Grief doesn’t return you to who you were.

In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, Angie Hanson shares her journey through compounded loss and what survival really looks like when life keeps changing. She talks about choosing to live, choosing to change, and learning how to move forward when there is no going back.

Out of her grief, Angie created Butterflies and Halos, a greeting card line that says what people are actually feeling in hard moments—because sometimes showing up matters more than saying the perfect thing.

Survival isn’t getting back to who you were.
It’s becoming something different—something better.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Choosing to live after profound loss
• Why survival isn’t “going back”
• Grief, resilience, and bouncing forward
• Journaling, faith, and community support
• Saying the real things when words fail
• Creating meaning after loss

ABOUT THE GUEST

Angie Hanson is a grief educator, speaker, and creator of Butterflies and Halos—a greeting card line designed to say what people are actually feeling during loss and hard seasons of life. Her work focuses on honesty, presence, and human connection when traditional platitudes fall short.

Connect with Angie:
Website: https://butterfliesandhalos.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://facebook.com/butterfliesandhalos
Instagram: https://instagram.com/butterfliesandhalos
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-hanson-griefeducator

SHOW CONTACT

Sh!t Creek Survivors Podcast

Website: https://shitcreeksurvivors.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 314-650-3132
Facebook: SHT Creek Survivors
YouTube: Sh!t Creek Survivors

grief, loss, survival, resilience, healing, mental health, grief support, choosing to live, bouncing forward, life after loss, coping with grief, journaling, faith, community support, Butterflies and Halos, grief podcast, mental health podcast, inspirational podcast

What keeps someone alive when trauma, addiction, and PTSD push them to the edge?

For Wild Willie Thornton, the answer was music.

In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, Cam and Dennis sit down with Willie to talk honestly about trauma, sobriety, accountability, and the moments when quitting feels easier than continuing. Cam shares his own experience with PTSD and addiction after being shot in the line of duty. Dennis discusses the impact of his military and law enforcement background, including the Ferguson protests, on his mental health.

Together, they explore the danger of victim mentality, the importance of taking responsibility for your life, and why finding your why can make the difference between giving up and surviving.

This episode also highlights the power of music as therapy, connection, and lifeline — not just entertainment.

Whether you’re struggling with trauma, addiction, mental health, or simply need hope, this conversation is for you.

Welcome back to Sh!t Creek Survivors, where we share real stories of resilience, tools for resilience, and hope for those in their own shit creek right now.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Willie “Wild Willie” Thornton is a DJ, podcast host, editor, and creative entrepreneur from Missouri. He is the founder of Soul Impact: How Music Saved Us, a podcast where music, healing, and storytelling collide.

Through deep, real conversations, Willie gives artists, veterans, and everyday people space to share how music helped them overcome life’s toughest moments. He also runs Backwoods Productions and serves as an editor for The Scene Projects Network, helping produce award-winning podcasts and community-driven content.

He is a single parent, college student, and working creative — living proof that passion and purpose can go hand in hand.

His message is simple and powerful: music saves lives.

CHAPTERS

00:00 From Trauma to Transformation
03:04 The Power of Community and Accountability
05:29 Music as a Healing Tool
06:40 The Journey of Sobriety
07:04 Finding Purpose in Adversity
10:05 The Importance of Sharing Stories
13:05 Navigating Life’s Challenges
15:52 The Role of Support Systems
19:00 Moving Forward: Lessons Learned
30:57 The Importance of Genuine Apologies
34:50 Victim Mentality in Society
36:54 Overcoming Struggles and Helping Others
39:40 The Healing Power of Music
44:27 Breaking Generational Curses
53:06 Finding Your Why and Resilience

CONTACT US

🌐 Website: https://shitcreeksurvivors.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call or Text: 314-650-3132
📘 Facebook: SHT Creek Survivors
▶️ YouTube: Sh!t Creek Survivors

Your story matters. You are not alone.

What happens when loss, disability, and chronic pain collide—and quitting feels easier than continuing?

In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, we sit down with Win Charles, an author, podcaster, motivational speaker, and triathlete living with cerebral palsy. Win shares her powerful journey through losing her parents, enduring countless surgeries, living with chronic pain, and learning how to advocate for herself in a healthcare system that often overlooks people with disabilities.

Instead of letting adversity define her limits, Win transformed grief into purpose—writing a book, launching a podcast, stepping onto stages as a motivational speaker, and pushing her body to compete in triathlons against the odds.

Update: Since recording this episode, Win has successfully undergone surgery and is now focused on recovery so she can return to triathlon training as soon as possible. Recovery isn’t a pause—it’s part of the fight.

This conversation is honest, grounding, and deeply human. If you’re navigating your own season of pain, uncertainty, or setback, this episode will remind you that forward progress—no matter how small—still counts

Win Charles, cerebral palsy, resilience, disability, chronic pain, surgery recovery, triathlete, adaptive athlete, motivational speaker, mental health, self advocacy, grief and loss, overcoming adversity, personal growth, Shit Creek Survivors

Follow Sh!t Creek Survivors for more real stories of resilience and share this episode with someone navigating their own shit creek

What do you do when life hits you hard before adulthood even begins?

In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, Dan Korte shares his powerful journey of being diagnosed with testicular cancer at just 19 years old—and how that experience led him through anger, doubt, unhealthy coping, and ultimately personal growth.

Dan opens up about questioning God, numbing pain through drinking and partying, and hitting emotional rock bottom after a breakup. Through fitness, accountability, community, and faith, he chose resilience over surrender.

Today, Dan is the founder of Rise Above Apparel, a brand focused on men’s mental health, resilience, and using fitness as a tool to overcome life’s hardest moments.

This episode is for anyone navigating adversity, struggling with mental health or faith, rebuilding after trauma, or looking for tools to grow stronger through hardship.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Facing cancer at a young age can reshape identity and faith
• Unhealthy coping mechanisms often mask deeper pain
• Fitness can be a powerful tool for mental resilience
• Community and accountability matter more than willpower
• Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness
• Resilience is built through consistent, small actions

🔗 GUEST LINKS

Website: https://www.riseabove.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riseabove_apparel/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiseaboveApparelInc
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@riseabove_apparel

📬 CONTACT / CONNECTcancer survivor, testicular cancer, resilience, men’s mental health, personal growth, faith and adversity, fitness for mental health, overcoming adversity, vulnerability, entrepreneurship, community support

Website: https://shitcreeksurvivors.com
Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @SHTCreekSurvivors
Facebook: SHT Creek Survivors
YouTube: Sh!t Creek Survivors
TikTok: Sh!t Creek Survivors

cancer survivor, testicular cancer, resilience, men’s mental health, personal growth, faith and adversity, fitness for mental health, overcoming adversity, vulnerability, entrepreneurship, community support

This episode marks the one-year anniversary of Sh!t Creek Survivors.

Cam and Dennis Coffman reflect on the past year of the podcast — the growth, the struggles, and the lessons learned along the way. What began as honest conversations about resilience evolved into a community centered on authenticity, vulnerability, and hope.

In this special anniversary episode, they revisit the idea of positive paddles — the tools that help people navigate life’s toughest seasons. They discuss the impact of community support, discipline, diet, exercise, mental training, faith, and the importance of sharing stories to process trauma and inspire others.

This episode is both a reflection and a reminder: resilience is built over time, healing happens in community, and hope grows when we refuse to quit.

Episode Summary

A one-year reflection on resilience, community, and hope. Cam and Dennis Coffman look back on the growth, lessons, and impact of Sh!t Creek Survivors, and the positive paddles that helped them navigate the journey.

Episode Keywords

resilience, community support, personal growth, podcast anniversary, healing from trauma, authenticity, vulnerability, mental health, discipline, accountability, faith and resilience, mindset growth, overcoming challenges, hope, storytelling, self-improvement

Episode Takeaways

• One year of consistent conversations leads to meaningful change
• Community support is essential for healing and resilience
• Authenticity creates both personal and shared growth
• Discipline, diet, and exercise influence mental health
• Many negative behaviors stem from attempts to self-medicate
• Sharing stories helps process trauma and inspire others
• Faith and spirituality can provide stability during uncertainty
• Resilience is persistence, not perfection
• Helping others brings purpose and fulfillment

Episode Chapters

00:00 One-Year Anniversary & Why This Show Started
00:38 Reflecting on Growth and Unexpected Impact
02:06 Community, Authenticity, and Healing
04:03 Trauma, Negative Behaviors, and Self-Medication
07:25 Resilience, Discipline, and Consistency
10:12 Faith, Mental Training, and Mindset Growth
13:40 Lessons Learned After One Year
16:05 Hope, Purpose, and the Road Ahead

About the Show

Sh!t Creek Survivors is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories of resilience, tools for resilience, and how doing so gives hope to those navigating life’s toughest seasons.

Hosted by Cameron McKay, the show features honest conversations with individuals who have faced adversity, trauma, and major life challenges — and found ways to keep moving forward. Through authenticity, faith, discipline, and community, Sh!t Creek Survivors reminds listeners they are not alone, no matter how rough the waters feel.

Connect With Sh!t Creek Survivors

Website: www.shitcreeksurvivors.com
Facebook: SHT creek survivors
Contact: [email protected]

As the New Year approaches, this episode is for anyone who’s not starting strong — but is starting again.

Cameron McKay, Dennis Coffman, and Coach Brian Parana talk honestly about getting fit, staying sober, rebuilding mental strength, and creating real change after trauma, addiction, and burnout.

Brian shares how he reached nine years of sobriety, why extreme approaches fail, and how his “middle gear mentality” helps people build strength without burning out. Cameron opens up about living in survival mode after being shot and learning how to stand back up — one step at a time.

This conversation isn’t about perfection or motivation.
It’s about progress, accountability, and hope.

If you’re heading into the New Year tired, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start — this episode is for you.

🎙️ GUEST BIO

Coach Brian Parana is a fitness and life coach, entrepreneur, and recovery advocate with over nine years of sobriety. Through his personal journey with addiction, business pressure, and reinvention, Brian developed the middle gear mentality — a sustainable, balanced approach to fitness, health, and life that prioritizes long-term growth over extremes.

00:00 Survivor Mode Activated
03:03 Trauma, PTSD & Survival Mode
05:46 Sobriety & Accountability
08:58 Fitness Without Burning Out
12:04 Business Pressure & Mental Load
14:58 Coaching With Purpose
18:07 Relationships & Growth
21:00 Lessons From Adversity
27:51 Carrying Responsibility
30:12 Breaking Toxic Partnerships
32:40 Support Systems
36:06 Adapting to Change
39:16 Identity After Trauma
43:50 Fitness Goals That Stick
49:46 Middle Gear Mentality
55:52 The Four Pillars of Health
56:21 Emotional Eating & Awareness
59:40 Baby Steps Over Burnout
01:01:33 Interrupting Old Patterns
01:08:30 Client Transformations
01:17:22 Choosing Strength in the New Year

If this episode helped you, follow the show so you don’t miss future conversations like this.
Sharing it with someone who’s starting over helps more than you know.

📬 CONTACT INFO

Want to be a guest or connect with the show?

📧 Email: [email protected]

survivor mode, sobriety journey, getting fit new year, PTSD recovery, resilience, mental health, addiction recovery, fitness mindset, coaching, personal growth, sustainable change, hope, Shit Creek Survivor
🌐 Website: www.shitcreeksurvivors.com
📘 Facebook: SHT creek survivors

In this powerful episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, Robert Sartin shares his extraordinary journey after surviving 10+ strokes and a brain tumor diagnosis. Robert opens up about hospital delirium, hallucinations, and the physical and mental challenges of losing mobility. Through gratitude, time in nature, meditation, and a disciplined mindset, he found a way to reclaim joy and purpose despite overwhelming adversity.

This conversation explores resilience, mental health, recovery, and the importance of focusing on small victories when life feels unbearable. Robert also discusses overcoming negative self-talk, releasing resentment, and why comparison can steal happiness. His story is a reminder that even after unimaginable hardship, hope is real, healing is possible, and joy can still be chosen.

Robert is also the author of the upcoming book Embrace Joy, which reflects the lessons he learned through his recovery and ongoing journey.

resilience, stroke recovery, multiple strokes, brain tumor recovery, mental health, gratitude, healing journey, personal growth, mindfulness, meditation, positivity, overcoming adversity, hope, happiness, recovery podcast

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Joy
01:28 Robert’s Journey Through Adversity
02:00 Surviving 10+ Strokes
04:37 The Power of Mindset in Recovery
07:39 Finding Happiness Amidst Challenges
10:38 Tools for Cultivating Gratitude and Joy
14:39 Healing Through Nature
17:02 Navigating Past Resentments
18:49 Understanding Happiness and Resilience
26:44 The Power of Positivity and Self-Deception

Contact Sh!t Creek Survivors:

If you’d like to be a guest, share your story, or connect with Sh!t Creek Survivors:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.shitcreeksurvivors.com
Facebook: SHT creek survivors

#Resilience #StrokeRecovery #MultipleStrokes #MentalHealth #Gratitude #HealingJourney #PersonalGrowth #Mindfulness #Hope #EmbraceJoy #ShitCreekSurvivors

In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, Cam and Dennis sit down with Rachel Krentzman to explore what happens when a religious community walks away and trauma is left to live in the body. Rachel shares her story of spiritual abandonment, family collapse, and the powerful truth that although you are not your circumstances, on the inside you are whole and beautiful. She explains how emotional trauma can be stored physically in the body and how yoga, mindfulness, therapy, and breathwork helped her build resilience when she needed it most. Rachel also shares insights from her book As Is, where she tells her full story. This episode is for anyone navigating church hurt, invisible pain, or searching for healing and hope.EPISODE SUMMARY :
Rachel Krentzman shares how trauma lives in the body, how spiritual abandonment shaped her life, and the healing tools that helped her rebuild resilience.

• Church hurt and spiritual abandonment
• Trauma stored in the body
• Mind–body connection and pain
• Healing through yoga, breathwork, and mindfulness
• “You are not your circumstances”
• Rachel’s book As IsGUEST INFO:
Guest: Rachel Krentzman
Email: [email protected]
Websites: happybackyoga.com | rachelkrentzman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelkrentzman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.krentzman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-krentzman/PODCAST CONTACT INFO :
Share your story or request a topic:
Website: www.shitcreeksurvivors.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: SHT Creek Survivors
YouTube: SH!T Creek Survivors

TAGS / EPISODE KEYWORDS:
resilience, church hurt, religious trauma, spiritual abuse, mind body connection, trauma stored in the body, somatic healing, emotional healing, yoga therapy, breathwork, mindfulness, healing journey, personal growth, trauma recovery, Rachel Krentzman, As Is, Shit Creek Survivors, hope

Today on Sh!t Creek Survivors, we sit down with Brian Passenti — an ultra runner, coach, and recovery advocate whose story embodies grit, perseverance, and the power of starting over.

Brian shares his journey from addiction to sobriety, the wake-up call that came after a devastating bike accident, and how ultra running became a physical and spiritual path toward healing. Through community, discipline, and relentless honesty, Brian discovered a new purpose — and now helps others push past their limitations and find their own transformation.

This conversation is filled with hope, hard truths, and life-changing perspective. Whether you're battling addiction, rebuilding your life, or just looking for a spark to keep going, Brian’s story will meet you where you are.

ABOUT TODAY’S GUEST — BRIAN PASSENTI

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/brian.passenti

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

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-passenti-42b7bb258

Altitude Endurance Coaching Podcast:
https://www.altitudeendurancecoaching.com/buckle-up-an-ultrarunning-conversation-podcast

Documentary — Brian’s 1,000th Leadville Mile:
https://youtu.be/TUqBoyPlaEo?si=VukuMbrphQm-YW17

SUMMARY

Brian opens up about his early struggles with substance use, the pivotal moments that led him to seek change, and how endurance running became a source of discipline, clarity, and personal growth. His journey shows how recovery is not a single decision but a series of small, intentional steps — and how community support can make all the difference. From addiction to ultra marathons, Brian’s story proves that resilience is built one mile at a time.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Sharing your story can help others feel less alone.

• Community support is a powerful part of recovery.

• Resilience is staying committed even when it hurts.

• Recovery requires daily work and long-term commitment.

• Ultra running became a transformative outlet for Brian.

• Small actions can lead to major life changes.

• Asking for help is a sign of strength.

• The lows of life can deepen your appreciation for the highs.

• Endurance sports reflect the emotional journey of recovery.

• Every recovery path is unique.

MEMORABLE QUOTES

• “I feel privileged to be here.”

• “I was looking for something.”

• “I never had a drink after that.

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 — The Impact of Addiction on Life Choices
01:24 — The Role of Community in Recovery
04:16 — Finding Resilience Through Adversity
07:07 — The Bike Accident That Changed Everything
10:07 — The Path to Sobriety
20:16 — The Journey to Sobriety
22:56 — Support from Unexpected Places
25:02 — From Acknowledgment to Acceptance
27:59 — Embracing New Beginnings
32:59 — Community in Endurance Sports
39:15 — Resilience: One Step at a Time

Understanding Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD): How Blair Sorrel found healing from Complex Trauma through music, writing, and community.

Hosts Cameron and Dennis are joined by guest Blair Sorrel for a vital conversation about the realities of mental health, trauma, and the courage it takes to face your own story.

Blair shares her journey to a Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD) diagnosis at age 33 and the profound realization of how childhood trauma shapes coping mechanisms. We discuss the often-overlooked role of parenting in mental health outcomes and how powerful tools like music therapy and volunteering can provide a lifeline when navigating complex trauma.

If you are struggling with emotional pain, feeling disconnected, or seeking understanding about SPD, this episode brings compassion and hope.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The importance of accountability in the healing process.

• The role of music as a therapeutic tool for emotional expression.

• The significance of community support and social connections.

• The complexity of homelessness and the need for compassion.

Subscribe to Sh!t Creek Survivors for more stories of resilience and hope.