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This week we interview thirty-six-year-old Digital Management Professional from Alpharetta, Georgia. Ethan offers a candid account of losing a cousin to miliary suicide and actively sorting through painful emotions in order to achieve a life of well-being, peace and purpose.

Veteran Mentoring Program - American Corporate Partners

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Support for suicide loss survivors - SAVE: Suicide Prevention, Information, and Awareness

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This week we do something different I answer questions from friends that may help you better as an audience understand my perspective. We are all part of something incredible here and I can't thank you enough for tuning in.

This week's episode touches on these of parent loss, child abuse, and military suicide. If this feels heavy to you, please skip. 

Love, Jess

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Gold Star spouse Deanna Phillips became a widow on March 5, 2010, when her beloved husband, Michael Phillips, a US Air Force veteran, lost his battle with service-connected cancer. The grief that followed was nearly paralyzing. She feared she’d always be alone. 

“When you lose a spouse, you have this heavy weight on you,” she says. “The whole world is erupting. You carry stuff and you keep carrying it and carrying it, and soon you don’t even realize that you’re carrying it.”

Deanna learned about TMF in 2023, and it was the start of her journey to freedom. “I’d been involved in a lot of widow organizations,” she says, “but TMF is doing something other organizations don’t. Bringing together veterans and families of the fallen is so vital, because it gives you an understanding that you didn’t have before. It helps me understand my own story more.”

When she began TMF’s Spartan Leadership Program (SLP)—a 7-month, life-changing experience designed to empower veterans and families of fallen military heroes to connect passion with purpose—Deanna felt reconnected to her husband. 

SLP made such an impact on Deanna that she is now one of TMF’s most active Spartan leaders. She leads the North Dallas chapter in all of its events and service projects, and is a Mentor with Character Does Matter.

 ---courtesy of the Travis Manion Foundation Impact and Stories Blog From Loss to Leadership: How Deanna Phillips Inspires Community

Cancer Caregiver Resources: VA | National Oncology Program US Veterans | Cancer Resources | Cancer Risk | American Cancer Society Caregivers | This Is Living With Cancer | Official Site

Organizations mentioned: Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS) Is Here For You! Travis Manion Foundation | "If Not Me, Then Who..." DIRECTION61:3 | Help Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care In Texas

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Jessica-Rose Johnson is a woman of accomplishment. She is a Marine Corps veteran, 8-time Warrior Games Medalist, keynote speaker, and a well of optimism. Her reach is expansive including anyone impacted by veteran specific struggles, suicide loss, mental health advocacy, and caregiver empowerment. Her husband Andrew Johnson succumbed to his brain cancer battle just a few months prior to this recording. Listen for yourself. JessicaRose is authentic in her commitment to love in sickness and in health, she is a woman going through it and STILL grateful for her future opportunities. 

This week's episode talks about the positive effects of rowing, adaptive sports, running, and giving back to the cancer center's that have held her. If you feel called to support Jessica Rose at this time Fundraiser by JessicaRose Johnson : Caring for Jessica-Rose as She Honors Andrew

Jessica-Rose Johnson: About - Jessica-Rose Johnson Unbreakable Hope with Jessica-Rose - Podcast - Apple Podcasts Suicide Mortality Review | SAMHSA 

Adaptive Sports: Healing on the Water - Riversport OKC Veterans Services Adaptive Rowing - Riversport OKC Warrior Games 

Cancer Caregiver Resources: How to Care for Someone with Brain Cancer | Tisch Brain Tumor Center One on One Brain Cancer Support - CanCare Support Groups - American Brain Tumor Association 11 Amazing Resources for Caregivers of a Loved One with a Brain Tumor - Salud America

Race stuff: One couple going the extra mile in Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon - ABC17NEWS Outpace Cancer Race DFW Brain Tumor Walk & Race

Heros discussed: Mel Robbins Simon Sinek | The Optimism Company About Brené | Brené Brown Home - Dr. Edith Eger 

Imposter syndrome: The Five Types of Imposter Syndrome and How to Manage Them

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This week's episode we touch in with an old friend, Mark O'Brien. Mark currently lives in Lutherville, Maryland with his lovingly transparent family, wife Maria, three kids, and pup Otis. He is an accomplished human who believes in the power of redemption and living a life of purpose. 

In 2008, his then-girlfriend threw Mark a birthday party and he choose to drive them home afterwards. Laura unfortunately passed away as a result of that decision. What started for Mark as a promising law career and a looming marriage proposal took a detour. 

Mark is now a post-traumatic growth coach, author, and creator of the GROWTH journey, a structured, research-based program designed to help individuals heal, find meaning, and grow after trauma, loss, and other significant life disruptions. 

Book: Crashing: I Love You. Forgive Me.: O'Brien, Mark L.: 9781990461415: Amazon.com: Books

Program:  Coaching – Mark L. O'Brien 

Resources for individuals who fear they've caused  an accident: Post-Crash Resource Guide — Families for Safe Streets - USA Drunk Driving | Statistics and Resources | NHTSA SAFE Support — Streets Are For Everyone Home - The Hyacinth Fellowship 

Positive Psychology: What Is Positive Psychology & Why Is It Important? Master of Applied Positive Psychology | Penn LPS Boulder Crest Foundation - The Home of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) 

Overdose Loss Survivors resources: Grief Resources for Families - Partnership to End Addiction ResourcesforFamiliesFacingOverdoseLoss.pdf Lifeline for Loss - Overdose Lifeline Grief Recovery for Those Who Have Lost Due to Drug Use -GRASP

Resources for people integrating after incarceration: Where Can You Get Help with Employment After Incarceration? – How to Justice Hud Housing Network Second Chance Guide | Reentry Resources for Formerly Incarcerated People 

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Before we introduce our esteemed guest, I want to let you know that today's episode touches on themes of post-traumatic stress, Agent Orange, the Vietnam War, and suicide. If that feels too much right now, please take care of yourself and step away at any point.

Tristen Adams, originally from Hebron, NE graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has a distinguished career in healthcare recruiting and IT management. She is a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and auntie.

At the time of this recording the Huskers qualified for the 2026 Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament and subsequently made an unprecedented sweet 16 round. GO BIG RED! 

Tristen is proud of her work as a Mission 22 Ambassador. This week's episode is an example of their enormous family loving and how we all carry "living big like John Fink" forward.

Military and Veteran mental health: Veterans Crisis Line About the Military Crisis Line (988 + 1) | Military OneSource Help for Mental Illnesses - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Suicide loss support: Find a support group | AFSP Find a Therapist, Psychologist, Counselor - Psychology Today Suicide Loss Survivors – American Association of Suicidology

Mission 22: Ambassadors - Mission 22 We Remember - Mission 22 

Others mentioned: VA Homeless Programs Nascar Potential Families | Honor And Remember FallenYetNotForgotten | Thank You Veteran Coins & Patriotic Lapel Pins – Fallenyetnotforgotten

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According to the DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) 21.4 million US adults will exhibit a mood disorder at some point in their life.

In this week's episode we talk to Laura. A married, mother of two in Denver that thought her ceiling was a college degree, but the universe had MUCH more in mind. Laura is a distinguished worldwide Apraxia expert, including helping Olympian Rhonda Rousey get her diagnosis verbiage, and being a champion for mental health for her family and clients. Laura's intelligence is only overshadowed by her love of family. This week's episode discusses, apraxia and bipolar 1 disorder.

Apraxia resources: Home - Apraxia Foundation Home - Apraxia Kids 

Support to caregivers: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) For Friends And Family - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Teen Counseling - Get Started & Sign-Up Today Al-Anon Family Groups

Laura's book: 

Overcoming Apraxia: Baskall Smith, Laura: 9780578575377: Amazon.com: Books

Laura's podcast:

BipolarLines - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

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Today I talk to Lucia in OKC about motherhood, dyslexia, and advocacy. 

**This week's episode briefly touches on adolescent suicidal ideation, please contact 988, as suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people 10-24.**

Lucia works in policy and non-profit and has a passion for helping parents ensure their children have access to resources after navigating the neurodiverse waters of her own kids. 

Dyslexia resources: Bright Solutions for Dyslexia | Home International Dyslexia Association - …until everyone can read! Bookshare Dr. Sally Shaywitz - The Brain and Dyslexia - What Brain Imaging Can and Can't Tell Us About Reading Difficulties - Children of the Code

Parents/Advocacy help: Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. 

Finding early intervention services in our state (0-3 yrs old): ECTA Center: Part C State Systems and Coordinators

Books mentioned: The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery: Don Miguel Ruiz, Don Jose Ruiz, Janet Mills: 8601200860467: Amazon.com: Books  The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain: Eide M.D. M.A., Brock L., Eide M.D., Fernette F.: 9780452297920: Amazon.com: Books Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less (Revised and Updated): VandeHei, Jim, Allen, Mike, Schwartz, Roy: 9781523516971: Amazon.com: Books

Organizations/Podcasts mentioned: The Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) Don't Call on Me, The Dyslexia Podcast Postive Tomorrows – School for Families Experiencing Homelessness | Positive Tomorrows OKC

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Dr. Qwynn Galloway-Salazar PhD is an Army Veteran, End-of-Life Doula, a USA Today's 2024 Women of the Year, Founder of In Their Honor LLC, and creator of the course Caring for Life, and a new initiative We Hold the Line which has applied theatre to teach about veteran care through a story monologue.

About | In Their Honor, LLC

BTM232 – Dr Qwynn Galloway – Salazar – Ongoing Legacy of Service

International End of Life Doula Certification

We Honor Veterans - Caring Professionals on a Mission to Serve

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This week's guest shares a glimpse of her wisdom. Colleen left her trucker hats and mini-skorts to embrace sobriety, healing and welcome in love. After the death of her partner, she chose to pack up her bags and leave the only home she's ever known for a fresh start in Florida. We talk cocaine and alcohol addiction, grief, healing, financial hardship and somatic yoga. 

Illuminate with Colleen | Holistic Healing

Treatment and Recovery | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

What to Expect After Losing a Spouse – National Widowers' Organization