From Survivor to Thriver

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70% of incarcerated women are suffering from terrible trauma. 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Elizabeth Mikotowicz to talk about her story of abuse and trauma that led to her incarceration. While in prison, she was mistreated and abused by many people in power. Elizabeth is now acting as a force for change to stop the abuse happening to women in prison. 

Elizabeth has come a long way on her healing journey, and in this episode, she shares her experiences with art as therapy, binaural beats, ASMR, meditation, and self-care in order to recover from the trauma. 

Five years ago, Elizabeth Mikotowicz was painting murals as a federal inmate, now she has her own art shows and has launched an environmentally friendly clothing brand called EPM which is based on her art. 

While in prison, she both endured and witnessed institutional abuse, corruption, systemic racism, and cruelty; so much so that sometimes she still wakes up screaming. These days she's turned it all around! 

She has gotten legislative bills put on the table and passed for the good of the people - not corporations and institutions. Elizabeth is letting the world know what America is doing to its incarcerated population which is the highest rate in the world. 

She is currently in the editing stages of her memoir and is also creating an adult coloring book based on PTSD and what she learned from her own trauma.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• The corruption in the prison system
• The impact prison has on women with PTSD
• The mistreatment and trauma Elizabeth experienced in the prison system
• How Elizabeth was able to move into a place of strength after the trauma of prison
• How she realized that she deserved to take care of herself
• Some tools that help with PTSD and trauma healing
• The healing power of art
• The power we all have to rewire our brains

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Elizabeth! If you are interested in checking out her art and fashion line, you can find it here. You can also follow her on Instagram and TikTok.

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 Elizabeth's fashion line

 Follow Elizabeth on Instagram

 Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn

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]

“70% of the women in prison are suffering from some horrible trauma.” -Elizabeth

“I am very thankful that there are  strong, powerful women out there who are doing the hard work, not only for themselves, but for others and telling the stories of those whose voices aren't able to reach the media, the state house floor, or a show like ours.” -Erik 

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Have you ever struggled with addiction? 

If you have, you know that it can be incredibly challenging to journey through sobriety, especially if you don’t have a community to support you through the hard days. 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Sonia Kahlon to talk about her journey as a high-functioning alcoholic and how she now works to destigmatize asking for help when you are struggling with alcoholism. Sonia knows the power of having someone to turn to and she now gives people the support and community they truly need through her business EverBlume. 

Sonia Kahlon is the founder of EverBlume, a service that provides small group recovery meetings in which members are matched into groups based on their struggles. The goal is for members to find connection through conversation and to receive meaningful support and feedback from each other. 

Sonia is an orthodontist who both built and sold a successful multi-location practice in 2016. In 2017 she embarked on her sobriety journey. 

Since then, she has become a recovery coach and has dedicated her life to making a difference with social impact investing, volunteering with the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, and victims of sex trafficking. 

These days she hopes to create her biggest impact by leveraging the power of peer support to create community for those on their recovery journeys.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• The use of alcohol as a coping mechanism
• Sonia’s experience with alcoholism and when she realized it was time to stop
• The importance of talking about the struggles you are having
• High-functioning alcoholics
• How anxiety can impact drinking habits
• The true meaning of happiness and contentment
• Learning to appreciate the little things in life
• How Sonia started her business to help people struggling with sobriety
• The difference between physical and emotional sobriety

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Sonia! If you are interested in joining EverBlume, you can visit her website and follow her on Instagram to learn more. 

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 Sonia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joineverblume/

Visit Sonia’s website: https://www.joineverblume.com/

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

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

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fromsurvivortothriver

Get in touch: [email protected]

“People that have seen the dark things  realize that it’s the little things in life that can bring us the most joy.” -Erik 

“You can’t work toward a strong value system when you’re using.” -Sonia 

“I really believe in community and leaning on people.” -Sonia 

“It’s one thing to have someone who is there for you. But you can feel completely lonely if you don’t let them in.” -Marc 

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Experiencing a trauma can be very isolating. You go through something that changes you massively and it’s easy to assume that no one understands you anymore because they haven’t been through what you have been through. However, that is not the case. 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Linda Spellman. She experienced a trauma that she thought would end her life, but instead, it changed it forever.  After interviewing many trauma survivors, she discovered that she really wasn’t alone and that healing was possible. 

Linda Spellman earned her MBA and spent years as a successful marketing executive for high-profile national retailers from Southern California to Atlanta. She was enjoying a thriving career when a sexual assault changed everything.  

A silent survivor of sexual abuse since childhood, Linda’s life began to take a series of unexpected, sometimes devastating, other times remarkable turns. Not the least of which was the unexpected appearance of spiritual gifts, including an ability to communicate with those who have passed. Her curiosity about this development led her to seek out other trauma survivors, and learn about their experiences, paths to healing, and the spiritual gifts they developed after trauma.  

Linda is now an author, speaker, and burgeoning subject matter expert on trauma from a survivor's perspective.  She is also a gifted psychic medium with clients around the world, including a growing roster of celebrity clients. Her self-described purpose in life is to “give people hope.”  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• The massive impact trauma has on your life
• How your self-awareness expands when you are going through the process of healing
• The traumas Linda experienced and how it changed her life
• The five main areas of the reveal and release stage of trauma healing
• The fear you experience as a trauma survivor
• The power of having a support system while you’re healing
• When Linda started experiencing her spiritual gifts 
• The triangle of healing from trauma 
• A simple trick for empaths that struggle with taking on other people’s emotions

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Linda! If you want to learn more from her, you can visit her website and follow her on Instagram. We also highly recommend you check out her book Trauma-Inspired. If you are interested in a reading, you can learn more about them 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: 

Get a copy of Linda’s book

Learn more about her readings

Visit Linda’s website

Connect with Linda on LinkedIn

 Follow Linda on Instagram

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on TikTok

Get in touch: [email protected]

“Trauma can be very isolating. You feel like, okay, nobody understa

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What is the true impact of trauma on caregivers who don’t prioritize nursing their own wounds? 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Dr. Omar Reda to talk about the intense trauma you can experience as a wounded caregiver and what happens when you don’t address it. We also discuss the journey of refugees traveling to a foreign land, the mental health of immigrants, collective trauma, burnout, and soul care. 

Omar has some profound insight into life as an immigrant and what it truly is to be human and he shares why we all need to look deeper and seek care for our soul when we need it. 

Dr. Omar Reda is a world-renowned, Harvard-trained trauma expert, the author of several books, including his most recent book, The Wounded Healer: The Pain and Joy of Caregiving, and the founder of Untangled, a healing initiative that aims to break the cycles of trauma-related dysfunction through connection, support, education, empowerment, and the mastery of healthy coping skills.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• What ignited Omar’s passion to be the voice of the voiceless
• How trauma impacts our lives and the impact of human connection
• The impact of Islamophobia on the mental health of immigrants
• The importance of dropping the labels and embracing curiosity
• What happens if you don’t nurse your own wounds
• Why we have to prioritize soul care
• Signs and symptoms of a wounded healer

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Dr. Reda! If you want to learn more from him, we highly recommend you get a copy of his book Get a copy of The Wounded Healer: The Pain and Joy of Caregiving. We know you’ll love it! 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: 

Connect with Dr. Reda  on LinkedIn

Visit the Healing Trauma Institute website

Get a copy of The Wounded Healer: The Pain and Joy of Caregiving

Get in touch with Dr. Reda at [email protected]

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on TikTok

Get in touch: [email protected]

“We need to look for beauty everywhere that we can.” -Omar

“There is no way to create a gap across the human experience, especially in regards to culture, without questions.” -Marc

“We can all coexist together, but we can still have our own unique identities. We don't have to take on the identity or the religion o

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What does music mean to you? 

There is something powerful about how healing and cathartic the act of creating or listening to music can be. In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we had the privilege of sitting down with the hosts of our sister podcast, The Rocky Road Podcast, Kristin Ransom and Mandy Siess to talk about the healing power of sharing stories, the science behind our deep connection with music, and the catharsis found in melodies. 

Kristin Ransom and Mandy Siess are the proud co-hosts of The Rocky Road Podcast, a space for others to share their stories of growth and resilience. Between the two of them, Kristin and Mandy's life chapters include divorce, intimate partner violence, church hurt, single parenthood, adoption, and a bevy of other experiences that have shaped them into the still-healing but always-helping women they are today. 

Nowadays, Kristin is a music therapist and Mandy owns a mobile coffee trailer. The two have been friends for years and hope to continue along the journey of helping others through the rocky roads of life by providing space to heal together through storytelling.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• The healing power of sharing your story with others
• There’s no right way to heal
• The truth about “oversharing”
• The catharsis you can experience with music
• The science behind why we have such a connection with music
• How our words impact other people
• Letting go of perfection when creating music
• The differences between rehearsal and performance
• Some of the music that impacts us the most (plus a playlist for you!)
• Some music can be hard, and that’s okay

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Kristin and Mandy and that it inspires you to lean into the healing power of music. If you want to hear more from them, we highly recommend you check out The Rocky Road Podcast. You can also reach out to them at [email protected]. Plus, don’t forget to check out their playlist! 

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 Kristin and Mandy on Instagram

Check out The Rocky Road Playlist  

Listen to The Rocky Road Podcast

Check out The Rocky Road Podcast on YouTube

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

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

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fromsurvivortothriver

Get in touch: [email protected]

Quotes: 

“Everytime you tell your story, you heal a little more.” -Mandy

“Yes, hard things happen to good people, and that's how we grow.” -Kristin

“There is so much power in having a community and support from others.” -Marc

“As we move through our healing journeys and we start to share that story more we can actually put the

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Do you have an emotional support animal?

We live in a world where it can feel exceedingly difficult to connect. For some people that are struggling with things like depression or anxiety, animals provide a sense of love and connection that can actually be life-saving. 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Dan Maigler to discuss the power of emotional support animals and how they can help you through your darkest times. 

Dan has seen firsthand how impactful these animals can be on the lives of anyone struggling and he is here to share some of the benefits of having emotional support animals as well as a great resource for anyone looking for their own emotional support animal. 

Dan Maigler is the mental health advisor for Paws for Patrick, host of the Not Allowed to Die Podcast, and a school social worker, and therapist in private practice.  He is a husband, a father to two boys and a 3 toothed Patterdale terrier named Mariska, and a podcast addict who is subscribed to over 100 podcasts including his obvious favorite, From Survivor to Thriver.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• How there’s not one right way to heal your mental health
• The healing power of emotional support animals
• What emotional support animals are and how they impact your mental health
• The bond that we form with animals and how it can improve our lives
• The challenges you have to watch for with emotional support animals
• Why caring for another living being is so crucial for human existence
• The impact emotional support animals have on suicide rates
• How these animals help reduce the mental health stigma

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Dan! If you’d like to learn more about him or Paws for Patrick, visit the website and check out his podcast 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: 

Follow Dan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maigler/ 

 Follow Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notallowedtodiepod/ 

 Visit the Paws for Patrick website: https://www.pawsforpatrick.org 

Tune in to Dan’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-allowed-to-die/id1574038556 

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

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

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fromsurvivortothriver

Get in touch: [email protected]

Quotes:

“There are those times when it feels like it's not worth it. And that emotional support animal can be the reason why we give it one more day.” -Dan 

“In my most recent journey back in the late fall and early winter of 2021 when I was in a really deep and dark place, my emotional support animal was there for me every step of the way.” -Erik

“There's no cleaner way for a human to find a little bit of meaning and love around themselves than to go help someone else

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Times are always changing, but even in 2023, there is still a stigma around being queer, particularly as a teenager. 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we had the honor of engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Willow – an inspiring queer teenager who has embarked on a transformative journey of championing the LGBTQ community.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of generational hate and fear directed at the LGBTQ community. Willow stands as a beacon of resilience, dedicated to breaking down barriers and fostering an environment where people can really embrace their authentic selves. 

While it took her until the age of 16 to come out, Willow bravely opened up to her mom who couldn’t have been more supportive. Today, she is an 18-year-old, openly gay "coder" who volunteers for Planned Parenthood. She lobbies for human rights, for the LGBTQ community, and for children and teens, who, like her, may feel that they “don’t fit in.”  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• The evolution of the way we use the word “queer”
• What it was like for Willow growing up realizing she was not like other girls
• The societal pressures on women to become wives and mothers
• The topic of untangling gender and sexuality
• The mental health impact of having to deny who you truly are 
• How coming out can change your life and mental health for the better
• The generational hate and fear around the idea of being gay
• The importance of being supportive of the gay people in your life
• Finding friends that let you be who you are 
• Willow’s advice to anyone who has bullied kids who are different 
• What we all need to understand about sex education

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Willow! If you want to learn more about the services available at Planned Parenthood, you can check it out 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: 

Learn more about Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

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

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

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fromsurvivortothriver

Get in touch: [email protected]

Quotes: 

“It’s been a scary and intimidating process of self-acceptance.” -Willow 

“Just because you grew up with a group of people, doesn't mean you have to stay friends with them. Find the people that let you be you, and that you don't feel like you have to hide a little bit or all of who you are.” - Willow 

“If you're not surrounded by people who reflect your values and what is important to you in life, find your community.” -Marc

“This generation is different and this generation is really willing to step up and to speak up and to speak out about mental health issues and all of the surrounding issues that then impact one's mental health.” -Erik

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 What do you do when you are struggling with your mental health? 

There are many ways people go about coping and healing, and in this episode of the podcast, we sat down with Joel Evan to dive into his own mental health story and ways that we can heal by going deeper and getting to the root cause of the issue instead of just treating the symptoms. 

Joel is a firm believer in aligning with your truth in order to stay true to who you are and heal fully, and we are so happy to have him on the show to share his story with you today.

Joel Evan is a life coach through the Human Potential Institute and an Integrative Health Practitioner studying under naturopath/functional medicine doctor, Stephen Cabral. He’s able to tackle more complex health issues other than just weight loss such as: parasites, gut dysbiosis, H Pylori, hormone issues, heavy metal detox, and much more. 

Joel has furthered his functional medicine knowledge by becoming a CellCore practitioner, as he’s seen some amazing results in the Lyme community, those suffering from mold, children with autism and more. 

Joel is also a speaker and the host of the podcast The Hacked Life, where he’s interviewed some of the top health and high-performance experts in the world.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• Joel’s journey into life coaching and integrative health
• Mental health stressors for police officers
• Why we need to go deeper when our mental health is suffering
• The power of therapy 
• How work as a first responder can impact your life
• How powerful your energy really is
• The importance of always aligning with your truth
• Why disconnecting from reality is such a big problem
• The problem with treating symptoms of illnesses, not the root cause
• Learning from your failures and not passing judgment on others

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Joel.! If you want to learn more about how to work with him, make sure to visit his website 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: 

Visit Joel’s website: https://www.joelevancoaching.com 

Follow Joel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelevancoaching/?hl=en 

Follow Joel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelaylworth/ 

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

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

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fromsurvivortothriver

Get in touch: [email protected]

Quotes: 

“Energy is powerful. I've always maintained this energy and state that no matter what's happening around me, I'm going to control what I can in this locus of control.” -Joel

 “It doesn't matter what route you decide to go or what helps, but do not sit by yourself and think you're going to sort this out or it'll just get better because it won't.” -Marc

“When you go long periods of time without talking about things that matter, it becomes the norm.” -Erik

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Since the pandemic, divorce rates have tripled among the elderly, so in this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Jodi Sheffield, a divorce coach, to talk about how anyone struggling after going through a divorce can learn to embrace their grief, and then move forward and heal from the inside out. 

Jodi Sheffield is a divorce coach, mediator, educator, and creator of The Avalon Method for Divorce Recovery. After going through her own traumatic divorce experiences, Jodi understood the divorce process and how traumatic it could be emotionally, financially, and professionally. 

Determined to figure out the best way to help people navigate divorce, she did extensive research and training to become a professional divorce mediator and divorce coach. She then co-founded and managed Transition Life Consultants (TLC). The firm provided divorce coaching and mediation, which enabled couples to divorce amicably, respectfully, and collaboratively. 

After decades of personal and professional experience with divorce, Jodi continues to focus on helping women successfully navigate the divorce process and the rebuilding of their lives. Her mission is to help women recognize their power, take control of their lives, move past the pain and distraction of divorce, and begin constructing the future they envision.  

In today’s episode, we cover: 

• The importance of looking forward in divorce rather than getting stuck on the past
• How Jodi’s experience with her parents influenced her life and future
• The impact of an unhealed inner child 
• The scar that trauma can leave on your soul
• Why in order to move forward, you have to do the work of healing
• What you need to do in order to grow and transform from your challenges
• The reason that so many people in marriages today are unhappy
• The power of self-compassion and self-love
• The factors contributing to divorces among couples today

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Jodi.! If you want to learn more about how to work with 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 Jodi’s website: https://www.jodisheffield.com/

Connect with Jodi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-sheffield-b90a3a5/

Get the Complete Guide to Divorcing A Narcissist: https://designrr.page/?id=195125&token=2283442095&type=FP&h=7798

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

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

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fromsurvivortothriver

Get in touch: [email protected]

Quotes: 

“Take yourself out of victim mode and see a divorce as an opportunity to become your best self and to grow yourself out as best you can.” -Jodi

“A little distance is healthy, but I think it's more important if it's intentional.” -Marc

“When you do a lot of that inner child work, you begin to identify that there is a child in there that needs to be healed.” -Erik

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Do you ever find yourself feeling like you’re never enough? Like your inner critics or “judges” are holding you back from self-acceptance and connection? 

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with James “J.” Stamatelos to talk about this feeling of anxious insecurity and the transformative power of self-compassion. Join us as we explore the idea of becoming the conductor of your own life and what anxious insecurity, vulnerability, and internal family systems really mean and how they can either work for us or against us.

James “J.” Stamatelos is a professional coach who helps people break out of fear so they can share their gifts with the world. His work focuses on “anxious insecurity” - a chronic feeling of being "not enough" regardless of how much we achieve. He personally fought this battle, has spent a decade helping those who fight it now, and focuses on evidence-based and data-informed interventions.  

Before becoming a coach, J. worked in counterterrorism and emergency response. He specializes in working with men, previously ran the only secular men's group in Pittsburgh, and believes many of our struggles come back to men being unable to process their emotions in a healthy way.  

In today’s episode we cover: 

• How anxious insecurity can show up in your life
• The cycle of feeling like you’re never enough
• The coping mechanisms we use to cope with anxious insecurity
• The sense of belonging we all yearn for
• The power of internal family systems when working with self-critics
• How your inner self-critic is actually trying to protect you
• How we can become the conductors of our own lives
• The role of vulnerability in anxious insecurity
• Your relationship with yourself sets the foundation for everything else
• Learning to show yourself kindness and love
• The environment that lets human thrive

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with J.! If you want to learn more about how to work with him, make sure to visit his 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 J.’s website: https://www.jamesjstamatelos.com/

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

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

Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fromsurvivortothriver

Get in touch: [email protected]

“Internal family systems is the most powerful and effective way I've seen to work with self-critics of anything ever. It's unbelievable how effective it is.” -J.

“I've always known I'm pushing it too far when I can't be available to myself or the people I really care about.” -Marc

“We really can't silence that inner critic. We really can't banish anxious insecurity, and we really can't become that conductor, or bring all these parts together, until we really become vulnerable with ourselves and with others.” -Erik