Survive and Thrive 8791 ☆ Mental Health Help ☆ ANXIETY ☆ DEPRESSION ☆ RECOVERY ☆WELLNESS

According to an internet search, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) in children and adolescents is between 1% and 3%. The mean age of onset is between 7.5 and 12.5 years. More boys tend to have/develop OCD than do girls at a 3:2 ratio.

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Ryan Kruser into the Buck & Honey's remote studios to share his story about his OCD diagnosis.

A two sport star in high school and college, Kruser would struggle with anxiety caused by intrusive or disruptive thoughts that would repeat themselves over and over. The routine of athletics in college would play a huge role in maintaining his focus as he pursued a school psychologist degree. 

When his college playing days came to an end, Kruser's OCD signs and symptoms would escalate without routine and athletics. Sports were always such a huge part of his life and he felt like I lost a part of himself.

Upon graduation, he accepted his first school psychologist position and decided to throw all his efforts into his work but he struggled silently. In the middle part of 2023, he decided to seek professional help and started the road to surviving and thriving.

If you or someone you know is struggling with intrusive thoughts or anxiety, ask for help and seek professional advice. You will not want to miss the episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, CAN'T WAIT!!!

On the next episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast , I welcome Jordan Zirbel to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. In 2005, Jordan’s life took a turn forever when his mother, Sari, was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, a rare cancer that affects approximately 5 out of 100,000 people. Just a 19 year old student at the University of Wisconsin, Jordan was shielded from the struggles of his mother. His parents would shield him and his younger brother from the ensuing cancer battle.

On January 17, 2011, Jordan would become a father for the first time with the birth of his daughter, on the same day shortly after, his mother would lose her six-year cancer fight. In the days to follow, Jordan leaned on his father and brother for emotional support, focused on his growing family and finding ways to honor the life of his mother.

Today, 14 years later, Jordan is a devoted father of two, running a thriving accounting team, and embodying his mother’s motto of “LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH” in his own life. Each summer since the passing of his mother, his family dedicates their time to raising money for the UW Carbone Cancer Center through a successful golf outing which has raised $160,000 since its inception. This will be a good one, CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, we welcome Mike Chamberlin into the Buck & Honey's remote studios. This episode was recorded at Mike's home just west of Madison, WI.

Mike talks about coping with the sudden death of his son Max. Max moved from Madison, WI to Tempe, Arizona at the end of the summer in 2017. Max would lose his life on September 30, 2017 to a fall from a building.

With the support from his family, the love for his grandchildren, and a one day at a time approach, Mike has survived and thrived.

He will share his heart wrenching story of losing a child and the pain he endured. After five years of being angry, he decided to let go of that anger and get back to what has given him joy and peace during his professional career, his artwork. You can check out Mike Chamberlin's AMAZING artwork on his Facebook and Instagram pages below.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/m.chamby

Instagram - mchambyart - https://www.instagram.com/mchambyart?igsh=MW1jY3owY3JvdXc5eA==

Webpage - www.mikechamberlinart.com

Join us for the next episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, CAN'T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Heather Lowe to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Lowe, a woman whose story from small-town Wisconsin to sobriety and business woman is nothing short of inspiring.

Heather was raised in Lodi, WI, just north of Madison, enjoying the fun and care-free lifestyle of high school—sports, activities, and partying. Alcohol quickly became a part of her every weekend, a coping skill for sadness and a vehicle to celebrate. That lifestyle followed her into college and after.

After graduating with a degree in social work, Heather embraced the life of a dedicated professional, committed to her career, powered by exercise, and still, partying hard. She surrounded herself with others who enjoyed the same lifestyle. Eventually, she started her family, going from full-time to part-time while her husband traveled for work. In the quiet evenings, after children were in bed, loneliness and boredom crept in. The coping strategy she turned to was drinking.

What started as a way to pass the time, a glass of wine or a drink, turned into more and more drinks. Heather’s life began to spiral out of control, leading to more frequent drinking and an increasing cycle of anxiety and shame. In February 2018, Heather made the courageous decision to put the drink down and she hasn’t looked back.

Using her own experience of getting sober and staying sober, Heather founded Ditched The Drink, a business dedicated to helping women get sober and reclaim their lives. Today, she shares her story with the hope of inspiring others to survive and thrive like she has. You won't want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN'T WAIT!!!

On the next episode (Thurs, Aug. 28th) of Survive & Thrive 8791 the Podcast, I welcome my son, Will Decorah to the Buck & Honey's remote studios to talk about the pressures of sports, the journey he took as a student-athlete through high school & college, and becoming a first time father.

Will was a part of two state football championships with the Waunakee Warriors, he was a member of the first boys basketball team to reach the state tournament in school history, and enjoyed two seasons as a manager and one season as player in the Wisconsin Badger Basketball team.

But, nothing can compare to being a father for the first time as he and his wife, Samantha Murray would welcome Annie Alice Decorah into the world on  July 19, 2024. Will will talk about the struggles he and his wife would go through before that incredible day in July 2024.

You won't want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN'T WAIT!!!

On the is episode of Survive and Thrive 8791, I share my work journey to Washington, DC and Pennsylvania. The National Prevention Network Conference I attended gave me some really good ideas for my day job.

The sights, sounds, and scenery were amazing and I would recommend both places to travel to. The White House, monuments, and other places of DC were very cool to see.

In Pennsylvania, I went to the Little League World Series, paid my respects to Jim Thorpe, the greatest athlete of all-time in the community of Jim Thorpe, PA. I then traveled the backroads of the Pocono Mountains to Carlisle, PA. Carlisle was home to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. This was a school where Native American children were taken to after being forcibly removed from their homes and native lands. The US government wanted to assimilate the Indian to the white world.

Carlisle now is a United States Military Facility. The only remnants of the school is the cemetery where 200 Native American students were buried. The died from disease, malnutrition, or homesickness.

You won't want to miss this episode. Can't wait!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome LO Johnson to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Johnson, a standout athlete, performance coach, and role model whose journey has been defined by resilience, courage, and a dream.

LO’s story begins at Waunakee High School, where he was a standout. Excelling in both football and track, he was a state champion in both sports, cementing his reputation as a winner. After high school, LO took his talents to the University of New Mexico where he would be able to compete in football and track. But the transition from being a celebrated high school athlete to redshirting as a freshman was not an easy one. The adjustment brought challenges and emotions that left him feeling alone at times. He helped himself through by opening up and seeking counsel, sharing his struggles, and finding the strength to clear his mind and keep moving forward his dreams.

Clarity of the mind led to a resurrection of his track & field career. In 2020, LO was back on the track, ready to prove himself. He would capture the Mountain West Indoor title in the 60-meter dash. Yet, just as he was getting back into form, the world came to a halt with the COVID-19 shutdown. Despite the shutdown, LO pressed on, eventually transferring to be closer to home and run for the University of Wisconsin. There, he made his mark with the Badgers, setting school records and ending his college career at the NCAA Outdoor Track Championships in 2023.

Now, with his collegiate career behind him, LO has transitioned as the CEO of Sprint University in Houston, TX. Houston allows him to continue training the next generation of track athletes while still chasing his dream of becoming a professional and Olympic competitor. LO’s story is a testament to having dreams and working towards those dreams. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Laurie Meixelsperger to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Laurie is a retired educator who spent decades being of service and educating young minds in her classroom, but perhaps her most powerful gift of service came outside of school—in the form of selfless love for her brother Tim Holmes.

In 2007, Laurie became a living kidney donor for her brother. For years, her brother had known a transplant might one day be necessary, and his family had openly talked and prepared to step in if that day arrived. At the Holmes Family Christmas in 2006, Laurie noticed something that didn’t look right. Her brother didn’t look himself, his energy was low, his face had lost its healthy color, and she could sense something was not right.

Just weeks later, in February, Laurie would get the call that she had anticipated. With the help of a close colleague, she knew what was coming and had taken all the necessary steps to make her a match for donation. She would undergo surgery and give her brother the gift of a better life. After the procedure, she awoke and was greeted with flowers, a thank-you card, and her brother’s face glowing once again with color and life.

Laurie’s story reminds us all that with ove of family and a little courage, you can be of great service to your loved ones or anyone that needs your help. Everyday, people can make extraordinary choices to give the gift of life. She encourages others to consider being a living donor or to become an organ donor. It is a decision that can ripple out and change a life forever.

Laurie shares her story, the impact it had on her family, and why she believes in the power of giving life. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Greg Marshall to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Today, Marshall, a three-time Emmy Award–winning brand and marketing developer whose creative work has represented some of the biggest names in Wisconsin sports and entertainment. Over the years, Marshall has collaborated with former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, “One Call That’s All” high-profile attorney David Gruber, and the Milwaukee Brewers, all through his role at CI Design Inc., a Milwaukee-based company.

Marshall’s success story is made even more inspiring by the personal health scare he’s had to overcome. Just after his second year at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Marshall began experiencing severe headaches—then, without warning, suffered a seizure that would land him in the hospital. The initial diagnosis was encephalitis, doctors later discovered that wasn’t the case. During this uncertain time, he even lost feeling in his legs, though he was still able to walk.

Through it all, Marshall’s positive attitude and sense of purpose became his driving force to overcome his situation. Since then, he’s worked his way back, spurred on by family and his hometown of Lodi, Wisconsin. 

Besides his professional successes, Greg Marshall is also a gifted performer. His one-man show, “Greg Marshall Pops Out of the Trees,” has been entertaining audiences at venues across the Midwest with its storytelling, music, and relatable life experiences.

Marshall’s inspiring journey, from a health scare to career breakthroughs will leave you captivated and inspired. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Dr. Joe Gothard to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Dr. Gothard, became the leader whose story comes full circle in the very community that called home. A proud graduate of Madison (WI) LaFollette High School, Dr. Joe first made his mark as a standout high school football player, eventually being recruited by the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. But when a nagging knee injury from his senior basketball season ended his dream of playing college football. His life took him in a new direction—one that would lead him to come home twice.

Returning to Madison, Dr. Gothard began working at local schools and coaching youth football. His principal, Dr. Michael Meissen recognized his natural leadership and encouraged him to pursue a degree in teaching. Inspired, he earned his degree from Edgewood College and returned to his high school alma mater as a Biology teacher. From there, his career path led him to serve as dean of students and principal at LaFollette High School. From there, he would become superintendent at two different Minneapolis–St. Paul school districts.

The 2019–20 school year would test Dr. Gothard’s leadership skills like never before. In just 90 days, he navigated a teacher strike, the COVID-19 school shutdown, the tragic death of George Floyd, and the loss of a school board member. He managed all this while keeping the district moving forward.

In May 2024, Dr. Joe Gothard returned home to become superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), bringing his wealth of experience and unwavering love and commitment to the students, staff, and families of his hometown.

Today, he joins us to share his journey from athlete to educator to leader. He will share his suggestions for surviving and thriving that can be applied to any situation or professional experience. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!