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In Part 2 of my conversation with former choir teacher Brad Heckler, we continue the conversation about his 29 years in education and the experiences that shaped him both professionally and personally.

Brad shares some of the students who left the biggest impact on him, including stories of students who were struggling with bullying, difficult home situations, mental health challenges, and finding their place in the world. We talk about the importance of teachers being more than instructors and how sometimes simply providing a safe person or safe place can make a lasting difference in a young person's life.

We also discuss the changing role of technology in education, the challenges teachers faced with phones and social media, and Brad's thoughts on how technology has changed the way young people interact with one another.

After retirement, Brad found himself starting a completely different chapter through his house-cleaning business. We talk about independence, finding purpose outside of your career, building positive relationships, starting over in a new community, and learning to embrace change.

Finally, Brad shares some advice for anyone who may be struggling with their own path: keep going when things get difficult, don't be afraid to ask questions, and understand that failure can be one of life's greatest teachers.

A conversation about teaching, friendship, change, resilience, and the people who sometimes don't realize just how much of an impact they've had on someone else's life.

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Sometimes the best conversations come from reconnecting with someone who was part of your past.

In this episode of Hear 4 You, I sit down with my former middle school choir teacher and friend, Brad Heckler, nearly 22 years after I was one of his students.

Brad spent 29 years in education, building choir programs, working with thousands of students, and experiencing the highs, lows, frustrations, and unexpected moments that come with being a teacher.

In Part One, we take a look behind the curtain at what those 29 years were really like.

We talk about:

🎵 Brad's journey through nearly three decades of teaching
🎵 His years teaching choir and his time at Paredes
🎵 The reality of being a fine arts teacher
🎵 Managing hundreds of students and massive workloads
🎵 Concerts, fundraising, trips, uniforms, and everything students never see
🎵 The challenges of working with administrators and school districts
🎵 The impact COVID had on teaching and choir programs
🎵 How technology changed the way Brad taught music
🎵 Some of the funniest and craziest moments from his years in the classroom
🎵 Why being good at your job can sometimes mean being given even more responsibility
🎵 And ultimately, what led Brad toward retirement after 29 years

For me, this conversation was especially meaningful because Brad wasn't just another teacher. He was someone who helped shape my own musical journey when I was growing up.

What started as a conversation about teaching quickly became a much deeper look at the person behind the teacher.

This is Part One of a two-part conversation with Brad Heckler.

🎧 Listen to Part One now, and be sure to come back for Part Two!

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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and National Recovery Month, making this an important opportunity to talk openly about mental health, suicide prevention, addiction, recovery, connection, and hope.

In this special episode of Hear 4 You, we take a step away from the traditional interview format and have an honest conversation about why these subjects matter and why we shouldn't be afraid to talk about them.

We'll discuss:

• Why talking about suicide can be an important part of prevention
• Warning signs that someone may be struggling
• How to check in with someone you're worried about
• Why you don't have to be a mental health professional to support someone
• Addiction, stigma, and the importance of compassion
• What recovery can look like
• Why recovery doesn't have to be a perfect or straight-line journey
• The connection between mental health, substance use, suicide prevention, and recovery
• Why asking for help is a strength
• How connection and community can help people through difficult moments
• What you can do if you're worried about someone you love
• Why hope and recovery should be conversations we have all year—not just in September

❤️ If you need help right now

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If you're experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or simply feel like you need someone to talk to, you can call or text 988 in the United States to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

You can also use the online chat through 988Lifeline.org.

You do not have to wait until you're at the point of attempting suicide to reach out.

If you are in immediate danger or have already seriously harmed yourself, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

💜 Substance Use & Recovery Support

SAMHSA National Helpline:
1-800-662-HELP (4357)

SAMHSA's National Helpline provides information and referrals for mental health and substance use treatment.

FindTreatment.gov

You can use FindTreatment.gov to locate substance use treatment services in your area.

SAMHSA also provides additional recovery resources and information for individuals, families, and communities.

🎖️ Veterans

Veterans, service members, and their loved ones can access the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1, or by texting 838255.

🌎 Outside the United States

If you're outside the United States, please contact your country's local emergency services or suicide/crisis hotline.

A reminder from Hear 4 You

If you're struggling right now, you don't have to solve your entire life today.

Start with one step.

Tell somebody.

Make the phone call.

Send the text.

Ask for help.

And if someone you care about is struggling, don't underestimate the power of simply being there.

You are not alone. Your story matters. And your story isn't over.

Resources:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call/text 988 or visit 988Lifeline.org.

SAMHSA National Helpline — 1-800-662-HELP (4357). SAMHSA also provides recovery and treatment resources through its national recovery resources.

FindTreatment.gov — a resource for locating substance use treatment services.

The CDC's suicide prevention guidance emphasizes connection, recognizing warning signs, accessing care, and creating supportive environments as important parts of suicide prevention.

If you're listening to this episode and you're struggling, please reach out. You don't have to carry it alone.

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What happens when a simple desire to do something more with your life turns into years of entrepreneurship, real estate, remodeling, property management, and content creation?

In this episode of Hear 4 You, I sit down with my good friend Shaun Kelly for a long-overdue conversation about his journey from the person I knew years ago to the entrepreneur and content creator he's become today.

Shaun opens up about the pivotal moment in 2010 that changed his mindset and sparked a level of ambition that hasn't stopped since. We talk about his journey into real estate, learning through books and podcasts, buying and remodeling properties, and eventually discovering YouTube almost by accident.

What started with filming a friend's truck bumper eventually grew into a YouTube channel generating millions of views.

But success didn't come without a price.

Shaun and I talk openly about the realities of entrepreneurship, including managing employees, dealing with difficult customers and tenants, property management, burnout, and the challenge of balancing business with family and friendships.

We also dive into the lessons he's learned along the way—including why networking matters, why thinking about the end goal can change how you build a business, how AI is transforming his operations, and why sometimes the smartest thing you can do is slow down and appreciate what you've already accomplished.

Most importantly, Shaun talks about the dreams he's still chasing—from financial freedom to building a tiny-home resort community—and why his biggest definition of "home" ultimately comes down to being with his wife and children.

This is a conversation about ambition, entrepreneurship, failure, success, burnout, family, friendship, and having the courage to actually go after the life you want.

And Shaun leaves us with a simple message:

If you're thinking about doing something, if you have a great idea or an ambition, you have to go for it.

Shaun's Youtube channel - Kelly concepts 

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What happens when you spend much of your life believing that something about you needs to be fixed?

For Sanjay Patel, that was a reality he wrestled with for years.

Born with a physical disability, Sanjay grew up facing physical limitations while also dealing with the emotional weight of feeling different. Being sheltered by his family came from a place of love and protection, but it also left him struggling with independence, confidence, and the belief that he could live life on his own terms.

A conversation with his doctor at 21 became one of the first major turning points in his life when he was told that he didn't need to be “fixed”—he could simply live his life.

Years later, becoming a father changed his perspective even more.

In this episode of Hear 4 You, Sanjay opens up about his childhood, his disability, his relationship with his parents, the friendships that carried him through difficult periods, becoming a father, and the process of finally learning to believe in himself.

We also talk about his podcast Motivation Station, which grew from his desire to meet people, understand what motivates them, and create genuine conversations about life.

Sanjay shares what he's learned about recognizing one-sided relationships, surrounding yourself with people who truly care, pursuing your dreams even when you feel behind, and understanding that your circumstances don't have to define who you become.

Most importantly, Sanjay leaves listeners with a powerful message:

Believe in yourself. Find the right people. And with the right people beside you, you can become unstoppable.

This is a conversation about disability—but it's also about something much bigger: learning to accept yourself, finding your people, and finally giving yourself permission to chase the life you want.

Find Sanjay and Rose's podcast here - Moteavation Station

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In Part Two of my conversation with Carlie Sterling, we continue the story of her journey through an incredibly difficult and abusive marriage and the events that ultimately led her to walk away.

Carlie opens up about the moment everything changed when law enforcement arrived at her home, the shocking discoveries that followed, and the difficult emotional process of accepting that the relationship she had spent years fighting to save could no longer continue.

We talk about manipulation, coercive control, narcissistic behavior, setting boundaries, gray rocking, harassment after separation, and the challenges that can continue even after a relationship has officially ended.

But more importantly, we talk about what comes next.

Carlie shares how she began reclaiming her independence, rebuilding her life, recognizing the patterns she had previously been unable to see, and learning that she didn't have to continue living according to someone else's expectations.

One of the most powerful parts of the conversation comes when Carlie explains why she chose to change her last name after her divorce. Rather than returning to the name she had before marriage, she chose a completely new name for herself — Sterling — creating something that represented her own identity and her own choices.

And that's ultimately what this episode is about:

Choosing yourself.

Carlie's story is a reminder that it is never too late to leave an unhealthy situation, reclaim your identity, and build a life that actually belongs to you.

This episode contains discussions of abuse, infidelity, sexual abuse material, stalking, harassment, and other difficult subjects. Listener discretion is advised.

This is Part Two of a two-part conversation. If you haven't heard Part One, I recommend listening to that episode first.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of emotional abuse, narcissistic behavior patterns, infidelity, eating disorders, trauma, and mental health.

And for those looking for some help and guidance, Carlie provided information that helped her understand and recover from her abusive relationship: 

• Dr. Ramani's YouTube channel
• Disarming the Narcissist: Surviving and Thriving with the Self-Absorbed by Wendy T. Behary
• Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men by Lundy Bancroft 

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Part One of Two

Carlie Sterling returns to Hear 4 You to continue sharing one of the most difficult chapters of her life. In the first installment of this two-part conversation, Carlie opens up about the beginning of her 14-year marriage, the subtle warning signs of emotional manipulation, and how love bombing, gaslighting, trauma bonding, and narcissistic abuse gradually eroded her confidence and identity.

Together, Eric and Carlie explore why abusive relationships can be so difficult to leave, how childhood experiences and personal struggles can make someone vulnerable to manipulation, and why recognizing unhealthy patterns is often much harder than it seems.

This is Part One of a two-part series. Be sure to listen to Part Two, where Carlie shares the events that ultimately led her to leave, the challenges of healing after emotional abuse, and how she has begun rebuilding her life with a renewed sense of self and hope.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of emotional abuse, narcissistic behavior patterns, infidelity, eating disorders, trauma, and mental health.

And for those looking for some help and guidance, Carlie provided information that helped her understand and recover from her abusive relationship: 

• Dr. Ramani's YouTube channel
• Disarming the Narcissist: Surviving and Thriving with the Self-Absorbed by Wendy T. Behary
• Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men by Lundy Bancroft 

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What does it really take to become one of the most recognizable personalities in the Yu-Gi-Oh! community?

In this episode of Hear 4 You, I sit down with TJ from The Cali Effect for an honest conversation about content creation, entrepreneurship, mental health, and the future of trading card games.

TJ shares how he developed his on-camera personality, the business mindset that shaped his career, and the challenges of balancing creativity with consistency. We also have an open discussion about living with bipolar disorder, his diagnosis at 18, overcoming addiction, and the routines that helped him regain control of his life.

We also dive into:

• Building a successful career in content creation
• The realities of burnout and online criticism
• The current and future state of Yu-Gi-Oh!
• Pokémon, One Piece, and the changing TCG landscape
• Collecting vs. competitive play
• His dream of creating the ultimate trading card game convention and championship event

Whether you're a lifelong TCG fan, a creator, or someone navigating your own personal challenges, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and hope.

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In this episode of Hear 4 You, I sit down with one of the biggest names in the Yu-Gi-Oh community, Leon (TheCaliEffect), for an honest conversation about perseverance, purpose, and passion.

Leon shares the emotional story behind his diagnosis with severe rheumatoid arthritis, how chronic pain changed his life, and why he never once considered giving up on content creation. We explore the mindset that has helped him upload consistently for over a decade, compete at a high level, and inspire hundreds of thousands of players around the world. 

We also dive deep into:

•  Living with chronic illness and overcoming adversity 
•  The mentality behind elite consistency 
•  Content creation, motivation, and avoiding burnout 
•  The evolution of Yu-Gi-Oh and the trading card game industry 
•  Pokémon, One Piece, Magic, and the future of TCGs 
•  Why comparing yourself to others is the fastest way to lose yourself 
•  Leon's favorite decks, underrated cards, and plenty of laughs along the way 

Whether you're a competitive duelist, a content creator, or someone simply looking for inspiration to keep chasing your goals, this conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, and genuine heart.

Check out his Youtube channel!! 

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This week on Hear 4 You, I sit down with actor, voice actor, musician, podcaster, and content creator Christian Reeve for one of the most inspiring conversations we've had on the show.

Christian opens up about trading his childhood bike for his very first guitar, the rise and fall of his first band, walking away from music, surviving a toxic relationship, moving across Europe, discovering acting, launching a podcast with more than 350 episodes, and ultimately rediscovering the creative life he was always meant to live. 

Together we explore:

•  Why chasing your dreams is worth the risk 
•  Learning from failure instead of fearing it 
•  The importance of authentic storytelling 
•  How podcasting can change both the host and the guest 
•  Creativity without limits 
•  Living in the present instead of chasing validation 
•  Why everyone has a story worth sharing 

This episode is packed with wisdom, humor, vulnerability, and practical advice for anyone trying to build a creative life while staying true to themselves.

If you've ever felt like giving up on your dreams, this conversation might be exactly what you need to hear.

If you would like to follow Christian or his work, click on the following links:

Podcast  - Music - website