In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, hosted by Dave Roberts, his guest is Aypril Porter, an ICF certified life and grief coach, death doula, and human design guide. Aypril discusses her unique approach, 'Lead from Within,' which assists entrepreneurs to rebuild aligned, burnout-free businesses. As the author of 'Parenting the Child You Have,' Aypril shares insights on human design—a combination of ancient wisdoms like the I Ching and astrology—and how it assists individuals in understanding and embracing their authentic selves. Dave and Aypril delve into the specifics of human design charts, the emotional waves impacting decision-making, and the importance of re-parenting. Aypril also speaks about her experiences with burnout, her journey of self-discovery, and how her background influences her current work in re-parenting, particularly with entrepreneurs. We explore the significance of living true to oneself, the impact of early life experiences, and how human design can clarify familial and personal dynamics.

Aypril's Bio and Contact Information

Aypril Porter is an ICF-certified life and grief coach, death doula, and Human Design guide who helps soul-led entrepreneurs reparent themselves and rebuild their businesses from a place of deep alignment. With over a decade of experience navigating entrepreneurship, burnout, and personal transformation, Aypril now blends Human Design with inner child work to help her clients stop chasing formulas and start trusting themselves again. She’s the creator of Lead From Within™ and the author of Parenting the Child You Have. Through her Compassionate Closure sessions and business re-alignment coaching, Aypril guides people back to their truth—so they can lead, create, and live with more integrity, ease, and meaning.

Links

www.ayprilporter.com - Human Design

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ayprilporter/

https://www.facebook.com/AyprilPorterHD

To find out more about Dave, please go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts interviews Heather Pillar, a photographer and teacher who has lived, taught, and photographed in seven countries over four continents. The episode delves into Heather's career journey, her collaborative project with Morrie Schwartz—a professor battling ALS—during the last six months of his life, and her recent monograph Memento Morrie: Images of Love and Loss'. Heather shares compelling stories about her time with Morrie, her approach to photography, and how Morrie's philosophies influenced her. The discussion also touches on themes of community, caregiving, spirituality, and the importance of love. Heather emphasizes the significance of building meaningful connections and offers insights into navigating life with integrity and compassion.

Heather’s Bio and Contact Information:

Heather Pillar, photographer and teacher, has lived, taught and photographed in seven countries over four continents during the past 25 years. Her personal and collaborative photographic projects reveal her ongoing interest in women, girls' education, and aging.

In 1995, Heather collaborated with Morrie Schwartz during the last six months as he battled ALS. Her first monograph, Memento Morrie: Images of Love and Loss (Daylight Books, 2024) illustrates Morrie's philosophies through photographs of him interacting with family, friends, and caregivers and building community. Over a quarter-century later, Morrie's wisdom resonates with people around the world due to the best-selling memoir: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. Morrie taught people, including Heather - how to live fulfilling lives with love. “It is by facing fears of death that we learn how to live.”

Heather's photographs have been exhibited internationally as well as published in numerous newspapers and magazines such as People Magazine and The Boston Globe; books include The Wisdom of Morrie, Tuesdays with Morrie and Morrie: In His Own Words. Her work has also appeared on television (CBS Sunday Morning, Today Show) and online – NPR, Next Avenue (AARP) and on PBS’s Inside E Street.

My website: heatherpillar.com

Social media links:

Instagram @heatherpillarimages

Facebook: Heather Pillar images

YouTube: @heatherpillarimages

Linkedin: Heather Pillar

If you liked this podcast you might like this one:

Exploring The Wisdom of Morrie With Rob Schwartz

To find out more about Dave, please go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his authoprpagr, psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts converses with Jason Reid, a CEO coach and co-founder of National Services Group, who experienced profound personal tragedy when his 14-year-old son, Ryan, completed suicide in 2018. Jason discusses his transformative journey post-tragedy, focusing on his initiative tellmystory.org, a nonprofit aimed at empowering parents with mental health resources for their children. The conversation covers Jason's personal changes, family dynamics, his work in mental health advocacy, and future projects, including concerns about the mental health impact of AI on youth. Jason emphasizes the importance of open communication, understanding mental health as seriously as physical health, and creating meaningful human connections.

Jason Reid Bio and Contact Information

Jason Reid is a partner at CEO Coaching International, where he coaches CEOs to achieve sustainable success. As the co-founder of National Services Group, he leads a team of over 2,500 employees across three nationwide brands. A visionary entrepreneur and devoted family man, Jason’s life took a transformative turn after the heartbreaking loss of his 14-year-old son to suicide in 2018. In response, he founded TellMyStory.org, a nonprofit dedicated to educating and empowering parents with the resources they need to support their children’s mental health. Through its sister organization, Mental Wellness Media, Jason works to raise awareness and spark meaningful conversations through impactful media projects. These initiatives, including the TEDx talks and documentary films Tell My Story and What I Wish My Parents Knew, are part of his mission to help parents and children communicate more openly and understand each other’s mental health struggles.

https://tellmystory.org/

To find out more about Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts interviews Miki Nguyen, who shares the gripping and heroic story of his family's escape from Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The conversation focuses on Miki's father, a former South Vietnamese Air Force pilot, who executed a daring rescue by helicopter during the last days of Saigon, April 29th, 1975. Miki recounts the dramatic series of events, including his father's brave decision to land a Chinook helicopter to rescue his family, the challenges faced while seeking refuge on the USS Kirk, and the subsequent journey to America. This story, encapsulated in the book 'The Last Flight Out,' is vividly presented with personal anecdotes, historical context, and exclusive photographs. The interview also touches on themes of resilience, leadership, and the importance of honoring the sacrifices and contributions of war veterans. Miki's narrative is a heartfelt tribute to his father's integrity, heroism, and lifelong dedication to his family and freedom.

Miki’s Bio and Contact Information

Miki Nguyen is the son of Lt. Col. Ba Van Nguyen, a South Vietnamese Air Force pilot whose heroic 'ditch at sea' rescue mission during the 'Fall of Saigon' was featured in the 2015 Oscar-nominated film, "Last Days in Vietnam."

Today, Miki is proud to launch his late father’s memoir, "The Last Flight Out," marking the 50-year remembrance of the dramatic escape of not only his family but thousands of other Vietnamese refugees.

This powerful collection of stories chronicles Ba Van Nguyen’s bravery, sacrifice, and reflections on the Vietnam war, offering timeless lessons on leadership, courage, and the human spirit.

Website https://nguyenvanba.com/miki/

The Last Flight Out : Amazon , Barnes and Nobles, and where books are sold.

If you want to find out more about Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes visionary artist and foodie Karin Edgett. Karin discusses her multifaceted journey involving art, metaphysics, and nutritional cooking. She delves into her background, including formative family experiences and her exploration of alternative medicine. Karin explains her approach to visionary art, which is deeply connected to consciousness and spiritual energy, and discusses the metaphysical connections in her work and her life. She also elaborates on the importance of plants and specific foods like garlic in enhancing spiritual well-being and intuition. The conversation touches on the integration of science and spirituality, the evolving collective consciousness, and the significance of heart-centered living. Throughout the episode, Karin emphasizes the transformative power of art and nutrition in fostering personal and collective growth.

Karin's Bio and Contact Information

Karin Edgett is a visionary artist and foodie. She works across many mediums following where her consciousness guides her to express wisdom and creativity as it flows through her. She has been studying metaphysics and its applications for several decades and has established connections to many of the dimensions that are beyond our normal lives to augment her life and creativity. She is able to communicate with higher selves, sort through akashic records, hear wisdom from others beings such as animals and flowers and even food.

Her art is appreciated for its magical qualities that help raise the vibrational energy of the spaces it inhabits and for those that spend time with it. She often paints with symbols and poetic phrases to unwind old patterns as unleash new ones. Her art is one of the many catalysts for ushering in changes taking place in the collective awareness.

Recently, many of her projects have been focused around the wisdom and beauty of flowers through her intimate photography. She has a bunch of self-published books and has recently completed her first oracle deck of cards called Botanical Vision. Flowers began speaking to Karin during the Covid epidemic, expressing their beauty and capacity to create and to affect the energy and consciousness around the earth. They have asked her to share their messages.

Food has been an big part of her personal wellness journey and she attributes it in part to assisting in wellness as well as her spiritual connections she uses to create her art. She has many recipes posted in her blog that are healthy, tasty and assist in opening intuition and spiritual connections.

Karin published her first divinely inspired recipe book called Garlic Lover Dressings in January 2025. It is a collection of seasonal dressings using activated garlic that are flavorful, packed with nutrition and the potential to assist your awakening journey.

For more on Karin Edgett and her art http://KarinEdgett.com

To find out more about Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, hosted by Dave Roberts, guest Carolyn Bennett Sullivan shares her extensive background in various industries and her current work in helping people and organizations navigate change. Carolyn opens up about her personal journey of overcoming fear-based thinking and self-sabotage, discussing key concepts from her book 'Get the F Out.' The episode delves into the psychological challenges individuals face, the importance of self-love and self-respect, and practical steps for managing negative emotions and transforming one's mindset. Carolyn also highlights the significance of finding activities one is passionate about to reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

Carolyn's Bio and Contact Information

Carolyn Bennett-Sullivan has over 30 years combined Sales, Marketing, Wellness and Business experience. Her diversified background includes the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, retail, personal development and golf and entertainment industries in Sales, Business Development, Training, Marketing and Operations. Carolyn has worked for Fortune 500 Companies like Pfizer to start ups like Softgolf. As Vice President of Softgolf, a Small Business Specialist for the Small Business Center at Forsyth Tech, she’s learned the many aspects of operating a business. As CEO of SAVVY Heart LLC, author of ” Get the “F” Out! she’s had the honor of speaking on a TEDx stage.

Her experience as Vice President of Softgolf and CEO of SAVVY Heart has helped her develop the knowledge and skills to help business owners from solopreneurs to the C-Suite identify the blocks sabotaging their success, dismantle their limiting beliefs and boldly take back their power. As a subject matter expert she’s passionate about helping people and organizations navigate change by mastering their mindset from the fear, stress and uncertainty it produces. She teaches tools and strategies to uncover your deepest passion and mission, consciously focus your thoughts and connect to your internal guidance system to create systems and solutions that empower ALL to experience personal and professional success.

Carolyn currently offers keynote presentations and workshops including “When Shift Happens, Five Steps to Mastering Your Inner Game During Change” and “Fear Unveiled, Unmasking the Elephant in the Room”.

Carolyn lives in Winston Salem, NC with her partner Ray. When not partnering with clients and leading them through change management or business strategies, she enjoys the outdoors including walking, biking and playing Softgolf. Passionate about health and well being she practices yoga, meditation and self care. A self proclaimed foodie, she loves creating healthy, delicious meals for family and friends. She’s the mother to Cassidy, a precocious and bright young woman and crazy cat mom to Finn and Fiona, both rescue kitties.

Contact Information

E mail: [email protected]

 LinkedIn, Carolyn Bennett Sullivan.

To find out more about Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, hosted by Dave Roberts, the guest is Karl Becker, founder of Improving Sales Performance. Karl shares insights into his non-traditional educational path, entrepreneurial journey, and how he overcame stealth dyslexia. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding individual learning styles, meeting others where they are, and fostering strong team dynamics. Karl elaborates on his book, 'Iceberg Selling,' which advocates for understanding the deeper needs and motivations of customers to improve sales performance. The discussion also touches on creating positive organizational cultures, leadership strategies, and the value of a humanistic approach in sales. The episode concludes with practical advice for listeners on becoming proactive in shaping their own journeys.

Karl Becker - Contact Details and Bio

Karl Becker has founded and run numerous companies over the last thirty years and now runs Improving Sales Performance, a consultancy that supports sales organizations to build high-performing teams and achieve their revenue goals. He is the author of Set up to Win: Three Frameworks to a High-Performing Sales Organization and Sales & Marketing Alignment. He has a BA in economics from Colorado College and an MBA from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Contact Details

Karl Becker | President IMPROVING SALES PERFORMANCE

[email protected]

Mobile: 303.895.8772

Karl Becker - LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlbeckeriii/

Websites:

Improving Sales Performance (Business)

https://www.improvingsalesperformance.com/

Iceberg Selling (Book)

https://www.icebergselling.com/

LinkedIn - Company Page:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/improving-sales-performance-usa/

Speaker References URLs:

https://www.icebergselling.com/karlbeckerspeaker.html

https://www.improvingsalesperformance.com/karlbecker.html

To find out more about Dave, please go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes Sharmayne Farrior, a life coach, speaker, and mentor who focuses on helping women gain clarity and create success roadmaps. Sharmayne shares her personal struggles with long-term depression and anxiety and recounts her transformative journey back to faith and mental well-being. Through candid conversation, Sharmayne discusses the impact of her childhood bullying, a broken home, and estrangement from her faith. Her pivotal moment came when she decided to trust in God's plan, which led to significant inner healing and newfound purpose. She also emphasizes the importance of mentorship, self-care, counseling, and being authentic in one's spiritual journey. Currently, Sharmayne balances her work with caregiving for her mother who has dementia, underscoring the necessity of self-care even in challenging times.

Sharmayne's Bio and Contact Information

The Clarity & Roadmap Coach

Sharmayne Farrior is a life coach, speaker, and mentor dedicated to helping women gain clarity, overcome challenges, and create a roadmap for success after battling depression and anxiety. Having silently struggled with depression for 30 years while maintaining a high-level career, she understands the weight of fear, self-doubt, and emotional exhaustion. Through faith, she broke free—and now, she’s on a mission to help other women do the same.

Sharmayne’s approach blends faith, strategy, and action. As a Christian, she draws from biblical principles, but her coaching is open to all women, regardless of their faith background. She provides practical tools to help women break free from limiting mindsets, set healthy boundaries, and move forward with confidence. Whether it’s overcoming imposter syndrome, dealing with past hurts, or finding the courage to start over, she helps women develop a personalized success plan for lasting healing and fulfillment.

Currently, Sharmayne is also embracing the role of caregiver for her mother with dementia, using her journey to highlight the importance of self-care and emotional wellbeing. She believes that when women prioritize their mental and emotional health, they can show up stronger in every area of life. Through her courses, coaching, and YouTube channel, Sharmayne inspires women to embrace emotional freedom, set clear goals, and confidently pursue the life they deserve.

Join Sharmayne on her mission to help women thrive after depression by connecting with her at @deers_feet , deersfeet.com and at [email protected]

To find out more about Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes Dr. Michelle Sherman, a clinical psychologist who has dedicated over 30 years to supporting families dealing with mental illness and trauma. Michelle shares her extensive experience working in various settings including VA medical centers, community clinics, and as an educator. The conversation highlights the importance of family-centered approaches to mental health, including multiple family groups and educational resources. Michelle discusses her recent book co-authored with her mother, Deanne Sherman, titled Loving Someone with a Mental Illness or History of Trauma, which aims to provide practical skills and emotional support for family members. She emphasizes the importance of caregivers taking care of their own mental health and the need for systemic changes in how mental health care is delivered. Michelle's work reflects a commitment to bridging the gap between adult and child mental health services and empowering families through education and community support.

Michelle’s Bio and Contact Information

Michelle (she/her) is a clinical psychologist who has dedicated her 30+ year career to supporting families dealing with a mental illness or history of trauma. She was named the American Psychological Association’s Family Psychologist of the Year in 2022.

Michelle has served as a therapist for over 30 years, providing individual and couples psychotherapy to adults in a VA medical center, urban primary care clinic, community clinic, inpatient psychiatric unit, and private practice. As an educator, she served as a Full Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the University of Minnesota Medical School, teaching and supervising trainees from numerous disciplines. She enjoys public speaking, having given over 250 workshops nationally and internationally. She conducts research and serves as the Editor in Chief of the journal, Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice. She has published over 75 articles in peer-reviewed journals, over 80 book chapters and articles in other sources, and four books for the lay public.

She also enjoys volunteering, having served on the board of the Oklahoma National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for 14 years and currently volunteering with the Minnesota NAMI affiliate. She served as a Disaster Mental Health Volunteer with the American Red Cross and Salvation Army for many years. She is a volunteer choreographer with Open Door Community Theater.

Grounded in the research she conducted while at the University of Minnesota, she also volunteers as a Behavioral Health Consultant with professional and community theater companies as they produce musicals with psychological themes, thereby merging her love of psychology and theater.

seedsofhopebooks.com

Books on Amazon

Loving Someone With a Mental Illness or History of Trauma

Finding My Way: A Teen’s Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has Experienced trauma

To find out more about Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes Cecily Henderson, a certified health coach practitioner and functional medicine educator, to discuss her advocacy for women's health, particularly focusing on breast implant illness. Cecily shares her personal journey of overcoming significant health challenges linked to breast implants and her mission through the Hope for Healing Network. They discuss the symptoms, etiology, and under-recognition of breast implant illness, the importance of functional medicine in addressing root causes, and the high costs and challenges of implant removal. Cecily emphasizes the power of community support and education in healing and advocates for greater awareness and changes in medical practices and insurance coverage. Listeners are encouraged to seek further information and support through her website and Facebook group.

Cecily's Bio and Contact Information

Cecily is a Certified Health Coach Practitioner, Functional Medicine educator, and researcher passionately advocating for women’s health and creating meaningful connections between professionals and clients worldwide. As the Functional Medicine Director for Breast Implant Illness Hope for Healing and founder of the Hope for Healing Network, she dedicates her work to supporting those who have experienced trauma and illness, helping them rediscover strength and healing.

After suffering paralysis from a breast implant silent rupture and infection, Cecily turned her pain into purpose. She returned to school to become a Functional Medicine Practitioner and used nutrition and holistic healing techniques to reclaim her health. Today, she leads an active, vibrant life with her grandbabies and family, serving as a beacon of hope for others.​

Through the Hope for Healing Network, Cecily provides a nurturing, empathetic space for individuals navigating mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges. Her platform supports trauma survivors, including those with Breast Implant Illness and PTSD, offering tools, resources, and a compassionate community for healing.

Cecily has also developed a FREE course on Breast Implants, using medical research to educate women on making informed decisions about their health. Her work extends to her Holistic Professionals Network on BUMP Global TV, where she connects holistic practitioners with clients globally, ensuring patients have access to cutting-edge resources and expertise.

She believes in the transformative power of knowledge and unity. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, Cecily continues to bridge the gap between patients and practitioners, empowering individuals and fostering impactful change in the healthcare and wellness landscape.

​www.healingisreal.org

www.breastimplantresearch.org

Facebook: Hope For Healing Community : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1017746203169736

Some LInks Regarding Breast Implant Studies:

Risks and Complications of Breast Implants: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/risks-and-complications-breast-implants

Assessment of Silicone Particle Migration Among Women Undergoing Removal or Revision of Silicone Breast Implants in the Netherlands: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8453317/