James Trail: from functional to flourishing

In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month (September), Meredith sits down with David Galvan, a respected and passionate trainer in Mental Health First Aid and suicide prevention. David challenges us to shift our focus from just preventing death to actively helping people "live and live to their fullest," bringing a perspective that is informed by his Christian faith and biblical worldview.Learn why Mental Health First Aid needs to be as common as CPR, the critical importance of using person-first, non-stigmatizing language around suicide, and the simple, practical advice that can save a life: "Just open the door."Key Moments You Don't Want to Miss:* 0:45 The staggering statistics: Why you're more likely to see a panic attack than someone choking.* 3:12 David's "accidental on purpose" journey into suicide prevention after a community tragedy, including the moment a quote about hope and social connection called him to action through his faith.* 5:50 Language Correction: Why we say "died by suicide" and not "committed suicide."* 8:15 The powerful difference between "attempting suicide" and a "suicide attempt."* 12:10 The simple, life-saving advice: "Just open the door."* 14:30 The "Who Are Your Three?" Challenge: The most practical thing you can do to reduce isolation and increase hope in your life and community.David Galvan (he/him) has dedicated over 15 years to speaking, training, and leading conversations about whole-person health and suicide prevention. As the Mental Health First Aid Trainer-in-Residence at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Colorado Springs and a Director/Trainer with the Soul Shop Movement, David has personally trained thousands of individuals in Mental Health First Aid, QPR, and ACEs. He has spoken to over 30,000 students across the country, equipping schools, faith communities, and non-profits to address mental health, suicide prevention, and hope-centered care. David is passionate about ensuring every person has access to help, healing, and hope.🔗 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/djgalvan Resources & Further Information:* Need to talk to someone now? Text or call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.* Learn More: Look into getting certified in a Mental Health First Aid course in your area!* https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.orgWhat is one thing you can do today to help build hope in your community? Let us know in the comments!HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT:🔔 LIKE this video and SUBSCRIBE to this channel for more Christ-centric, trauma-informed mental health content!💵 DONATE: We appreciate your donations and partnership. Please visit https://www.jamestrail.org/donate to support our work!🔗 Stay Connected with Us :💻 Website: https://jamestrail.org/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrailglobal/

Pastor Stuart Williams shares his incredible story of growing up during apartheid in South Africa, losing his entire family in a tragic accident, and leading a diverse church in Calgary, Canada. This deeply honest conversation explores trauma, empathy, cultural transformation, and the power of the gospel to heal.Whether you're in ministry, parenting, or simply seeking healing from personal or collective trauma, this episode is a reminder that vulnerability, silence, and presence can be sacred acts.🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations about trauma-informed care, healing, and faith.This episode was recorded on March 27th, 2024. Stuart is currently serving as Vice Dean at Ambrose University: https://ambrose.edu/ambrose-university-announces-new-vice-dean-theology-appointment#:~:text=He%20has%20taught%20courses%20at,Williams%20holds%20a%20DMin.

What does it mean to say yes — even when you know it’s going to be hard?
Jenn and Eric from Replanted Ministry share their journey through foster care, adoption, and trauma-informed ministry. They open up about the beauty they’ve witnessed, the heartbreak they’ve carried, and how community can change the story for families walking hard roads.
Whether you're a foster or adoptive parent, a ministry leader, or someone who cares about families navigating trauma — this conversation is full of hope, honesty, and hard-won wisdom.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
🌱 Replanted Ministry
 • Ministry Homepage: https://www.replantedministry.org
 • Replanted Conference: https://replantedconference.org
 • Attend Replanted Chicago 2025 (Oct 23–25): https://replantedconference.regfox.com/replanted-conference-2025
 • Host a Conference in Your Area: https://replantedconference.org/host/
 • Replanted Group Curriculum (Adults & Kids): https://www.replantedministry.org/courses-and-curriculum/
📚 Books
 • Replanted: Faith-Based Support for Adoptive and Foster Families – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1599475375
 • Thriving Families: A Trauma-Informed Guidebook for Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Parents – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1513810472

What does it mean to say yes — even when you know it’s going to be hard?
Will and Carrie share their real journey through foster care, adoption, parenting, and trauma-informed care. They open up about the beauty they found, the brokenness they had to face, and how their understanding of family and healing has changed along the way.
If you’re parenting through trauma, supporting kids from hard places, or building a family differently than you expected — this conversation will remind you: you’re not alone.
✨ Subscribe for more real conversations about trauma-informed care, parenting, and building safe spaces for kids and families.
Connect with Will & Carrie:

Website: www.connectedparentingminute.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ConnectedParentingMinute

Instagram: www.instagram.com/connected.parenting.minute/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@connectedparentingminute

Connected Parenting Minute Podcast:

Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/connected-parenting-minute/id1680645043

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0IeqOdbhLjudF0zHnpCKpe?si=7ac4c14d3ed84f67

The Empowered Parent Podcast: www.onebighappyhome.com/podcast/

🧠 Learn about TBRI® (Trust-Based Relational Intervention): child.tcu.edu/about-us/tbri/

📚 Recommended Reads:

The Connected Parent by Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls
The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
The Power of Showing Up by Daniel Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce Perry and Maia Szalavitz
What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler

Meredith talks with Daniela Coats, a therapist and the founder of With Siblings, an organization focused on supporting biological children in foster and adoptive families. They talk about Daniela’s personal journey growing up with foster siblings, how that shaped her professional path, and what it means to create emotional space for all kids in a family. Daniela shares powerful insights on birth order, scripts for awkward questions, and how faith and therapy intersect in this work.🔗 LinksLists of trainings that can be hosted live: https://www.withsiblings.org/home/training-and-consultationPre-recorded trainings, worksheets, guide, and other free resources: https://stan.store/with_siblingsThe Day Lily Turned (un)Invisible: https://a.co/d/3lJ8y6J"Siblings... if only for a short time" Shirts https://www.bonfire.com/if-only-for-a-short-time/Be Still Counseling and Consulting: https://www.bestilltherapy.com/daniela-coatsProduction Credits:Producer: Zach LuceroMarketing: Sydney JonesSocial: Griffin ShumanBooking: Gretchen Schrock

What happens when the systems meant to help actually hurt? Shanelle is a pastor’s wife, attorney, and Executive Director of the Racial Equity Collaborative. In this episode, she shares her passion for addressing racial disparities in the child welfare system—and her commitment to community-driven solutions that bring lasting change.

We talk about racial trauma, what’s often misunderstood about equity work, how faith informs her approach, and what it means to “have equity eyes.”

📌 More from Shanelle & the Racial Equity Collaborative:

Website

Instagram

Youtube

Skin Deep

Production Credits:

Producer/Cam Op: Zach Lucero

Marketing: Sydney Jones

Cam Op/Social: Griffin Shuman

Booking: Gretchen Schrock

Special thanks to Westside Church and the RE Conference team for being gracious hosts!

https://www.westsidefamily.church/

https://www.realencouragement.org/

1 in 20 school-age kids in the U.S. are impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)—yet most go undiagnosed. Sandra Flach, host of The Adoption & Foster Care Journey podcast, shares her powerful insights as an adoptive mom, FASD educator, and advocate for trauma-informed care. If you're parenting a child from a hard place, navigating FASD, or supporting adoptive and foster families, this episode is for you.🔹 Learn how trauma and prenatal alcohol exposure impact the brain🔹 Understand why traditional discipline approaches don’t work for neurodivergent kids🔹 Discover hope, community, and strategies for parenting children with FASD📌 CHAPTER MARKERS0:00 – Intro07:41 – The ADHD & FASD Overlap – Why Kids Are Often Misdiagnosed12:56 – Why Doctors & Schools Miss FASD – The Gaps in Medical Training20:36 – The Parenting Shift – Why Traditional Discipline Fails These Kids34:12 – FASD & Church Hurt – How Faith Communities Can Do Better44:20 – Invisible Disability, Real Challenges – What Needs to Change50:02 – Stories of Hope – How Kids with FASD Can Thrive📢 Further Resources from Sandra Flach🔗 Podcast: https://www.justicefororphansny.org/podcast🔗 FASD Training & Support: https://www.justicefororphansny.org/registration🔗 Hope for the FASD Journey Community: https://www.justicefororphansny.org/hope-community🔗 Sandra Flach’s Website: https://www.sandraflach.com/🔗 National FASD Resources: https://fasdunited.org/📲 Connect with Sandra & Justice for Orphans➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandraflach_jfo | https://www.instagram.com/justicefororphans➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandraFlach | https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForOrphans🎬 Production CreditsProducer: Zach LuceroMarketing: Sydney JonesSocial: Griffin ShumanBooking: Gretchen Schrock

The church should be the most welcoming place on earth—so why do so many families with disabilities feel unseen and excluded? Rebecca Wall, Executive Director of WITH Ministries, shares powerful stories, eye-opening stats, and practical ways churches can shift from exclusion to belonging.
In This Episode:
✅ Why so many families with disabilities are leaving the church
✅ The heartbreaking reality of being told, "Your child is a liability"
✅ How churches can shift from separate spaces to true inclusion
✅ Practical steps for church leaders, parents, and individuals to foster belonging
Learn more
Website - https://withministries.org/
Research & Resources- https://withministries.org/equip/
Access Subscription- https://withministries.org/access/
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/withministriesorg/
Tim Tebow Foundation - https://timtebowfoundation.org/
Boundless Hope by Kim Botto - https://store.kimbotto.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYNIi-I_5MhGe3hSOyb6iQkuT1zVgwZRcSqhyT8bRrQoMQ23_Vq55aRfkQ_aem_mxQRvtc7CSzeA2zrqpXuCQ

Producer: Zach LuceroMarketing: Sydney JonesSocial: Griffin ShumanBooking: Gretchen Schrock

Parenting kids who have experienced trauma or live with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) comes with unique challenges. In this episode, Meredith sits down with Barb Clark, Director of Training at Families Rising, to discuss parenting strategies that work, the power of connection, and how understanding brain-based differences can transform the way we support kids. With humor and real-life insights, Barb shares her journey as a parent to five adult children, including those affected by prenatal alcohol and drug exposure. She also highlights the most common misconceptions about FASD, why traditional parenting strategies often fail, and how professionals—caregivers, therapists, social workers, and law enforcement—can better support impacted individuals.Barb is a nationally recognized trainer and the head coach of the FASD Caregiver Kickstart Program, an international initiative helping families navigate the challenges of FASD. If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or unsure how to help a child struggling with big behaviors, this episode is for you.Producer: Zach LuceroMarketing: Sydney JonesSocial: Griffin ShumanBooking: Gretchen Schrock📚 Resources Mentioned:Families Rising (Training, Resources, and Support): www.wearefamiliesrising.orgFASD Training Webinar Series by Barb Clark: https://wearefamiliesrising.org/training-series/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorders-training-series-webinar/FASD Success Caregiver Kickstart Program: https://www.fasdsuccess.comFASD United (State Resource Directory): https://www.fasdunited.orgReConference (Real Encouragement for Families): https://www.realencouragement.orgFaithBridge Foster Care (Past Sessions by Barb): https://faithbridgeu.com/Join the Notification List for Barb’s Upcoming Book: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScESI1VSx_QOLu9GhKbskHHkO-BMvoJUy-nVgPbOfaTP5xPCg/viewform🔗 Follow Families Rising:• Website: https://wearefamiliesrising.org• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/58249251/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearefamiliesrising• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearefamiliesrising• Twitter: https://x.com/familiesrising💬 Join the conversation! What’s one takeaway from this episode that stuck with you? Drop a comment or send us a message.

In this episode, Meredith sits down with Ryan and Kayla North to delve into the unique challenges and joys of foster and adoptive families. They discuss how shared experiences, trauma-informed approaches, and practical tools can build trust and connection in families navigating complex dynamics. Together, they explore what it means to create a community where healing and growth are possible, even in the hardest seasons. Join us for a conversation full of honesty, wisdom, and encouragement for every step of the journey.