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Laugh At Adversity with Gary Savoie: Inspirational Messages to Conquer Anxiety, Depression, Fear, Relationships, Self-Doubt, and Self-Esteem
Laugh At Adversity with Gary Savoie: Inspirational Messages to Conquer Anxiety, Depression, Fear, Relationships, Self-Doubt, and Self-Esteem episodes
- 010 - The Gift Of Adversity, Mental Resilience, Gratitude, And Creating Immediate Perspective with Marcus Aurelius Anderson
While preparing to deploy with the U.S. Army, Marcus suffered a severe spinal injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. His life was turned upside down, and after dying twice on the operating table, he was told he would never be able to walk or use his hands again. As days quickly turned into months, he was forced into life changing soul searching. He discovered he was left with two choices, he could either be a victim, or he could change his mindset. Having no other option, he began looking for any lessons to be learned from his injury, and soon discovered that his Adversity was a gift.
During his recovery Marcus relied on mental resilience, gratitude, and changing his perspective in order to go from hospital bed to walking again. Within the same week that he began finding things to be grateful for in his situation, movement in his hands returned. Now an author, speaker, and coach, Marcus continues to spread his message that adversity is a gift. He's also a firm believer that adversity is something we need in life to push us forward.
If you're struggling to stick to your goals, can't find positivity in your situation, or just need a friendly reminder on the power of your perspective? Then this interview with Marcus is for you.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:- Why Marcus decided to join the military at 38
- How his childhood nightmare of being paralyzed came true
- How Marcus died twice on the operating table
- Why mental resilience and gratitude changed his life
- How seeing adversity as a gift returned movement in his hands
- How to not feed into the victim mindset
- Why you need to understand that you're in control of your life
- The three questions that will give you immediate perspective
- Why we need adversity to push us forward
- Why you shouldn't allow the people around you to limit you
- Why we all need to be more empathetic and compassionate towards others
- Website
44 min - 009 - Overcoming Retroactive Jealousy, Unrealistic Expectations, And Building Trust In Relationships with Zachary Stockill
When I first stumbled upon Zachary's website, I had no idea what retroactive jealousy was. Shortly after reading his story, on how in his early years, he allowed his thoughts regarding his girlfriend's past relationships occupy his mind and eventually end their relationship, I realized he'd be a great fit for an interview. At some point in any serious relationship, we have "the talk", about our partner's past relationships. And for some of us, we get into this self-destructive cycle of unnecessary questions, details, analysis, and judgment regarding our partners sexual history.
After his break up, Zachary realized that to have a healthy relationship, he needed to do some self reflection and self development to get over his jealous tendencies. He decided that he was not going to allow retroactive jealousy win. And began a journey of soul searching, experimenting, relearning, risk taking, and help-seeking. Now that Zachary has beaten retroactive jealousy for good, he works with people all over the world to help them do the same.
He's taken everything that he's learned and applied to his own life and has put it out in the universe for the greater good. On his site you can find courses where he guides you through getting over jealousy in your relationship as well as his book that focuses on overcoming retroactive jealousy.
The conversation we shared went much deeper than retroactive jealousy. We discussed jealousy as a whole, connections, how to trust, and so other elements that many of us struggle with in our most intimate relationships. This episode is a must listen for anyone; whether you're in a relationship or not.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:- What retroactive jealousy really means
- Why unrealistic expectations can trigger jealousy
- Why every relationship is a gamble
- The alternative to trusting someone
- Why there are no limits when you experience a deep connection with someone
- Why jealousy causes us to hold back our feelings toward our partner
- How we can handle our jealous thoughts
- Why our thoughts are like clouds passing in the sky
- Why we can't really experience love when we are holding back
- The importance of sincere affirmations
50 min - 008 - Creating An Escape, Overcoming Heroin Addiction, And The Path To Recovery with David Dilks
At the early age of 4, David Dilks began his first career as a classical pianist and played competitively from age 5 until 13, even performing at Carnegie Hall in NYC and the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Although David found success early on with his musical talents, he never wanted to play the piano. He often felt loads of outside pressure to continue playing and perform at a high level.
By age 14, he was escaping reality on a weekly basis, by downing Busch light and smoking weed. Two years earlier, he was prescribed Adderall which did a great job masking his emotional pain by further altering his developing brain chemistry and giving his mother a pharmacological excuse for his "bad" behavior. During his college years, pain-killers would become his go to when he just couldn't deal with reality anymore.
After college, David moved to NYC to pursue his dreams of rock stardom, which is where he would encounter heroin for the first time. His usage wouldn't last long, and after going through withdrawal symptoms he would stay clean from heroin for nearly 10 years. Fast forward to a move to Rhode Island, marriage, a child and other life pressures, stress was quickly building for David. He found himself needing an escape.
However, as you'll find out in this interview his addiction to pills and heroin wasn't so easy to give up this time. After reaching his breaking point, he decided it was time for rehab. Now 2.5 years clean, David is becoming an advocate for helping others overcome their own heroin addiction. He's even working on a book to share his story and help inspire others to overcome their own addictions.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:- Why stressful early years led him to finding ways to escape
- What led David to trying heroin
- How he was able to overcome his heroin addiction
- How he's been handling triggers
- His biggest struggles so far with staying clean
- Why having the right support system is critical in any recovery
- How David feels when he tells someone he was a heroin addict
- Why he feels the need to share his story
47 min - 007 - The Beauty In Our Scars, ACL Injuries, And Professional Soccer with Jordan Angeli
Former professional soccer player Jordan Angeli knows all too well what it's like to be injured. Having torn her ACL three times (in the same knee), she still somehow found a way to return to the pro level.
Now retired, Jordan has transitioned her leadership traits into a new purpose: helping others. She's the founder of theACLclub, which focuses on bringing together a community to support, empower and inspire athletes in persevering through the challenges and triumphs of the ACL journey.
And here's a surprising fact for you, there are 300,000 ACL surgeries a year in the US alone. You hear about ACL injuries all of the time, especially in pro sports, but I had no idea the number of surgeries was that high!
Jordan is also the host of the Show Your Scars podcast where she features guests with the focus of embracing your scars, overcoming injuries and sharing your strengths. Needless to say, Jordan is a huge influence in not only the ACL community, but a great role model for anyone overcoming sports related injuries.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:- Her long journey of overcoming 3 ACL tears
- The mental and physical barriers no one talks about with a ACL injuries
- The power behind expressing your emotions during a setback
- Why it's so important to refocus in everyday life
- How she overcame feeling like a failure when she got injured
- Why journaling was such an important outlet during her recovery
- Why it's important to sometimes throw expectations out the window
- How she was able to turn her injuries into a greater purpose with the ACL club
- How being a leader on the field has helped her be a leader off the field
- Why she wants people to realize that they can do anything
- Why without struggles there would be very little success
- How serving others can help you change your perspective
57 min - 006 - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Acupuncture, And The Power Of Herbs with Mary Claire Dilks
Mary Claire Dilks is a licensed Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Rhode Island and board certified Chinese herbalist.
As a teenager with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Dr. Dilks came to appreciate the power of alternative medicine. She understands how illness can hold us back from fulfilling our dreams and has made it her mission to help people overcome illness.
Dr. Dilks entered the field of Integrative Medicine in 1999 while working at American Whole Health in Chicago with Dr. David Edelberg, an internist who is highly respected in his field working with patients with Fibromyalgia and chronic illnesses. Watching other patients manage and even beat chronic illness using complementary medicine including Traditional Chinese Medicine solidified Mary Claire's desire to study it further.
After completing her 4 years Master's program at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Mary Claire opened Emerging Energy Acupuncture in 2004 in Providence, Rhode Island where she now practices both acupuncture and herbal medicine.
This interview was a personal one for me because Mary Claire was a big factor in my recovery as I saw her for both acupuncture and herbal treatments for over a year when dealing with chronic pain.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:- Her experience with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a teenager
- The direct connection between what you eat and how you feel
- How finding her own healing path inspired her to service others
- What you can expect during an acupuncture treatment
- Some of the benefits of an acupuncture treatment
- Why improving blood flow can help heal our bodies
- How she uses herbs in patient's treatments
- The power behind guided meditations
- The three prongs of health
- Why it's important to make time for yourself
49 min - 005 - How To Run Through Your Challenges with Tofe Evans
Tofe's story is an interesting one. After facing multiple set backs in 2014, Tofe was facing severe depression and resorting to self infliction, hard drugs and alcohol, and prescription medication as coping mechanisms for his pain.
Somehow Tofe was able to find an escape route and turned to running as his new addiction. Now known as an endurance athlete and resilience thought leader, he's managed to change his life through endurance events and gratitude.
Although, these endurance events and gratitude have saved his life, he's been doing these events for a greater purpose than himself: to help raise money for charities and increase the awareness around mental health.
Some of Tofe's crazy accomplishments are:
Ran 40 endurance events in 1 year to raise awareness and money for cancer research
60km Ultramarathon on Mt Everest for Cystic Fibrosis
100km run for Blind + Amputee
12hr & 24hr Treadmill Challenges (Yes, that says 24 hr!)
100km War Trail for Youth Military - PTSD
And much much more
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Why no one wants to talk about mental health (9:50)
Why we're social creatures and built for connection and story (11:00)
Why it's so common to find people in the running community who are running from their demons (13:00)
Tofe's light bulb moment during a 24 hour treadmill challenge (16:00)
Why adversity is a blessing in disguise (17:46)
Why it's impossible for last domino to be hit by the first one (28:55)
How Tofe has been able to make fear his best friend (48:00)
Tofe's scariest moment of his endurance career (52:12)
Why we need to be more vulnerable (1:06:20)
1 hr 15 min - 004 - Healing Yourself Through Self Care, Self Love, And Empowerment with Samantha Lotus
Having grown up following the standard North American lifestyle of eating junk food, taking medications, stressing out over everything, and repressing her emotions, Samantha became sick. At 26, she was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer and told that she needed to start chemotherapy and radiation.
Not wanting to accept that as her first option of treatment, Samantha opted for a different approach and began to heal herself in a multi-faceted natural approach which you will learn about during this interview.
Now Samantha is a Lifestyle Alchemist, Yin Yoga Instructor & Certified Nutritional Practitioner specializing in Psychoneuroendoimmunology.
She is also the founder of Real Life But Better, a Holistic Nutrition and Wellness Wonderland where she educates about the power of self-healing and mentors her clients in achieving optimal mind/body/soul alignment.
Samantha has made it her mission to facilitate the practice of naturopathic self-healing through self care, self love, empowerment, and much much more...
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Why she decided to opt out of chemo (5:07)
Why you need to pay attention to what your prescribed and diagnosed with (6:28)
Why so many doctors aren't taught about the natural healing path (8:54)
How her belief system was keeping her sick (13:48)
The reason why people are afraid to be happy (18:39)
Why each of us are perfect (19:44)
How to handle negative self talk (23:38)
The common denominator between diseases (26:22)
Why life is just a video game (34:30)
How to stay committed in the midst of distractions (39:21)
45 min - 003 - Creating Space And Building Emotional Resilience with Cyndi Roberts
A misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder and countless addictions pushed Cyndi's health to the limit in 2008. Overweight, overwhelmed, pre-diabetic, suicidally depressed, fearful, hopeless and discovering that she had 6 months to live before reaching liver failure, Cyndi decided it was time to take matters into her own hands.
How?
Through mindfulness, movement, and meditation. Nearly 7 years later, Cyndi has completely transformed her life through the tools she now teaches others. Having lost 80 pounds and now living without medication, she is no longer pre-diabetic or facing liver failure, and has successfully transitioned from victim to victor mode.
At her private West Hartford, CT Yoga Studio, you'll find one-on-one therapeutic, gentle, restorative and prenatal yoga sessions as well as reiki, meditation, physical therapy, myofascial release, and much much more.
Cyndi is so passionate about teaching others how to create more space, healing, and love in their lives and relationships through the use mindfulness, yoga (and other movement) and meditation.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
The important questions that no one ever asked her (5:08)
How spending 12 years on long term prescriptions impacted her mental and physical health(9:10)
How she was able to restore her quality of life (12:50)
Why committing to small daily practices changed her life (17:25)
Why she hated meditation (19:30)
Simple meditation tips for beginners (21:40)
Why we need to befriend our anxiety instead of pushing it away (25:21)
Why the pursuit of happiness system is broken (30:30)
How improving emotional resilience has impacted her life and helped her bounce back quicker (33:20)
Why loving ourselves more allows us to love others more too (37:18)
Why adversity is an opportunity to rise up and take our power back (44:51)
49 min - 002 - Erb's Palsy Can't Stop Us with Kyle Stokes
I came across Kyle's Instagram a few months ago and was blown away.
From our first conversation, I knew Kyle was a perfect fit for the show. He's just an incredibly inspiring individual who is doing amazing things and impacting so many people's lives.
Kyle was born with Erb's palsy, which resulted in nerve damage in his shoulder and paralysis of his right arm. Instead of letting his obstacle get the best of him, he's created workout videos on YouTube and the 1in1k community which allows others to share their stories with Erb's palsy.
This conversation with Kyle isn't just for those with Erb's palsy; it's for anyone who is dealing with any form of adversity in their lives. What surprised me the most about Kyle, is that he gets it.
He understands that the principles he's learned from overcoming Erb's palsy can be applied to all obstacles in your life whether they're physical, mental, emotional, marital, or a combination of them. Many of the lessons Kyle talks about can be applied to all areas of your life.
I was honored to interview him and I am so excited to see what he has in store in the future.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
How Kyle has taken ownership and pride of his Erb's palsy (5:20)
Why we should never live our lives in someone else's hands (6:14)
How Kyle fell in love with the gym (8:42)
Why it's so easy to fall into the comparison trap (15:32)
The purpose behind #1in1k and its impact across the world (21:12)
The importance of visualizing your hope (29:11)
Why you need to starve your fears (29:58)
Why you're wasting your time if you don't apply the lessons you learn (30:56)
37 min - 001 - Welcome to Laugh At Adversity with Gary Savoie
Welcome to the first episode of Laugh At Adversity with Gary Savoie, a podcast designed to help you overcome life's challenges and create growth in your life. In this episode, you'll learn about my story, the purpose of the podcast, and what to expect.
Creating the Laugh At Adversity Podcast has been a dream of mine for a while and I'm so excited to finally launch it!
Even as a kid, I was always the curious type who preferred sitting around family and friends listening to the stories and lessons life had taught them. This podcast is no different.
I'll be picking the brains of inspirational people who have overcome adversity first hand. As well as, influential experts with the purpose of teaching you methods to overcome your obstacles and create growth in your life.
Whether you're dealing with a relationship issue, financial struggles, a physical obstacle, or a mental hurdle the principles you'll learn from this podcast can be applied to your situation.
In this episode, you will learn:
What you can expect from each episode (0:57)
About my 3 year struggle after complications from surgery (1:43)
Why I decided to create my own path to recovery (3:49)
How I changed my perspective (5:07)
Why I started Laugh At Adversity (8:54)
The purpose behind the Laugh At Adversity Podcast (9:43)
How you can join our community (10:41)
12 min
About Laugh At Adversity with Gary Savoie: Inspirational Messages to Conquer Anxiety, Depression, Fear, Relationships, Self-Doubt, and Self-Esteem
From the publisher's feed
After overcoming medical trauma, Gary Savoie has made it his mission to uncover all of the secrets to overcoming life's challenges and living a better life. Through inspirational stories and messages…
from those who have overcome adversity first hand, mindset gurus, and influential experts the Laugh At Adversity Podcast provides you with everything you need to conquer your challenges and turn your struggles into strengths. Overcome adversity, relationship problems, financial struggles, conflict, anxiety, depression, physical limitations, emotional hurdles, mental roadblocks, and find your inner power. Discover more at laughatadversity.com