikki! If you want to learn more from her, make sure to visit her website and check out her show. You can also follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

Visit Nikki’s website

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Follow Nikki on Instagram

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: [email protected]

“Your responsibility is to yourself and to be honest with yourself. And the on

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Imagine the weight of command in combat intertwined with the silent battle of mental illness. 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with General Gregg Martin, who fought a tremendous battle with bipolar disorder all while navigating an accomplished career in the military.

Gregg is sharing his story of resilience in the face of a disorder that pushed him into profound mania and deep depression. He is now passionate about helping shatter the stigma around bipolar disorder so that anyone struggling with this illness can stop suffering in silence and get the treatment that can change the trajectory of their lives. 

Gregg Martin, PhD. is a retired major general and a 36-year Army combat veteran, celebrated for his remarkable career commanding engineer units and holding prestigious roles such as president of the National Defense University, and commander of Fort Leonard Wood. 

An accomplished author, his book “BIPOLAR GENERAL: My Forever War with Mental Illness” candidly shares his journey. With advanced degrees from MIT, the Naval War College, and the Army War College, Gregg’s indomitable spirit offers hope and inspiration to others, while he finds strength and joy alongside his wife in Cocoa Beach, Florida.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• Gregg’s experience with bipolar disorder while serving in the military
• What happened when his disorder became out of control 
• How your self-perception shifts when you are manic versus depressed
• Gregg’s journey to getting his diagnosis and how it helped him begin his recovery
• Why we have to get rid of the stigma around getting help
• The power medication and treatment have to turn your life around 
• How important hope is during your healing journey 
• How people perceive mental illness
• How we can begin to normalize the conversations around mental health

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with General Gregg! If you want to learn more from him, make sure to visit his website and get a copy of his book. You can also follow him on LinkedIn. 

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 

Visit his website 

Connect with him on LinkedIn

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: [email protected]m

“Without help for mental illness, a person is probably going to go down a road of destruction and even death. But if they do get help, professional medical help, there are treatments available that can lead to a happy, purposeful, healthy life.” -Gregg

“Illness or disease and injury in your brain are not the same things.” -Marc 

“There is no weakness in being vulnerable.” -Erik