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

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, I welcome retired Hall of Fame Head Basketball Coach Bo Ryan to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Coach Ryan and his wife Kelly have been huge advocates behind the search for a cancer cure. They’ve dedicated over twenty years supporting Coaches vs Cancer Wisconsin. For Bo, cancer has hit close to home—taking the lives of three men who were instrumental in his life and career: former Wisconsin Badger Men’s Basketball Coach Bill Cofield, Bo’s University of Wisconsin-Platteville assistant coach Denny Morgan, and his college roommate Jay Holliday. Their losses have impacted Coach Ryan which has fueled his and Kelly’s staunch commitment to the cause.

Bo and Kelly have raised awareness and funding for cancer research, grants, and support through their involvement with the American Cancer Society and Coaches vs Cancer. Their leadership, advocacy, and fight have helped the organization grow and inspire action throughout Wisconsin and beyond.

On June 18, 2025, Bo and Kelly Ryan will take center stage along with a host of others as they take part in the Coaches vs Cancer Wisconsin Gala at the Monona Terrace in Madison, WI. Their story is a powerful reminder that advocacy doesn’t always start with one’s own diagnosis, but often begins with the love and loss of someone close to your heart.

This will be a good one. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, I welcome Max Weisbrod to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Weisbrod’s basketball journey is a story about doing the right things, letting things happen, and trusting the process. After a stellar career at DeForest High School in Wisconsin, Max’s dream of earning a Division 1 basketball scholarship didn’t happen—at least not as planned. With his positive attitude, he committed to Northern Michigan University, his only scholarship, where he quickly made his presence felt. In his freshman season, he earned GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2023, followed by GLIAC Player of the Year in 2024—a testament to his confidence and skill on the court.

Max wasn’t done. He was looking for a new challenge after helping Northern Michigan to the NCAA Division II tournament his first two seasons. With dreams of bigger things, he entered the NCAA transfer portal, hoping to reach the Division 1 level he had always envisioned. Four schools came calling, but it was his first visit to the University of Northern Iowa that stole his heart. Instant connection with Coach Ben Jacobson, the team’s championship culture, and the program’s commitment to excellence sealed the deal.

After one season at UNI, Max Weisbrod is living proof that dreams take time, hard work, and perseverance. His story reminds us that perseverance does pay off. Any college player looking for insight on the transfer portal will get a lot out of this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, I welcome Tom Demmin to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. For over 30 years, Tom Demmin has been an institution in the Reedsburg, Wisconsin area. As a longtime announcer for local high school sports—most recently as the voice of the Reedsburg Beavers—Tom has been broadcasting the highs and lows of countless athletic seasons and shared them with so many sports fans.

Life would hand Tom his most difficult off air challenge in 2011, as his wife Tricia was diagnosed with breast cancer. For the next 12 years, Tom stood by her side through treatments, surgeries, and the unpredictable journey of cancer fighters. January 4, 2023, Tricia lost that fight.

Tom has continued to honor her memory by donating money and time to causes that were near and dear to her heart. He says her name often, thinks about her regularly, and lives each day the way she would be proud of. His openness, vulnerability, and commitment to celebrating Tricia’s life are reminders that life can go on in the absence of a loved one.

Tom Demmin hopes his story will help the many that will experience the loss of a loved one someday, and to continue to carry the love forward. Tom’s story is one that you won’t want to miss. This will be a good one! CAN’T WAIT!!! 

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, I welcome Nick Osen to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Nick has landed in a profession many sports fans only dream about. As the Badger Beat Reporter for CBS/247 Sports, Nick spends his days and nights covering athletics. Following high school recruits, covering the transfer portal, and reporting on the behind-the-scenes moments of Wisconsin and Iowa State teams has been a joy.

His sports journey began in Madison, Wisconsin, while he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and turned key internships to a path upward. His big break came when he was one of three candidates to accept an internship at ESPN’s top talk show, Pardon The Interruption (PTI), that truly catapulted his career to the next level.

With his professional life trending upward, Nick’s story has had its challenges. Since he was young, he has battled Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), anxiety, and depression. He would struggle at times in high school. With unwavering support from his family, close friends, and a tremendous work ethic to manage, Nick hasn’t let the challenges define him.

He’s learned to manage his mental health by setting goals, remembering who is important in his life, and being true to himself. Anxiety remains a constant in his life, but his self-awareness has enabled him to find a rhythm that allows him to thrive personally and professionally. Nick’s story is one that you won’t want to miss. This will be a good one! CAN’T WAIT!!! 

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, I welcome Jeff Rich to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Jeff grew up in the small town of Buffalo City, Wisconsin, where sports were a large part of the Rich family. At Cochrane-Fountain City High School, Jeff excelled for the Pirates in football, basketball, and track. However, at the beginning of his sophomore year, a knee injury would threaten his promising athletic career. Bound and determined, Jeff grinded through the pain and continued to compete. After a medical recommendation from his physician to step away from football, a sport he dearly loved, he decided to try a new direction: cross country.

What felt like a setback would become life-changing. Jeff joined the cross country team his junior year and would see some individual and team success. No one could envision what would occur his senior year. With hard work, determination, and miles of preseason training, he was part of something unforgettable. In 1984, Jeff and his teammates captured the Class C Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association High School Boys Cross Country State Championship, laying a foundation that has stood for the last 40-plus years.

Now, Jeff has chronicled that season and the Cochrane-Fountain City Cross Country teams and much more. The book will be released in June 2025. His story is about resilience, rebranding, and accepting life’s challenges with your head up. Jeff’s journey reminds us that setbacks are just setups for comebacks. This will be a good one, CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, I welcome Brinn Holschbach to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Holschbach’s life took a heartbreaking turn when she experienced the loss of her father to suicide at just 13 years old. As an 8th grader, this would leave a large void in her life. Over the next couple of years, Brinn found herself overwhelmed by a growing sense of anxiety that she couldn’t understand.

Grief and confusion would follow her into high school, Brinn began to realize that she wasn’t just sad, it was something much deeper. During her junior year, she was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The diagnosis would help her understand what she was going through which allowed her to cope when feelings of anxiousness would invade her psyche. It gave her insight in order to begin healing and taking control of her life.

Brinn leaned on her support system, stayed in touch with her feelings, and gave herself permission to process her grief over time. With time her new found coping skills, she began to reclaim her life.

Today, Brinn is surviving and thriving. She’s on course to receive her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and turning her story into helping others. Her story is one of heartbreak, perseverance, and hope for a better life. Healing is possible and that there is light in the darkest of times. This will be a good one, CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Mike McGowan to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. We spotlight the work of education and leadership consultant Mike McGowan. Recently celebrating a major milestone, working with his two millionth student, Mike’s been impacting young people across the country which is nothing short of amazing.

However, Mike’s path to success wasn’t an easy one. Growing up, both of his parents struggled with substance use issues, creating a home life where he often sought out guidance and support elsewhere. It was the love and kindness of other adults, coaches, teachers, and parents of friends that gave Mike the tools he needed to survive  and thrive.

Those early life lessons have stuck with him throughout his high school and college days. Those lessons became his bedrock for the workshops he leads young people and adults. At the core of his workshops are: empowering people with the skills, confidence, and strength they need to navigate life’s hurdles. Mike’s story reminds us that while our beginnings may shape us, they do not have to define us. With the correct support from those in his life and determination, we can survive adversity and make a lasting difference in the lives of others.

Today, Mike’s passion, experience, and message of hope has put him in demand with school districts, colleges and universities, and businesses all over the country. He is helping the next generation survive and thrive. This will be a good one, CAN’T WAIT!!!

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast, Coach Decorah shares what Easter means to him in the Buck & Honey's remote studios. In this special Easter edition, Coach Decorah takes a few moments to reflect on the meaning of the Easter season. He offers his take on his higher powers and talks about faith, joy, and belief. Coach takes listeners through the powerful story of Jesus’ final days: from the Last Supper with his guys, the disciples, to the set up and betrayal by Judas, the crucifixion at Calvary, and the miracle, Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Coach Decorah reminds us that Easter is more than a holiday, it’s a story of unimaginable pain, sacrifice, and revival. It's about finding the strength in suffering, purpose in belief, and hope even in your darkest hours. Through the resurrection, we are reminded of what the meaning of Easter means to some.

This story isn’t just about religion—it’s about believing in something, in the toughest of times. If you have a strong faith or are looking for something to lean on, Coach Decorah’s story encourages some thought, contemplation, and the belief that better days are always just around the corner.

This story is a tragic and heartwarming reminder that Jesus gave his life for the rest of the world. This will be a good one, CAN’T WAIT!!!

On the next episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 Podcast , I welcome Rachel Rykal to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Rachel Rykal’s story is one of survival through invisible pain, misunderstanding, and recovery. From her sophomore year in high school, Rykal would endure physical pain that she or her doctors couldn’t explain. As her pain intensified, she continued to face skepticism from both peers and adults. She was questioned about her pain and, at times, it was dismissed entirely. Her emotional turmoil of being misunderstood bordered on bullying. Amidst the ever present struggle, there was her high school dance team that brought her joy and relief from the outside world which helped her push through the darkest of times.

At age 19, Rykal finally received a diagnosis she was dearly looking for, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare disorder affecting the connective tissue. With a diagnosis came hope, but traditional methods like physical therapy and medication didn’t help. Her suffering became more visible, and it was her brother’s who would confront her and urge her to take care of herself for the sake of her family. 

Determined, Rykal took a leap of faith and moved to Oregon to explore alternative methods and an all-natural healing approach. Today, she lives a better life with her pain manageable and filling her life with work and being the best aunt in the world. With courage, support, and self-advocacy, Rachel Rykal is surviving and thriving. This will be a good one, CAN’T WAIT!!!