Self-care and sleep are necessary for soldiers and civilians alike, explains Utah Army National Guard Major, Wes Porter on this episode of Relentlessly Resilient. With over 15 years of experience in leadership roles in complex operations in the U.S. and internationally, he has seen firsthand how “sleep (and self-care) is one of the most important weapons in our resilience arsenal. Wes shares his insights on military and family service, the impact of his work as the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Accelerator for the state of Utah, his Polynesian heritage, and the Dreams in Motion charity which he is a founding board member of. 
Even though we live in challenging times, we can become Relentlessly Resilient as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband, Major Brent Taylor, was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together, and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward. 
Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL NewsRadio App Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

“Sleep is a weapon” and other self-care tips from Utah Army National Guard Major Wes Porter

We live in challenging times, and it seems only to be getting tougher. Michelle Scharf and Jennie Taylor are no strangers to overcoming adversity. Michelle lost her husband to metastatic prostate cancer. Jennie's husband, Major Brent Taylor, was killed in the service of our country. On Relentlessly Resilient, hear how these two women crossed paths and join them each week as they visit with people enduring challenges and teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward.&nbsp;

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Teenage pregnancy and adopting out is an emotional and heart-wrenching experience for all involved. But when Kiara Williamson found herself as a pregnant teenager in 2017, her experience was much different than what her mother, Heather Andrews, had experienced two decades before. In this second part of a two-part series, Kiara shares her own pregnancy and adoption story. And unlike her mother, Kiara had the support of family, friends, and her then-boyfriend. She was even able to place her baby girl in an open adoption and continue to be an integral part of her child's life! 
Empowered by her journey, Kiara is helping others find their “Birth Mom Tribe” at TikTok, Instagram, and on Facebook. The juxtaposition between these two stories highlights the importance of nonjudgmental support, the danger of cultural shame, the power of communication, and the importance of tapping into your own personal power. 
Even though we live in challenging times, we can become 'Relentlessly Resilient' as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband, Major Brent Taylor, was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together, and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward. 
Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.
Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL NewsRadio App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

A mother and daughter’s stories of teenage pregnancy and adoption part 2: Kiara’s open adoption in 2017

Teenage pregnancy and adopting out is an emotional and heart-wrenching experience for all involved. When, in 1996, Heather Andrews found herself pregnant at 18 years old without her family and the baby’s father's support, she faced a systematic culture of shame, guilt, and abandonment. In this first of a two-part series, Heather shares the story of her first traumatic pregnancy, which ended with her adopting out her firstborn son in a closed adoption. 
In our second-part episode, we will then hear a similar story two decades later in 2017, when Heather’s daughter Kiara Williamson, as a pregnant teenager herself, adopted her daughter out in a much more supportive story with an open adoption. Kiara, empowered by her journey, is helping others find their “Birth Mom Tribe” at TikTok, Instagram, and on Facebook. The juxtaposition between these two stories highlights the importance of nonjudgmental support, the danger of cultural shame, the power of communication, and the importance of tapping into your own personal power. 
Even though we live in challenging times, we can become 'Relentlessly Resilient' as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband, Major Brent Taylor, was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together, and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward. 
Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.
Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL NewsRadio App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

A Mother and daughter’s stories of teenage pregnancy and adoption part 1: Heather’s closed adoption in 1997

Jennie Taylor continues to honor her husband’s legacy through programs, scholarships, celebrations, and events with the Major Brent Taylor Foundation. This includes traveling the country to teach business leaders and students Brent’s five tips for success, which he originally gave at his high school's graduation ceremony in 1997 as the school’s student body president. On this special cohost conversation episode of Relentlessly Resilient, she shares these tips and invites listners to create five of their own tips. 
Want to learn more about the “BT5?” A leadership workshop, tailored for 7th—12th-grade students, will be held at Weber High School on Saturday, May 4th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch and a T-shirt are included for just $10. Secure your spot now by registering here, or visit MajorBrentTaylor.com to learn more. 
Even though we live in challenging times, we can become Relentlessly Resilient as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband, Major Brent Taylor, was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together, and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward. 
Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.
Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL NewsRadio App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

Cohost Conversation: Jennie Taylor on ‘The Brent Taylor Five’ tips for success

Baby and mother seemed to be perfectly healthy when 30-year-old Mandi Schill gave birth to her firstborn son, but three weeks later, she was back in the hospital having survived a stroke. Since that time a few years ago, this Director of Resource Development at United Way of Northern Utah, used her story to help expand Medicaid care for women in Utah from 60 days to a full year post birth. Mandi joins this episode of Relentlessly Resilient to share her story and how health means something different to her now. 
Even though we live in challenging times, we can become 'Relentlessly Resilient' as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband, Major Brent Taylor, was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together, and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward. 
Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.
Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL NewsRadio App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by  KellieAnn Halvorsen.

Survivor Mandi Schill on her postnatal stroke and evolving sense of health

Author and trauma and disaster management specialist Jeffrey J. Denning returns to Relentlessly Resilient to discuss the importance of self-awareness and self-wellness. Over his long career as a US Army officer, Federal Air Marshal, police captain, turned counselor and therapist, Jeff has been interested in trauma-informed mental and spiritual health. Today, he discusses five steps to help individuals in crisis find resilience, which is really all of us as we face the stress and disappointments of life. These steps are adequate sleep, healthy nutrition, daily physical activity, positive socialization, and a grateful attitude. The key to active resilience is understanding your identity and purpose and, thus, understanding your worth. 
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and/or visit them online at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org   
Even though we live in challenging times, we can become 'Relentlessly Resilient' as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband, Major Brent Taylor, was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together, and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward. 
Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.
Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL NewsRadio App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

“Sleep is a weapon” and other self-care tips from Utah Army National Guard Major Wes Porter

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