Real Feel Insights

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Sara Mattson for an honest conversation about veterinary medicine, resilience, and the path that doesn’t always go as planned. Sara shares how growing up on a farm shaped her early interest in becoming a veterinarian and the moment that confirmed it for her. She walks through her education, including early acceptance into veterinary school, and the challenges that followed — from failing her board exams multiple times to navigating setbacks early in her career.

Sara also reflects on being let go from a position and stepping into the unexpected opportunity of owning her own practice. She shares the financial and personal challenges of starting a business during COVID, along with her experience with motherhood, miscarriage, and balancing work and family life. It’s a grounded conversation about persistence, growth, and finding purpose through both the expected and unexpected parts of life. 

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Sarah Linden Hudson for a deeply personal conversation about service, loss, and remembrance. Sarah shares the story of her brother Troy, who was killed in Iraq while serving in the military as part of a unit responsible for identifying and clearing explosive threats.

She reflects on who Troy was, what led him to serve, and the kind of person he was to those who knew him best. Sarah also speaks about the lasting impact his loss has had on their family and what the past twenty years have looked like in the absence of someone they loved. It’s a thoughtful conversation about sacrifice, memory, and the way a life continues to shape those left behind.

In Part 2 of this series, Sarah Bachmann continues her conversation with Scott Geiselhart as he shares the steps he took after discovering he was living with PTSD. Scott discusses the research he did to understand his symptoms, the helplines he contacted, and the therapy that helped him begin addressing the trauma he had experienced. He walks through the EMDR treatment process he completed and how those sessions helped him process painful memories.

Scott also shares the mental strategies he uses today and reflects on rebuilding his relationships, restoring his faith, and creating a healthier future for himself and his family. He closes the conversation with a reminder for anyone facing similar struggles: speak up, seek help, and find the support that works for you.

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Scott Geiselhart for a deeply honest conversation about PTSD and the hidden toll trauma can take. Scott shares how running his own mechanic shop while also serving as a volunteer firefighter exposed him to situations that slowly began to affect his mental health.

As the nightmares and stress intensified, Scott turned to alcohol and drugs in an attempt to cope. Over time, the weight of those experiences began affecting every part of his life, including his relationships with his family. Scott speaks openly about reaching a breaking point and the moment that forced him to confront what he was truly facing. In searching for answers, he began to recognize the symptoms of PTSD. This episode is the first part of a two-part series that follows Scott’s journey from crisis to understanding.

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Mindy Retz for an honest and current conversation about cancer — specifically Mindy’s ongoing battle with rectal cancer. With so many individuals and families in our community facing different forms of cancer, this episode is meant to shine a light on the reality of the “C” word. Cancer comes in many forms, and this conversation is not about one diagnosis over another — it’s about bringing awareness, encouragement, and understanding to anyone walking this road.

Mindy shares how she discovered something wasn’t right, the process of getting diagnosed, advocating for a second opinion, and the treatments she has completed and is preparing to face. She speaks openly about fear, gratitude, and choosing hope while living in the unknown. This episode is informative, emotional, and deeply human. We ask that you keep all cancer patients, survivors, and families in your thoughts.

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Becky Schmitz for an encouraging and practical conversation about mental health. With 18 years of experience in the field, Becky shares how she approaches each individual differently and why there is no one-size-fits-all path to healing. She discusses simple tools like “HALT” — Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired — and how small check-ins can make a meaningful difference. Becky also emphasizes the importance of rest, boundaries, and removing shame from taking time to recharge. It’s a helpful, hopeful conversation for anyone at any stage of their mental health journey.

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with retired family physician Dr. John Emery for a thoughtful conversation about medicine, service, and a life shaped by steady commitment. John shares how he found his path into family practice, the lessons learned through decades of caring for patients, and the experiences that defined his career—including his time serving as a physician in the Navy.

He also reflects on family, loss, gratitude, and what it means to feel content in this season of life. It’s a quiet, honest conversation about purpose, humility, and the kind of fulfillment that comes from serving others well.

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Scott Ailie for an uplifting conversation about faith, transformation, and service. Scott shares his life before faith—marked by addiction, stealing, and searching for something more—and the moment everything changed when he accepted Jesus at nineteen.

Not long after, Scott felt called into jail ministry, a role he has faithfully served in ever since. He reflects on redemption, forgiveness, and what it means to meet people where they are. It’s a hopeful conversation about grace, purpose, and the power of a changed life.

In the final episode of the addiction series, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Holly Christianson for a deeply personal conversation about loving a child through addiction. Holly shares what it was like watching her son struggle for years, the difficult boundaries she had to set, and the reality of practicing tough love as a parent. She reflects on his time in treatment, the grief of losing him, and the lasting impact his life—and his daughter—continue to have on her family. It’s an honest look at loss, love, and the choices no parent is ever prepared to face.

In part two of the addiction series, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Lindsay Cooksey to talk about addiction, recovery, and rebuilding life from the ground up. Lindsay shares her journey through years of substance use, including meth addiction, and the emotional pain that kept her stuck in destructive patterns. She reflects on quitting cold turkey, building a strong support system, and why hard work, boundaries, and surrounding yourself with positive people became non-negotiable. It’s a candid conversation about responsibility, healing, and learning to believe you are enough.