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

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Dawn Boldon to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. In 2009, Dawn’s life changed when her husband, Bill, lost his courageous battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Diagnosed in the spring of 2005, Bill endured rounds of radiation and chemotherapy in the hope of overcoming his diagnosis. While surgery to remove the affected portion of his colon was presented as a possible treatment option, Bill decided against that, a decision Dawn had to accept, despite the eventual result. After four years of fighting, Bill passed away, leaving behind a grieving wife and young son.

Not long after Bill’s passing, Dawn was encouraged by friends who knew how much love she still had to give. She would step into the world of online dating. Through eHarmony, she connected with Tim Jandt through email messaging. Jandt, a person with a similar story, had also experienced the heartbreak of losing a spouse to cancer. Their shared pain became a ray of hope for the healing process to begin. What began as email messaging would turn into a bond that would lead to a deep friendship and, eventually, love.

As their bond grew stronger, their families did as well. Dawn and her son, along with Tim and his three sons, would form a new blended family rooted in love, resilience, and sports. After a long engagement, Dawn and Tim wed in 2018 and today, they are living their best life together.

In this episode, Dawn shares her story of loss, confusion, healing, second chances, and the unexpected joy that can ease the pain of a lost loved one. Her story is one focused on not being afraid to fall in love again, and second chances are worth it. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Steve Gehrmann to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Steve, a self-published author with two books to his credit shares the real, unfiltered journey of writing and publishing his own work. His second book, “The Happy Zone” is a blueprint for achieving happiness in all aspects of life and he’ll talk us through the highs and lows of this creative process. That process was filled with self-doubt, questions, and breakthroughs that led to an enormous amount of satisfaction in July 2021.

But Steve Gehrmann’s story isn’t just about writing, it’s about a life of happiness that he has lived so far. He grew up in the small town of Sun Prairie, WI that laid the foundation for the passions in his life. From mischief and lessons learned to milestones that shaped who he is today, his ability to tell a story is as honest as it is entertaining.

After a college experience being on the radio broadcast for the 1991 Division III national championship game for his alma mater, the University of Wis-Platteville, Steve entered the radio business, chasing his passion for media and connection before pivoting into a career as a consumer loan underwriter. Through it all, one constant in his life has been a love for sports. A huge fan at heart, Steve spends much of his free time trying to get the next selfie with legendary athletes or entertainment icons. Each selfie with an amusing story.

Steve Gehrmann’s journey is an inspiring look at how an everyday person can turn their life into stories worth sharing. If you're thinking about writing a book, chasing your dreams, or just need a reminder that your story matters, this episode brings honesty, humor, and heart to it. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Ken Penfield to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. In January 2025, the Penfield family would experience a tragedy no family should have to go through. Their oldest child, Kay, passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Their lives would be changed forever. 

Ken courageously shares his story about the events that led to that fateful day. Speaking from the heart and fearlessly vulnerable, he walks us through the ups and downs of Kay’s life, talents, achievements, struggles, and the battles they fought since high school. Kay is not defined by their final days, but a life that was full of hope.

This heart-wrenching story is not just about a grieving father, but now a passionate advocate for awareness, prevention, and screening. His mission is to help other families, educators, and members of the community recognize the warning signs, stop the stigma surrounding mental health, and create spaces where young people feel accepted, heard, and supported.

This episode is not just about the loss of a child and sibling. It’s about grieving, coping, and the importance of open conversations about youth mental health. Ken’s story is powerful and deeply moving. If sharing his family's pain can save a life, then Ken’s and Kay’s story will continue to make an impact in the world. 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. Andrew Lokuta and Sean Casey to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Recently, Dr. Andrew, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teamed up with registered dietitian and physical preparation coach Sean Casey to share information to a group of parents and student-athletes. Their presentation was clear and backed by science. The decisions young student-athletes make about substances can have lasting effects on their performance, health, and physical development.

Dr. Lokuta and Coach Casey explained in detail how just one night of alcohol consumption can impair a student-athlete’s body and brain for up to 60 hours after drinking, negatively affecting nutrition, sleep, muscle building, and recovery. They also shared how nicotine use impacts the cardiovascular system, compromising lung capacity and endurance, two essential components for athletic success.

While some students may experiment with THC to cope with stress and anxiety, Lokuta and Casey explained how this approach can interfere with their mental health, make their anxiety worse, and potentially lead to addiction.

But it’s not all about doom and gloom and what not to use. Dr. Lokuta and Coach Casey emphasized healthy, proactive strategies as well. Making quality sleep and consuming at least six servings of fruits and vegetables daily is essential. In fact, as they noted, these simple habits can do far more to boost performance than any energy drink ever could.

If you are a parent, athlete, or a young person wanting to make the best choices for yourself, this episode can allow you to make informed choices that support athletic goals and long-term health. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Dick Stephens to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Stephens, a multi-sport athlete who also played football and baseball, was one of the key boys basketball players off the bench his junior. In 1964, Dodgeville (WI) High School made history, winning the single class state boys basketball championship. Despite their small enrollment, the Dodgers would advance to the state championship game and shock the state by defeating powerhouse Milwaukee North 59–45. That championship season would remain a highlight in Dick’s life, but it was just the beginning of a splendid professional life marked by hard work, service, and perseverance.

After high school, Stephens attended the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. He was a member of the men’s baseball and basketball teams. He would earn a degree in Business Education that would lead to an impressive teaching and coaching career in the Schaumburg, Illinois school district. He was a respected and dedicated professional shaping young minds in the classroom.

It was in retirement that Dick Stephens would use some of his athletic achievement and professional service, to face his biggest challenge—surviving the “widowmaker,” a 99% blockage that led to triple bypass surgery. Fueled by that championship season, his experience as a college athlete, he fought through the recovery process with grit and gratitude. He looks back on it all with fond memories. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Tim Jandt to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Jandt, a familiar radio personality (Tim Scott) in the Madison radio world has been bringing major Wisconsin sporting events and creating memories for his listeners for years. His life off the air has been equally memorable, shaped by family, love, loss, and resilience. With over 40 years in broadcasting, Tim seems to have no end in sight.

In 1987, Tim would marry a high school friend, Paula Craig. Together, they built a family filled with love and brought three sons into the world. In the early 2000s, Paula was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic condition with no cure. Treatments would allow Paula to become a fixture in the high school football booster club, allowing her to meet many parents and fans. Not long after, she would develop melanoma on the back of her leg. Though she survived cancer once, it tragically returned, and was discovered during a surgery to remove her colon to treat her ulcerative colitis. The cancer came back stronger than ever, and eventually took Paula’s life. She passed away on August 9, 2009.

Grieving and hopeful, Tim and his boys had many friends, and town's people, some he barely knew, offered to help during this time. He missed his wife dearly and the companionship the two shared. He turned to eHarmony, a dating app, but feeling guilty he quickly turned the app off. Missing someone to share moments with, he decided to peek at the app and connected with Dawn Bolden, a woman who had also lost her spouse to cancer. Their shared experiences would bring the two together and their bond grew. After a lengthy engagement, Tim Jandt and Dawn Bolden would exchange vows on April 7, 2018, blending their lives and families.

Today, Tim and Dawn continue to lean on each other for support as they watch their four sons grow into men. Tim’s story is filled with family, love, loss, and resilience. It’s a reminder that healing is possible, love can be found again, and it’s okay to move on after great loss. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Coach Mitch Hauser to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Hauser, an accomplished athlete, enthusiastic educator, and respected coach had challenges that he had to overcome as long as he could remember. A three-sport athlete at Cashton (WI) High School, Mitch went on to play college basketball at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse before embarking on a 33-year career in teaching and coaching. Despite dealing with severe asthma his entire life, Mitch never let his condition prevent him from fulfilling his dreams as an athlete and hall of fame basketball coaching career.

In 2018, his physical well-being would be tested. After developing pneumonia, Coach Hauser couldn’t finish the basketball season coaching his varsity team, instead, he finished it at home due to his illness. Two years later, COVID-19 would disrupt life everywhere. Virtual teaching became the norm, and when summer activities resumed, Mitch was looking forward to getting back into the gym. But, due to his underlying asthma condition, his doctor flatly told him not to coach and that he would be putting himself at risk. In 2021, Mitch decided to take a leave of absence from his coaching duties. Still a small part of the team, at season’s end, he made the difficult decision to completely step away from coaching boys basketball at Lodi High School.

Though he stopped coaching, he remained dedicated to his students. He spent his final years in education doing what he loved most, being around the kids and making a difference in their lives. At the end of the 2025 school year, he retired, closing his classroom door for the last time and bringing an end to a remarkable career.

Today, Coach Hauser looks forward to motorcycle rides, days on the golf course, and enjoying time with his amazing wife. His story of passion, dedication, and healthy living are proof that sometimes stepping back is the strongest move. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, I welcome Magali Shaw to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Shaw, whose life journey has been anything but easy. She was placed in the New York foster care system when her mother returned to Puerto Rico with her older brother and her father, working multiple jobs and having to leave his two daughters home alone, could no longer care for them. After experiencing a difficult foster placement, Magali made the tough choice to leave home. She would eventually graduate from a two-year college and land a job at the University of Central Florida. It was there she met her future husband, Dave Shaw, and followed him to Wisconsin.

With her 2023 retirement in sight, Magali discovered a lump near her shoulder blade. Doctors dismissed it as “just a lump”. Trusting her gut that something wasn’t right, she demanded a second opinion, a decision that would save her life. She was diagnosed with Myxofibrosarcoma, a rare cancer affecting connective tissue often found in the arms and legs. Thanks to her demands, radiation, and the support of loved ones, Magali is now in remission and living her life to fullest.

Her story reminds us to be a self-advocate, be resilient, and trust your gut, even in the face of a rare cancer diagnosis. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, I welcome Veronica Castillo to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Born in El Paso, Texas, Veronica’s story starts with a dramatic relocation when her family moved to Iowa City, Iowa so her father could pursue his degree in psychiatry. As a young Spanish speaking child, Veronica was suddenly tossed into a new and unfamiliar atmosphere and language, with little support and no English speaking skills.

Thrown into the public school system, Veronica had to fend for herself in an unfamiliar world and learn the language by using her eyes and watching. For the next 13 years, she didn’t just survive, she thrived learning English as a second language. Her mother was the driving force behind her, offering encouragement and imploringher be determined to learn English and succeed in school. She soon started to overcome barriers and build a path to higher education. Veronica would go on to graduate from the University of Iowa and later earn a master’s degree from Edgewood College in Madison, WI.

After wearing many hats in the professional world, gaining experience in various roles, Veronica has now found her calling with the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection who provides programs and resources that engage neighbors to support and empower one another. Her story is an example of perseverance, cultural pride, and the power of determination and never giving up. From humble beginnings to community leader, she’s here to share how she has survived and thrived. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, I welcome Mark Heller to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios.. Mark led a normal life in high school. He was a good student, participated in sports, and abstained from alcohol. After high school, that all changed. Experimenting with alcohol became part of his social life, and partying in college became his new normal.

As he started his professional career, Mark stayed active in local USTA tennis leagues around Madison, Wisconsin. Alcohol remained present, especially after matches. Mark's turning point came when he realized he started to drink by himself alone. The depression he already faced from childhood was now exasperated by drinking to numb his feelings. His drinking started affecting his job. He was missing work due to hangovers, and would eventually lead to a separation from his girlfriend. 

In the last days of his drinking career, Mark was drinking before work, during lunch, and couldn’t wait for the work day to be done so he could drink.

Recognizing that alcohol was taking a toll on his life and health, Mark took the leap of faith and made the courageous decision to quit. Supported by his family, his girlfriend, and his workplace, The withdrawal process, sparked by everyday consumption of alcohol, would test his resolve. 

Today, Mark has been alcohol for over 2,200 days and hopes his story can inspire others struggling with alcohol dependence to believe that recovery is possible.