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

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, I welcome Annette Kruschek to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Annette, a loving wife and an amazing mother of eight, was living a happy and joyous life, similar to one she grew up in as the youngest of eight. After meeting her future husband Dan in college, they would marry. She always dreamed of having a big family. After earning her degree in elementary education, Annette began her teaching career at a private school just outside Madison, Wisconsin. In 1998, she and husband Dan started building their own family, welcoming a daughter and a son. Eight years later, they decided to add to their family with the birth of two sons and a daughter. 

The incredible gift of adoption would bring three more children into their home, a total of eight just like the one Annette grew up in. Life was full of happy moments but not without the challenges of eight busy schedules. Soon, their three adopted children would face health concerns, all diagnosed with Complex Heart Disease (CHD), requiring seven surgeries over their early lives. Despite the obstacles in their way, the Kruscheks stayed the course, doing what was necessary to provide for their loving children.

Then, in February 2021, in the middle of the night, everything changed. Their youngest daughter, Evelyn, would go into cardiac arrest. Every effort was used to save Evelyn’s life but she would lose her fight unexpectedly from an undetected tumor. The loss shook the Kruschek family.

Today, Annette and her family continue to live life to the fullest each and every day. They have a hobby farm in southern Wisconsin where they enjoy nature. Sharing her story has been therapeutic for Annette and she hopes to inspire others who are navigating loss, parenting, and the amazing life she has. 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 Jim Doyle, the 44th Governor of the great state of Wisconsin, to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Governor Doyle shares amazing stories growing up in Madison, Wisconsin during the 1950s and 60s. He would graduate from Madison West High School and take his talents to Stanford University. After transferring back to the University of Wisconsin, and inspired by John F. Kennedy’s call to public service in the Peace Corps. Jim and his girlfriend at the time, Jessica Laird wanted to do the work together.  In order to make that happen, Jim and Jessica had to be married and soon found themselves newlyweds working in Tunisia as Peace Corps volunteers.

After their time in Tunisia, they would return to the U.S. where Jim would attend Harvard Law School, earning his law degree. Wanting another experience similar to the Peace Corp, Jim and Jessica would embark on some meaningful work in Chinle, Arizona, representing people in the area including  Navajo and Hopi tribal members. In addition to his work as a lawyer, he has fond memories of basketball tournaments spent playing on several native teams often being the only non-native player.

His journey would eventually lead him back to Madison, Wisconsin, where his political career began, culminating in his election as governor in 2002, a role he served in for two terms.

Since leaving office, Governor Doyle has continued his lifelong commitment to serving others. He’s taught college courses, served on numerous boards of directors, and continued his work as a lawyer. A career that has spanned seven decades, he has slowed down. He credits being resilient and adaptable, taking care of my body, and having a great family and deep faith. This will be a good one. 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 LaVonne O’Malley to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. LaVonne’s story is one of heartbreak, strength, and resilience. She grew up in a tight-knit family, but life would deliver bad news when at age 12 when she lost her father. Just three years later, at age 15, she was diagnosed with scoliosis. Upon further review, her doctor suspected something more. Tests would reveal that LaVonne had Marfan Syndrome—a genetic condition that affects the body’s connective tissues.

Despite her diagnosis, and surgery to repair spine from scoliosis, LaVonne would march forward. She finished high school, went to college, and started a career as a Business and Marketing education teacher. Her Marfan Syndrome was always on her mind and she continued to be diligent about her diagnosis. Her doctor would eventually tell her that her condition would affect her heart. This would linger in her mind as she aged.

In 2021, LaVonne her fear became reality when she suffered an aortic dissection, a tear in the lining of her aorta that could cost her her life. She would undergo emergency surgery that would save her life. After several months in the hospital to recover, she would head home to be in the care of her loving husband. 

Today, LaVonne continues to be a work in progress, living one day at a time, loving those in her tight knit circle of supporters. Her story and survival will inspire anyone experiencing a similar health situation. 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 legendary Kansas City sports broadcaster Al Wallace to the Buck & Honey's remote studios via cell phone. Al overcame obstacles in 1985 when he became the first full-time Black sports broadcaster in the Kansas City market, hired by WDAF-TV/FOX 4. For 33 years, he was a familiar voice in KC sports, covering high school rivalries to major college and professional games. One of his fun facts was covering the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team, including sitting courtside for almost all of their 99 NCAA tournament games from 1991 till his retirement in 2018.

In 2011, Al faced his toughest obstacle yet: prostate cancer. Thanks to early detection and surgery to remove his prostate, his treatment went smoothly and he was back at the sports desk three weeks later. When asked whether he struggled with any anxiety or depression after his diagnosis, “he said not all, I was lucky.” It was the knowledge he gained about his diagnosis that helped him and his family navigate life after the diagnosis, especially his wife and two daughters. He helped them manage the emotional rollercoaster.

After nearly five decades in sports television, Al signed off for the final time in 2018. But his story didn’t end there. Today, he continues to inspire others as an adjunct professor at the University of Kansas and is a tour guide at the most legendary arena in college sports–Allen Fieldhouse, home of the Kansas Jayhawk basketball teams. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Pete Moris to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Moris grew up an only child on the family farm in the small village of Mount Hope, Wisconsin, population 284. It was during a conversation with his college basketball coach that Pete’s dream of a job in the sports industry got its start. 

Internships with the Indianapolis Colts and the University of Florida would begin a career in professional and college sports that has left Pete very satisfied. He would get his big break in 1994 when hired by the Kansas City Chiefs, a career he spent 17 years building behind the scenes. However, at the end of the 2011 season, Pete along with many in the front office were sent packing. Leading up to his firing, he sensed the end was near. That unknown brought on anxiety, depression, and tough questions: What’s next? I’ve got to get back to work and find another job!

Instead of succumbing to anxiety and depression, Pete turned to the values he learned from internships early in his career– work harder than everyone else, don’t give them a reason to get rid of you, give them reasons to keep you, and grit. He put those skill sets to good use, and after a year of uncertainty, he found himself at the college level, with stops at the University of Oklahoma and Virginia Tech.

In 2022, Pete relocated his family back to his roots, the Midwest and accepted his current role as the Director of University Relations at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Today, he's thriving for the Panthers professionally and personally. A move that brought him closer to home and family.

Anyone interested in what it takes to get to the upper echelons of the collegiate or professional levels will learn a ton from Pete’s winning strategy. 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 Terry Erickson to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Erickson has dedicated his life to his family and the community of La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 2007, he retired as the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse. In retirement, he has remained active, by running marathons, officiating sports, and mentoring the next generation. On March 8, 2023, Terry’s determination and strength would be tested as he was about to officiate a college basketball game in Dubuque, Iowa, when something didn’t feel right. Terry started experiencing some troubling symptoms, balance issues and difficulty getting dressed. That would eventually grow worse as he decided to seek help back in his hometown, a two-and-a-half-hour car ride away. That trip stretched longer as his condition worsened. Upon arriving at a La Crosse emergency room he collapsed at the front desk. The diagnosis: a stroke, brought on by an undetected hole in his heart.

Today, more than two years later, Terry continues, literally on his road to recovery . Despite physical limitations, he hasn’t let the stroke slow him down. He still supports his wife, children, and grandchildren and has gotten back to running. On his first competitive run, he was assisted by his wife who ran with him. 

Terry shares his story of determination, facing his fears, and supporting his community to keep moving forward after a life-altering health emergency. 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 Liz Henry to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Henry is a passionate, hard working business woman, and co-owner of Henry Farms Prairie Spirits and J. Henry & Sons Bourbon. Side by side with her husband Joe, Liz has helped diversify a family farm in Dane, Wisconsin into an award winning bourbon whiskey producer. In 2008, a trip to Kentucky would turn an idea into reality as Joe was looking to diversify their farming business by using a product very familiar to them—corn. In March 2009, they distilled their first batch of bourbon whiskey, and they haven’t looked back.

A "grain to glass" business motto has brought new life to Henry Farms by use of their own corn. Aging their bourbon right on their property, they’ve created a whiskey that has won awards on the national level. With her five suggestions for thriving, Liz credits their success to: Being authentic. Being passionate. Being empathetic. Being collaborative. Always be learning.

Liz’s story is filled with ideas that will inspire you in whatever your passions are. She has inspired her two sons enough that she feels confident they can keep the family farm alive and well. From her hometown of Racine, Wisconsin to her current life just outside of Madison, Wisconsin, Liz Henry exemplifies a passionate determination to survive and thrive. 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 Elena Terry to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Terry is a Ho-Chunk native chef, cultural traditionalist, and an inspiring example of perseverance. In 2023, she appeared on the Food Network’s Chopped—a major coup for any aspiring chef. But, before the shine of the spotlight came, Elena was hurdling obstacles that would shape her into the resilient and grounded person she is today.

Raised in homes where alcohol was a common denominator and worry was a constant companion, Elena front row seat to the emotional weight of addiction from an early age. After her parents divorced, she and her older brother Jim navigated life side by side, leaning on each other. Their extended family would play a prominent role in their upbringing, oftentimes shielding them from their home lives and guiding them along the way. Her grandparents were the guiding forces. Elena found strength in culture, traditions, and cooking.

Cooking and traditions became a lifeline. It connected her to her ancestors, helping her heal, and eventually, her livelihood. Today, Elena has used those early life lessons and her culinary gifts to create Wild Bearies, a nonprofit focused on cooking, sovereignty, and healing for those who might be dealing with addiction or other life traumas.

Elena hopes her story of overcoming adversity, embracing tradition, and finding purpose through food, culture, and community inspires you to take a leap of faith and start your culinary journey. Her story speaks of strength, spirit, and survival. 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 Dr. Andrew Lokuta to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Raised in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Dr. Lokuta was inspired by his science teachers as a youngster and turned that love into a career as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has been a cornerstone in Madison since 1994. His career began as a postdoctoral research fellow, after completing successful research projects in cardiovascular physiology and heart failure. His work would earn him respect from mentors and laid the foundation for a remarkable career as a professor.

Dr. Lokuta found a love for love in teaching after his transition to the classroom. For the last 23 years, he has educated and inspired over 20,000 students in human physiology. His thorough coverage of his curriculum, engaging lectures and sense of humor have made him a favorite among his students. His impact continues to grow with no signs of retiring in the near future.

Today, Dr. Lokuta joins the Survive & Thrive 8791 crew today to discuss an issue affecting millions across the United States: the effects of alcohol on the brain and body of adolescents and young adults. With data, science-based research, and years of experience, he simplifies his curriculum to that is understandable for just about any age level. If you are a parent, educator, and young person, 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 Dr. Rainey Briggs to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Dr. Briggs has spent over two decades building a respected career in public education. In 2021, he reached the pinnacle when he was hired as the superintendent of the Baraboo (WI) School District. He would continue the commitment to academic excellence in Baraboo and be the guiding force in the district. However, on May 31, 2024, a troubling incident at Baraboo’s commencement shook that foundation and forced him to question his personal safety and the well-being of his family.

In February 2025, Dr. Briggs decided to step away from his leadership role as superintendent, which was not an easy move, but a move that was the right one for him. Since then, he’s been at peace, with a renewed happiness, and feels safe. Dr. Briggs' thoughts are no longer filled with threats and fear, and is ready to embrace a new chapter in his life.

With a newly published book (“Beyond the Label - A Leader’s Journey from IEP to EdD”) and an inspiring story to share, Dr. Briggs is hoping to share with others his message as a keynote speaker and wants to inspire the next generation. His message is based on his 5 Steps to Happiness: Own your own happiness, challenge your own story, enjoy the journey not the destination, make relationships count, and balance work with play. This will be a good one. CAN’T WAIT!!!