A teenager working as a bookmaker while loading books for the Teamsters, a young man sprinting into the Marines to outrun the mob, and a veteran who discovers that the loudest battles begin after you come home. Mark’s story pulls you from Philadelphia’s streets to the Gulf War, across a kibbutz in Israel, and into a quiet Florida room where thirty minutes of stillness begin to change everything. 

We explore the human cost of pressure and war, and the small, repetitive practices that rebuild a nervous system and a life. Mark opens the chapters with rarely told stories of surviving when friends don’t, of masking panic behind success, and of the first awkward steps toward help at a Veteran Center. 

Through Zen meditation, filmmaking, public service, and spiritual communities, he discovers how the body learns steadiness and how the mind is guided. 

If you’re navigating trauma, PTSD, addiction, or the quiet ache of being “high-functioning” yet unwell, this conversation offers grounded tools and proof that change is possible.

Connect with Mark:

Documentary on YouTube: Woke Up Alive (A Unique and Honest Spiritual Journey)

https://stareatthewall.org/

Connect with Jen:

I Need Blue  now has a new home at The Healing in Sharing! Visit thehealinginsharing.com  to explore Round Chair Conversations, all relevant I Need Blue content, and ways to support the mission of sharing stories that inspire hope and resilience.

By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing. 

Instagram: @ineedbluepodcast
YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/@ineedblue

Apple Podcasts: Listen & Subscribe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingInSharing11

Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon

The background music is written, performed and produced exclusively by Melissa Turri.
https://melissaturrimusic.com/

Support the show

"It's going to be the work of the Holy Spirit that ultimately breaks through the barriers that people build." ~ BJ

BJ, a 24-year firefighter and special operations responder, opens up about the calls that never leave you—the wreckage he’s witnessed, the scenes he grew up around, and the cumulative weight of what first responders carry long after the sirens fade. His story reveals how years of service and personal loss pushed him to rethink what real healing looks like.

This episode explores why mental health is more than mindset—how sleep debt, hormone imbalance, gut health, and chronic stress impact the brain and body—and how faith, paired with biology, became a path forward. 

As CEO of Healing Hometown Heroes, BJ shares practical tools that actually work: post-shift decompression, peer support, honest family conversations, and movement as medicine.

If you serve—or love someone who does—this conversation offers hope you can use today.

Subscribe, share with a first responder, and leave a review telling us which tool you’ll try first.
You don’t have to carry this alone.

Connect with BJ and Healing Hometown Heroes:

https://www.h3adventures.com/

Mailing Address: 5851 Marion County Rd. Lady Lake, FL 32159

Email: [email protected]   

Tel: 352-250-5615

Hear Marly's episode: What if stress is the brain's response, not something wrong with you? https://www.buzzsprout.com/1771834/episodes/18288924

Connect with Jen:

I Need Blue  now has a new home at The Healing in Sharing! Visit thehealinginsharing.com  to explore Round Chair Conversations, all relevant I Need Blue content, and ways to support the mission of sharing stories that inspire hope and resilience.

By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing. 

Instagram: @ineedbluepodcast
YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/@ineedblue

Apple Podcasts: Listen & Subscribe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingInSharing11

Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon

The background music is written, performed and produced exclusively by Melissa Turri.
https://melissaturrimusic.com/

Support the show

"I want to educate every first responder that is struggling because they're our heroes and they're the ones that need to be poured into" ~ Marly

Burnout, PTSD, and constant high-alert living take a toll—especially on first responders. Neurotrainer and TBI survivor Marly Jones explains how chronic stress rewires the brain, causing fog, exhaustion, irritability, and poor sleep. She breaks down how trauma, toxins, and relentless shifts overload the limbic system and spark inflammation, and shares practical ways to reset—better sleep, lowering inflammatory triggers, boosting resilience, and gentle neurotraining.

A naturopath and certified brain health expert, Marly leads Change Your Brain, a free seminar supporting first responders in healing and rebuilding strength from the inside out.

Connect with Marly:

Website:  https://harmonyneurofeedback.com

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/harmonyneurofeedback/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/harmonyneurofeedback/

Schedule your consultation: https://mindrenewalmethod.com/

Podcast: Healing Chronic Illness with Marly

Connect with Jen:

I Need Blue  now has a new home at The Healing in Sharing! Visit thehealinginsharing.com  to explore Round Chair Conversations, all relevant I Need Blue content, and ways to support the mission of sharing stories that inspire hope and resilience.

By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing. 

Instagram: @ineedbluepodcast
YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/@ineedblue

Apple Podcasts: Listen & Subscribe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingInSharing11

Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon

The background music is written, performed and produced exclusively by Melissa Turri.
https://melissaturrimusic.com/

Support the show

"The sickness slowed me down and gave me time alone to get to know myself,  reflect on my life and learn who I was"   ~ Sondee
 
In this episode, we follow Sondee’s journey through hyperacusis, misdiagnosis, and the terrifying possibility of losing her independence. A low-frequency hum became the trigger that unraveled her nervous system, leading to vertigo and migraines. After a 2022 concert, months of denial, financial strain, and the emotional weight of parenting while unwell, her search for answers pushed her past symptom labels and into functional medicine testing, uncovering food sensitivities that shifted everything. 

Sondee also shares the emotional side—the cost of staying silent, the courage to ask for help, and the power of rebuilding community. Her story becomes a blueprint for anyone seeking root-cause healing and an honest path forward.
 

Connect with Sondee:

Business website:  https://yourmoneygal.com

Email: [email protected] 

weVENTURE: https://weventure.fit.edu/

Resources heard in today's episode:

Dr. Jorge Campos - Chiropractor: https://www.totalchiropracticcare.com/

Dr. Tinney -  Functional Doctor: https://integrativemedicineofbrevard.com/

Radiantly Healthy MD -  Functional Doctor: https://www.rh-md.com/

Connect with Jen:

I Need Blue  now has a new home at The Healing in Sharing! Visit thehealinginsharing.com  to explore Round Chair Conversations, all relevant I Need Blue content, and ways to support the mission of sharing stories that inspire hope and resilience.

By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing. 

Instagram: @ineedbluepodcast
YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/@ineedblue

Apple Podcasts: Listen & Subscribe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingInSharing11

Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon

The background music is written, performed and produced exclusively by Melissa Turri.
https://melissaturrimusic.com/

Support the show

"I surrender to you, Jesus, take care of everything" ~ Jennifer

Some stories redefine strength. Jennifer Cleveland’s journey carried her from a Georgia farm to the chaos of an ER, and then into darkness as her vision faded. What could have ended her story instead became a transformation. With faith as her compass, a white cane as her guide, and yoga and healing touch as her tools, she turned loss into purpose and presence.

From tending fields to teaching trauma-informed movement, Jennifer rebuilt her life by surrendering, serving, and showing others how resilience is formed one mindful choice at a time. Her journey proves that even in the darkest seasons, strength can still become light.

Connect with Jennifer, licensed massage therapist, and Thai Yoga Massage practitioner at Inner Sight Living.

Website: https://innersightliving.wordpress.com/

Email: [email protected] 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/innersightliving

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innersightliving/

Connect with Jen:

I Need Blue  now has a new home at The Healing in Sharing! Visit thehealinginsharing.com  to explore Round Chair Conversations, all relevant I Need Blue content, and ways to support the mission of sharing stories that inspire hope and resilience.

By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing. 

Instagram: @ineedbluepodcast
YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/@ineedblue

Apple Podcasts: Listen & Subscribe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingInSharing11

Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon

The background music is written, performed and produced exclusively by Melissa Turri.
https://melissaturrimusic.com/

Support the show

This season, I’m honored to feature music from my beautiful friend, Melissa Turri. Over many coffee dates and long phone chats, we’ve shared our journeys, supported each other, and leaned into each other’s healing spirits. When she released her album—just in time for this season—I knew I had to share her talent with you.

Listen to the full length song, I'll Heal You.  

To learn more about Melissa Turri:

Website: https://melissaturrimusic.com/

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: melissaturrimusic

YouTube: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCb197kVCOHFuV7Wrcj_ZOAg

Apple music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/melissa-turri/1854441133

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/31h4OpozWM8vuxTtqYlMB4?si=S0WWg2yuR4GJQGgH27VoCg&nd=1&dlsi=e6ed1cbc61894658

Connect with Jen:

I Need Blue  now has a new home at The Healing in Sharing! Visit thehealinginsharing.com  to explore Round Chair Conversations, all relevant I Need Blue content, and ways to support the mission of sharing stories that inspire hope and resilience.

By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing. 

Instagram: @ineedbluepodcast
YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/@ineedblue

Apple Podcasts: Listen & Subscribe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingInSharing11

Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon

The background music is written, performed and produced exclusively by Melissa Turri.
https://melissaturrimusic.com/

Support the show

If you’ve ever felt lost in a life that looks fine but feels wrong, this story is your permission to begin again. 

From childhood abuse to postpartum collapse, medication dependency, bankruptcy, memory loss, and cancer, Sherry’s life unraveled—but she didn’t vanish. She began again, choosing daily to return to herself.

Sherry shares how small habits built resilience, intuition became her guide, and honest self-love transformed her relationships.

A U.S. Army veteran, mom, and full-time entrepreneur, she helps women reclaim health, confidence, and purpose-driven income through mindset mentorship, cellular activation, and LifeVantage.

💗 Wellness isn’t a luxury, it’s your legacy! 

If you’re craving more energy, impact, and financial freedom, you’re in the right place. 

Let’s align your body and your business for the life you deserve." 

Learn more or schedule an appointment now: https://beacons.ai/the_activation_girl

Shop | LifeVantage:  https://sherrymartin.lifevantage.com/us-en/shop

Connect with Jen:

I Need Blue  now has a new home at The Healing in Sharing! Visit thehealinginsharing.com  to explore Round Chair Conversations, all relevant I Need Blue content, and ways to support the mission of sharing stories that inspire hope and resilience.

By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing. 

Instagram: @ineedbluepodcast
YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/@ineedblue

Apple Podcasts: Listen & Subscribe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingInSharing11

Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon

Support the show

After the devastating loss of her daughter Maddisyn Colleen to a shallow water blackout, Michelle opens up about her journey through grief and healing. In this deeply emotional conversation, Michelle shares the wisdom and kindness Maddi left behind, and how her untimely death became a catalyst for Michelle’s personal growth.

Candidly recounting the emotional turmoil of guilt and broken promises, Michelle reflects on her path through PTSD and the transformative power of community and creative expression. 

From ketamine therapy to meditation, Michelle explores unconventional methods of healing while building a community that supports those facing similar losses. Join us as we honor Maddisyn’s life, discover the lessons Michelle learned, and find hope in the darkest of times.

Her book, "Please Don't Say That Sh*t," offers a poignant and practical guide for those struggling with unhelpful comments in grief, providing insight into the healing process and the importance of a supportive network.

If you're in need of immediate support or help with thoughts of self-harm, please reach out to someone you trust or contact a mental health professional. If you're experiencing a crisis, I encourage you to call a suicide prevention hotline, such as:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (U.S.): 988

You don’t have to go through this alone—help is available, and reaching out is a brave first step.
Contact Michelle: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellecbutler11

Connect with Jen:

I Need Blue  now has a new home at The Healing in Sharing! Visit thehealinginsharing.com  to explore Round Chair Conversations, all relevant I Need Blue content, and ways to support the mission of sharing stories that inspire hope and resilience.

By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing. 

Instagram: @ineedbluepodcast
YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/@ineedblue

Apple Podcasts: Listen & Subscribe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingInSharing11

Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon

The background music is written, performed and produced exclusively by Char Good.
https://chargood.com/home

Support the show

When truth is stolen, healing begins with reclaiming your story—one memory, one voice, one fearless step at a time.

What happens when a child is abducted by a parent and raised in a world of control and religious manipulation? Dawn McCarty’s nightmare began at age four when her mother kidnapped her, erased her identity, and filled her life with fear and lies. Subjected to psychological abuse and weaponized Mormon theology, Dawn was taught to obey blindly and fear her real father. By eight, she was adopted by her stepfather and sealed to her abductor in temple rituals. At 15, she was groomed under the guise of religious trust.

After escaping at 16, Dawn rebuilt her life. Now a senior cybersecurity analyst with over 20 years of experience, she helps families protect children online, driven by her own trauma. Her most powerful chapter came 44 years later—reuniting with her biological father. Her story is one of survival, truth, and unbreakable spirit.

Connect with Dawn:

Learn more about my memoir & advocacy site: Sealed To My Abductor

Subscribe to my blog & newsletter: Unsealed Press on Substack

Watch my story (including my reunification with my father): YouTube Channel

• LinkedIn
• Facebook: Dawn McCarty
• Facebook: Sealed To My Abductor

Connect with Jen:

I Need Blue  now has a new home at The Healing in Sharing! Visit thehealinginsharing.com  to explore Round Chair Conversations, all relevant I Need Blue content, and ways to support the mission of sharing stories that inspire hope and resilience.

By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing. 

Instagram: @ineedbluepodcast
YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/@ineedblue

Apple Podcasts: Listen & Subscribe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingInSharing11

Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon

Support the show

Her daughter’s absence became Barbara’s purpose: to break cycles of alienation, pain, and silence.

Barbara’s life was shaped by not belonging—from family struggles to a marriage broken by parental alienation that turned her daughters against her. The unthinkable struck when her 15-year-old daughter, Erin, took her own life despite Barbara’s pleas for help.

From that tragedy, Barbara found purpose. Now a wellness advocate, speaker, and author, she helps women heal generational wounds, navigate divorce, and reclaim their lives. Her story proves that even in unimaginable heartbreak, healing and transformation are possible—and can light the way for others.

Connect with Barbara:

Instagram: 
WellnessMattersYouMatter

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/barbaradrtina

You Tube:

https://www.youtube.com/@WellnessMattersYouMatter

Website: 

https://wellnessmattersyoumatter.com/

Email:

[email protected]

Purchase my Book:

Amazon: Ignite Possibilities

Connect with Jen:

I Need Blue  now has a new home at The Healing in Sharing! Visit thehealinginsharing.com  to explore Round Chair Conversations, all relevant I Need Blue content, and ways to support the mission of sharing stories that inspire hope and resilience.

By sharing the hidden lines of our stories, we remind each other we are not alone — together, we step out of hiding and into healing. 

Instagram: @ineedbluepodcast
YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/@ineedblue

Apple Podcasts: Listen & Subscribe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHealingInSharing11

Memoir: Why I Survived, by Jennifer Lee on Amazon

Support the show