The Alchemy of Pain

By Brenda J Viola

Painful experiences in life are inevitable.

They can change us forever.

We can become bitter. Or better.

This podcast tells the stories of people who have gone through the valley of pain and come ... more

FAQs about The Alchemy of Pain:

How many episodes does The Alchemy of Pain have?

The podcast currently has 51 episodes available.

The Alchemy of Pain episodes:

April 01, 2024 EPISODE 29 - Pattie Cornute: All or Something, The Lipedema Fitness Story
A prisoner of a chair.
For a woman who thrived on being active her entire life, the crushing blow advised by her doctor was almost as debilitating as the disease taking over her body - lipedema.
You know someone with lipedema. Everyone does. Over 10% of all women have the condition, though most remain undiagnosed and filled with shame. For these women, it's not "calories in, calories out" because despite their best efforts, fat grows disproportionately on their bodies.
At one point, Pattie was a size four on top; twelve on the bottom. The condition worsened after the birth of her daughter and as it accelerated with no answers from her medical team, she turned to Google...and finally found a body that looked like hers.
Once diagnosed, this active, vibrant woman was told exercise could make it worse...and that's the last thing anyone with lipedema wants. But after missing a family event and determined not to let life pass her by, she decided to push against the advice given and started working with her husband, a fitness coach, to do something; anything.
It started with a hope to be able to get up if she fell. Or to walk to the mailbox.
Now, Pattie Cornute has over 13,000 followers who are inspired by her fitness regimen. She even founded a triathlon to raise awareness about this debilitating condition.
In this interview, you will learn about lipedema and perhaps have your own "Aha!" moment. Even more, you will be inspired by a woman who defied all to obey her inner voice. Pattie Cornute is a case study in resilience.
Learn more about her @LipedemaFitness and about lipedema at www.lipedema.org.
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47min
March 18, 2024 EPISODE 27 - Pat Tallman: Her Breakdown Led to a Breakthrough
All she could do was lie in bed and sob.
The diagnosis? A psychotic break.
But this is where Pat Tallman's story actually begins.
You might recognize her from 1990's Night of the Living Dead, or maybe her appearances on Babylon 5. With over 50 appearances in Star Trek franchises, her following of sci-fi enthusiasts is immense.
"I was doing everything right and yet my life wasn't working," she shares in this heartfelt interview. Desperate to provide for her son, she fell into a series of betrayals and abuses until hitting rock bottom.
"Somehow, doing the simplest of things, I find myself walking out of the darkness into the light," she shares. Humbled and now teachable, Pat says her exposure to personal development saved her life. Now she brings what she has learned to others through speaking, writing, and coaching.
Find out more at www.patriciatallman.com and these resources:
Links Masterlist: https://magicalliving.mykajabi.com/links
Order Pat’s Book “Pleasure Thresholds”: https://b5events.com/pleasure-thresholds-order/
Check out autographed photos, posters, replays from her events with celebs, video messages and more here: https://b5events.com/store/
Learn more about Magical Living at http://patriciatallman.com/
Motivational Magic Magazine free sign-up: https://magicalliving.mykajabi.com/motivational-magic
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaTallmanPage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patriciatallman.rocks/?hl=en

Support the Be A Santa program for the Penny Lane kids: http://beasanta.org/
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41min
March 11, 2024 EPISODE 27 - John O'Leary: On Fire for Good
"Mom...am I going to die?"
A little boy's curiosity playing with gasoline led to an explosion that propelled him 20 feet across the garage and burned 100% of his body.
With less than a 1% chance of survival, his mother didn't sugarcoat the answer.
Instead, she asked a question.
"Do you want to die?"
"No!"
"Then you must do your part and fight..."
John O'Leary's fight not only led to his survival but also a remarkable life that will soon be the subject of a major motion picture.
Interestingly, the moment that changed him forever wasn't the fire.
It was 20 years later during a church service. One line in the sermon rang through John's soul: "Your life is a priceless, precious gift. Say yes to being used for good."
Two days later, a Girl Scout troop invited him to speak. Then the local Rotary...Kiwanis...a prison...
John kept saying yes.
And continues to do so.
This interview will remind you of the power of hope; the impact of a warrior mother, and the support of friends, and family.
And, perhaps most importantly, that after a fire, life can be beautiful again.
Learn more at www.johnolearyinspires.com.
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30min
March 04, 2024 EPISODE 26 - Leslie Weirich: The Gifts of Grief
“Grief has been my middle name for 47 years.”
Leslie Weirich shares the profound series of multiple losses she has faced in her lifetime, but the pain that has become her purpose followed the shocking suicide of her 20-year-old son, Austin in 2016.
A star student and athlete, there were no obvious warning signs, but Leslie learned after the fact the devastating link between high achievers and high risk for suicide.
She also immersed herself in research that revealed the clear connection between toxic romantic relationships and the dramatic, negative impacts on the psyches of young men. Add a firearm to the mix, and you have a perfect storm. An environment conducive to suicide.
Her work is needed now more than ever. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in 10 - 24 year olds. In the last decade, the suicide rate for this age group has grown by 57%. In the United States, 132 people die of suicide each day.
And it is preventable.
Leslie found service to others to be a path to healing her own grief. She now speaks to thousands each year about men’s mental health and suicide prevention. Whether on college campuses or military bases, lives are being saved through Leslie’s speaking and her non-profit organization, Leslie’s Hope.
Her book, The Gifts of Grief: How Four Decades of Loss Shaped My Life, honors the lives of those she lost and shares the lessons learned from each.
She never intended to be a speaker, but you will never forget her words.
Learn more at www.leslieshope.org.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
Dial: 988 or call 800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line
Text “connect” to 741741
Emergency Medical Help
Dial 911
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54min
February 26, 2024 EPISODE 25 - Robyn Tanner: Fight For Your Future Self
Ten years ago, she was in the best shape of her life.
Then, suddenly, she couldn’t walk.
For a Master Fitness Coach and busy mom of little ones, this
debilitating turn of events led her from doctor to doctor and through a series of dismissals and missed diagnoses.
Finally, the answer came, and the news was grave. Robyn
Tanner had a rare form of strep and MRSA that had infiltrated her blood, bones, hip, and spine.
To this day, she deals with chronic pain and part of her spine is missing. She regularly faces infections and has a “dead” leg.
You’d never know it.
Because Robyn Tanner is in a fight.
She’s fighting for her future self.
And that’s what she helps others do through her coaching,
speaking, and writing.
Be encouraged to show up ugly, surrender the old, and
learn why her new book is titled Dancing with Tsunamis. A woman of faith, she says, “Have faith not just in a Higher Power, but in yourself. And when you run low, borrow it from someone who loves you.”
Learn more about Robyn Tanner at www.robyntanner.com or follow her @RobynTannerCoaching.
Her book, The Machete Mentality is available on Amazon.

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33min
February 12, 2024 EPISODE 23 - Mr. Jay: We Find Our Purpose Through Our Pain
“Regardless of whether people deserve forgiveness, I deserve peace.”
A sixth-grade dropout, Mr. Jay lived on the streets, escaping a childhood environment filled with drugs, alcohol, and sexual abuse. You will be inspired by his story of rising up to believe in himself; to believe in a greater plan for his life. He now serves others as a Betrayal Trauma Practitioner and Intrapersonal Relationship Coach.
“It would be a tragedy not to share the stories of triumphs from my pain,” he shares in this interview filled with candor, humor, and a wealth of wisdom from his clinical experience. How does someone without working papers hold down two jobs and live on cottage cheese and ramen noodles for $1 a day? Or pursue a college education with no schooling after sixth grade, let alone a GED?
"Even broken crayons can create beautiful masterpieces," is just one of the gems you'll glean from Mr. Jay's story. You can find out more about his work at www.MrJayRelationshipCoach.com.
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51min
February 05, 2024 EPISODE 22 - Terry Sidford: The Other Side of Fear
"I'm a good person. How did I end up here?"
This question provoked a life change for Terry Sidford after a con-man boyfriend stole much of what she held dear. After losing it all, she realized the one thing no one could take from her was her soul.
Serving as a life coach for others and inspired by their courage, she wrote a book sharing their stories. When an audience member asked her where she found her own courage, she struggled to answer.
Why? Because for most of her life, she feared sharing her own life stories. Feared letting anyone "see the cracks." Keeping up appearances was exhausting, and she knew once she crossed the invisible line to live an authentic life, it would change everything.
And it did! In sometimes scary, but beautiful ways. Learn about how Terry faced her fears and now lives her authentic life, helping others to draw from courage and love to live their own.
Find out more at www.terrysidford.com.
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27min
January 29, 2024 EPISODE 21 - Mary Ciammetti: Don't Stall, Just Call
It's the phone call every parent dreads.
"Come to the hospital. It's your son...and it's bad."
The heartwrenching loss of Mary Ciammetti's son, Christian, in 2015 could have been avoided had his friends known the signs of alcohol poisoning and how to respond. This was a young man who, before college, had not been a drinker. His high school career had been filled with football and like-minded friends committed to practices, games, and healthy habits.
However, the freedoms of college and a pervasive drinking culture gradually impacted Christian. A talented Temple University junior majoring in landscape architecture, his future was bright...but dimmed by binge drinking. "I had no idea," says Mary.
In the aftermath of Christian's death, she formed a non-profit organization that educates and empowers people to recognize the signs and encourages them to "Don't Stall, Just Call."
Mary speaks to college students like her son, but in this riveting interview, she shares the surprising statistic that the vast majority of alcohol poisoning deaths are middle-aged men.
Stumbling, mumbling, skin that is cool to the touch, unresponsiveness, and vomiting are indicators. "When these signs are evident, do not put the person to bed or make them drink coffee. Make a call," she emphasizes. "It's better to be uncomfortable than to be a pallbearer."
Shifting the cultural norms surrounding alcohol abuse and educating all ages about the signs of binge drinking is now Mary's purpose in life. You'll be inspired by her candor, resilience, and faith.
Mary Ciammetti needs help to bring her life-saving message to college campuses. To find out more, visit www.dontstalljustcall.org.
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48min
January 22, 2024 EPISODE 20 - Simon T. Bailey: Put One Foot in Front of the Other Every Day
"What you don't deal with will deal with you."
This is just one of the gems from a man who speaks in sound bites of wisdom, born from his own journey to wholeness. A pivotal moment in Simon T. Bailey's life was when his ex-wife said, "Everyone else gets the best of you. We get the rest of you. I don't want the leftovers anymore."
Jolting him from a "success equals wealth" mindset to a life of purpose and meaning, this dark period ultimately caused his own brilliance to fully emerge. Known as the World's Leading Expert on Brilliance, he says we each have our own form of brilliance and, when we operate from this sweet spot, we are actually unstoppable.
His new book, Resilience@Work: How to Coach Yourself into a Thriving Future tells the tales of Hurry, Worry, Ready, and Steady. The story of these four surfing buddies causes the reader to ask themselves tough questions.
Answering, "What do you really want your life to look like?" can help you create your future. And for those in a dark period, Bailey encourages, "You can become better if you just put one foot in front of the other, every day."
Be inspired by author and speaker Simon T. Bailey, DBA, DSP, CPAE, and learn more about his work at www.simontbailey.com.
Here are resources to purchase his book:
Amazon – https://a.co/d/dRi5Aac
Barnes & Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/resilience-work-simon-t-bailey/1144335922
Amplify Publishing Group – https://amplifypublishinggroup.com/product/nonfiction/business-and-finance/general-business-and-finance/resilience-work/

Simon T. Bailey, a trailblazer in his field, has ascended to extraordinary heights, recognized among Success magazine’s Top 25 alongside Brené Brown, Tony Robbins, and Oprah Winfrey, as well as leadersHum Top 200 Power List in 2023. With the Disney Institute as his launchpad, he’s left an indelible mark on 2,300+ organizations in 54 countries, such as American Express, Deloitte, Marriott, Visa, Stanford Health Care, and Taco Bell.
Through books, speeches, and coaching, Simon captivates the lives of countless individuals around the globe, inspiring them to lead better, stay curious, and embrace a growth mindset. Prepare to be empowered and reach new heights as he propels you toward a brilliant future. Your journey to brilliance starts now.
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23min
January 19, 2024 EPISODE 24 - Courtni Starheart: Finding the Force
"You are your best medicine. You just have to find it."
A national merit scholar with several degrees, Courtney Starheart found herself at death's door, and it awakened her to her life's purpose.
"E. coli bacteria was eating my body from the inside out; my internal organs were melting, and I had children to care for," she shares in this eye-opening interview. Her illness underscored a deep desire to live, and as she recovered, she began having prophetic dreams.
Always connected to her Native American roots, the dreams called her to a new level of connection. She met and trained with a medicine man (who she discovered miraculously) and now she helps many "find the force" resulting in clarity, high performance, reduced depression and anxiety, recovery from PTSD, and conquering other personal and professional challenges.
The modalities of sound healing, Ayahuasca, meditation, and more are how Courtni serves clients, both in person and virtually. A remarkable blend of science, spirituality, Native traditions, humor, and playfulness, you will be captivated by Courtni Starheart's story.
Find out more at www.findingtheforce.com.
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49min

FAQs about The Alchemy of Pain:

How many episodes does The Alchemy of Pain have?

The podcast currently has 51 episodes available.

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The Alchemy of Pain

FAQs about The Alchemy of Pain:

How many episodes does The Alchemy of Pain have?

The Alchemy of Pain episodes:

FAQs about The Alchemy of Pain:

How many episodes does The Alchemy of Pain have?