David W. Brown's career reflects resilience and service. He began in 1980 at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois, earning the Navy League award and later graduating as honor student from Radarman School. He completed BUD/S training with class 115 and earned Army Airborne wings before serving in UDT-21 and SEAL Team 4 across multiple continents. After 1985, he taught Naval Aviation Water Survival and earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Troy State University. In 1987, David joined NCIS as a Special Agent, later holding leadership roles with the EPA's Criminal Investigation Division and the Department of Interior's OIG. Retiring as a Senior Executive after 35 years, he now lives in Sanford, Florida, and advocates for public safety. His education includes programs at the Center for Creative Leadership, the Federal Executive Institute, and Harvard's Kennedy School.

New book titled, "And Goliath: The Littlest Navy SEAL's Inspirational Story About Living Your Biggest Life."

Website: www.udtdave.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLittlestSEAL

YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@udtdave 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/udtdave/

#udtdave

Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald is a researcher, author, and trauma expert who's been studying the mind's response to overwhelming experiences for 15 years. She holds a PhD, has written four books and over a dozen research articles, and specializes in reframing trauma through the lens of neurobiology, resilience, and empowerment. Her latest book, The Joy Reset, explores six barriers that block us from accessing joy - and how to get it back. Dr. McDonald blends science, storytelling, and deep compassion to help people reconnect with hope, healing, and their own inner strength.

Learn more about Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald:

TikTok: mc.phd

(https://www.tiktok.com/@mc.phd )

Instagram: mc.phd (https://www.instagram.com/mc.phd/)

Her latest book, The Joy Reset: Six Ways Trauma Steals Happiness and How to Win it Back.

**Thank you to this episode's guest, Benny of Muted Circus, for permission to use a clip of his song ("Wait for What") in this podcast episode. **

In the latest episode of the Ruthless Compassion podcast I speak with Benny, who makes music under the name Muted Circus. 

Benny is a trained musician (violin, viola, electric bass, guitar, etc.) and a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. After briefly touring with a Sony artist and seeing things from the inside he got disillusioned with music and set it aside completely to do other things. But when his artist father was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, music rushed back in. What started as one song led to two, which led to three, and on and on, which ended up becoming a 10 EP x 50 song cycle. Each song explores death, mourning, loss, and aging in its own way. Half instrumental, half vocal. Benny is gearing up to release the 10th and final EP of the Muted Circus project and is ready to share his story. You can check out his music on Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram.

Listen to his song, "Wait for What" (discussed in this podcast). (https://open.spotify.com/track/07lyO9589z0elcgLg7alQr?si=7e9a6cb2d2194f4b)

Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mutedcircus?igsh=MW52anUyczlwdHkzNg== 

Listen to his music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3BGFACqqp9d8Go9aGL26RZ?si=hb_76ZdtRvW949yeEGV2UA 

Check out The Starting Gun (Spotify Track) Instrumental Songs Collection (Spotify Playlist)

*Permission granted by the artist to use a clip of his song ("Wait for What") in this podcast episode.*

A sociologist, psychotherapist and social worker, Ross Ellenhorn's work focuses on the importance of social worth and connections in psychiatric recovery. In 2002, he founded Ellenhorn, the robust program in the country serving individual experience extreme events of mind and mood outside of residential and hospital settings. In 2022, Ross co-founded CARDEA, a groundbreaking practice centered around psychedelics, assisting seeking to overcoming psychological anguish and individuals looking for greater awakening in their lives. He has published three books on Human behavior, the last, "Purple Crayons: The Art of Drawing a Life" by Harper Collins, explores the significance of play in modernity.

Julie Wignall received international acclaim for her trailblazing accomplishments in environmental practices, animal care, and leadership working with Mirage Resorts, a Fortune 500 company. Her unconventional career path has given her first-hand experience working with innovators in national politics, conservation, international business, television, and the arts. Along her unconventional journey, Julie encountered many remarkable people who, like her, had forged uncommon pathways to create meaningful change. Julie coined the term "Fireflies" to describe these visionaries: people you see beyond what is and take action to create a better reality. She shares her story and those of others in her multi award-winning book, The Extraordinary Power of Fireflies: How to Shine Your Light Brighter and Transform the World. Today, Julie is a sought-after consultant, workshop leader, coach, and speaker. She empowers changemakers with the tools to align with their purpose and amplify their impact as she shares what is possible when individuals harness their light to transform the world.

Social Media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExtraordinaryPowerofFireflies 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/extraordinarypoweroffireflies/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-wignall-38548668/

Multi award-winning book, "The Extraordinary Power of Fireflies: How to Shine Your Light Brighter and Transform the World"

PROMO: Free download of "Flying Lessons for Fireflies" and Free discovery call, found at www.extraordinaryfireflies.com

Dr. Hillary Cauthen is a clinical sport psychologist based in Austin TX. Hillary was a division 1 college track athlete, before embarking on a career focusing on the mental health and mental performance dimensions of high performers. She studied and competed at the University of New Hampshire, and Miami, Ohio, before completing her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, in Los Angeles. Dr. Cauthen is the Founder of Texas Optimal Performance & Psychological Services. Formerly served as the Director of Organizational Wellness & Performance for Austin FC and the performance psychologist for the San Antonio Spurs, where she developed their mental performance and wellness programs. Dr. Cauthen has developed private businesses that bring mental wellness curriculum to school districts across the nation, as well as an analytics company that helps predict the behavioral risk factors in players for teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and Premier League. Her work with high performance is breaking down stigma across communities which is highlighted in her book, "Hello Trauma, Our Invisible Teammate." and her podcast "The Highs & Lows of X's & O's"

Website: https://www.txopps.com/

Instagram: drcmindset (https://www.instagram.com/drcmindset/)

Book: Hello Trauma, Our Invisible Teammate (https://a.co/d/2oI2hsa)

Darlynn is a recovering "mad mom". After spending the first 5 years of parenting yelling at her kids and feeling like crap, she massively transformed herself and her approach to parenting by diving into a self-healing journey that led her to become a certified life coach and parenting expert. Now, she's on a mission to heal the next generation in advance by helping moms find true calm, gain skills to parent with compassion, and manage misbehavior without using shame or fear. Since 2012, Darlynn has worked with hundreds of families and helped them thrive. She's also been featured talking about Raising Emotionally Healthy Children on the Becoming You Again podcast with Karin Nelson and was named as one of the 11 Leading Parenting Coaches to Rely on in 2024 by the San Francisco Examiner.

The Calm Mama Club is a parenting mentorship program with all the tools and support you need to get calm and raise emotionally healthy kids. Inside, you'll learn Darlynn's signature 4-step Calm Mama Process. You also get access to weekly group coaching calls, the Calm Mama Handbook and a library of courses with topics ranging from sibling fights to screentime.

IG: @darlynnchildress 

FB: @calmmamacoaching

Free "Stop Yelling Cheat Sheet" 

Join the Calm Mama Club

Learn more about Darlynn and her work: https://www.calmmamacoaching.com/ 

Consult link: https://darlynnchildress.as.me/chat

Fredric Schiffer is an assistant professor of psychiatry, part-time, at Harvard Medical School and a research associate at McLean Hospital. He has developed a theory of psychology that is the subject of his recent book Goodbye Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, & PTSD: The Life-Changing Science of Dual Brain Psychology. The theory has been studied extensively at Harvard and its support and applications have been articulated in multiple peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Schiffer is also the Founder and CEO of MindLight, LLC which has received 2 SBIR grants from the US National Institute on Drug Abuse. He has a private practice of psychiatry in Newton, Massachusetts, USA

Social Media Handles: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.fredschiffer/ Dr.fredschiffer mindDoc7S!  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Fredric-Schiffer-MD/61560456878989/ 

Twitter: Drfredschiffer 

Youtube: @Dr.FredSchiffer 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredric-schiffer/

Toni Bergins, M.Ed., is an embodiment trailblazer who has taught at the premier holistic healing centers for the last 27 years. She is on the faculty at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, and has worked there as a movement artist, dance educator, expressive arts workshop leader, and expert in creating transformational workshops. Her new book is, Embody: Feel, Heal, and Transform Your Life through Movement (Health Communications Inc., Oct. 29, 2024. Learn more at journeydance.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.bergins/ 

https://www.facebook.com/ToniBerginsJourneyDance/ 

https://www.facebook.com/JourneyDance/ 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/tonibergins/?hl=en 

https://www.instagram.com/journeydanceofficial/

Michelle D. Sherman, PhD LP ABPP (she/her) is the co-author of Loving Someone with a Mental Illness or History of Trauma (written with her mother) and a licensed clinical psychologist who has dedicated her career to supporting families dealing with a mental illness or trauma/PTSD. She has worked in diverse settings, including the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system, private practice, and academia as a Professor at the University of Oklahoma and University of Minnesota Medical Schools. Dr. Sherman is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), and is Board Certified in Couple and Family Psychology. She is the Editor in Chief of Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, the journal of APA's Society of Couple and Family Psychology, and was named their Family Psychologist of the Year in 2022. She has published over 75 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and has given several hundred workshops nationally and internationally. She served on the Board of the Oklahoma National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for 14 years and now enjoys volunteering with the Minnesota NAMI affiliate. DeAnne M. Sherman (she/her) is the co-author of Loving Someone with a Mental Illness or History of Trauma (written with her daughter), a mental health advocate, French teacher, and choreographer. She graduated from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she received degrees in French, education, and speech and theater. She volunteers with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)-Minnesota, gives workshops with her daughter about mental illness in the family, and mentors people of all ages in the performing arts. DeAnne's mission is to affirm, educate, and empower others; she has strong passions for combating stigma, offering hope to people who are hurting, celebrating diversity, and promoting open discussion about mental health. The collaboration of psychologist and teacher, daughter and mother, brings true synergy to their work. The Shermans draw from their personal and professional life experiences which are the inspiration and foundation for their work.

Twitter (X) @DrMichelleSherm 

Facebook: Seeds of Hope Books Michelle Sherman

Facebook (personal): DeAnne Sherm

Instagram: Seeds_of_Hope_Books 

LinkedIn: Michelle Sherman, PhD LP ABPP

Book: Loving Someone with a Mental Illness or History of Trauma: Skills, Hope, and Strength for Your Journey:

(https://www.amazon.com/Loving-Someone-Mental-Illness-History/dp/142145050X/ref=sr_1_2?)