Through The Rough

At six years old, Taylor entered therapy for fear she couldn’t explain. By sixteen, she was fighting cancer. As the years unfolded, so did a series of unravelings—addiction in her family, a marriage that broke under the weight of silence, and a rock-bottom moment where she found herself sleeping in her car to protect her son.

But this isn’t just a story of survival.

It’s a story about what happens when surviving becomes your whole identity—and what it takes to let go of that, too.

This episode is raw, grounded, and unfiltered. Taylor opens the door on pain, ownership, awakening, and the slow process of becoming someone new.

Hunter’s story is one of perseverance, transformation, and leadership. From delivering auto parts as a teenager to owning a top-performing Scooters Coffee franchise, his journey is filled with challenges, failures, and breakthrough moments. In this episode, Hunter shares the struggles of starting a business from scratch, the lessons he learned in leadership, and how he navigated self-doubt, burnout, and rapid growth.

We dive deep into the reality of business ownership—hiring mistakes, the weight of responsibility, adapting to the unknown, and the battle between gut instinct and strategic decision-making. Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, or someone striving for personal growth, this conversation will challenge your perspective on success, failure, and resilience.

Tune in to hear how Hunter turned obstacles into opportunities and what it really takes to build something from the ground up.

WWW.THROUGHTHEROUGH.NET

Epilepsy almost took his life. Twice. But that wasn’t the only battle Sean McKenna had to fight. From losing control of his own mind and body to surviving near-fatal seizures and a moment where he saw the other side—Sean’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In this gripping episode, he shares the terrifying experience of waking up with no memory, the brutal emotional toll of being called a burden, and how faith, love, and resilience pulled him back. If you’ve ever struggled with identity, purpose, or the fear of losing control, this episode is for you.

"When a crisis unfolds in front of you, do you act—or do you freeze? Most people assume they’d step up in an emergency, but studies and real-world events show that hesitation is far more common than we realize. Why do people instinctively wait for someone else to take charge? What drives inaction? And more importantly—how can we break free from it?"

In this episode of Through the Rough, Sam and Slade dive deep into the bystander effect, the psychology behind hesitation, and what separates those who take action from those who stand by. They explore real-world situations where people failed to act, the cost of inaction in both crisis and daily life, and how awareness plays a role in overcoming fear.

This is a conversation that will challenge your assumptions, force you to self-reflect, and make you rethink your own instincts. Because when the moment comes, you only have two choices: step up or stand by.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major streaming platforms.

Some losses we never recover from. But what if love never really leaves?"

Harvey Martinez lost his 17-year-old daughter in a tragic accident, leaving him shattered. But then, something strange happened—she came back to him in a dream, with a message he’ll never forget.

In this raw & powerful episode, we discuss:
The moment his world changed forever
The dream visitation that gave him chills
The flickering light—was it a sign from beyond?
His message to anyone who has lost someone they love

This episode will change how you think about grief, healing, and the possibility that love never really dies.

"Grief is a road no one asks to walk, but what happens when you have no choice?"

Harvey lost his 17-year-old daughter in a tragic car accident—a moment that changed his world forever. In this deeply moving conversation, he shares his raw experience of loss, resilience, and what it means to survive after losing a child.

What you’ll hear in this episode:
The moment everything changed and how he coped in the days after
The unexpected lessons grief taught him about life & love
His message to parents about what truly matters
Signs from his daughter—does love ever really leave?

This episode is for anyone who has ever loved, lost, or wondered how we carry on when the unimaginable happens.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
Visit www.throughtherough.net for more episodes.

What happens when survival isn’t the hardest part?

Born at 1.5 pounds, Lori wasn’t expected to live. She faced four battles with cancer, built a career as a nurse, and became a single mother through international adoption. But after years of fighting, she found herself lost—facing an identity crisis, loneliness, and the weight of an empty nest.

In this episode, Lori shares: Beating the odds—four times Why surviving wasn’t enough The moment she knew God was calling her back to China How she’s fighting for herself now

This isn’t just a story of survival. This is a story of choosing life.

I am dying inside." When Lori’s daughter left for college, she faced a pain she never expected—who was she without her children? In this episode, Lori opens up about grief, identity loss, and the struggle of letting go. For every parent who has felt lost in the silence, this one’s for you.

Full episode streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms.

"Why not me?" After surviving four cancers, Lori realized that survival alone wasn’t enough—she had to find herself again. In this episode, she opens up about faith, identity loss, single motherhood, and the hardest choice she still faces. This isn’t just a story of survival. It’s a story of choosing life.

In this special episode of Through the Rough, Sam sits down with his brother Slade for a raw, unfiltered conversation about life, self-awareness, and personal growth. This isn’t your traditional guest interview—this is two brothers reflecting on everything from the challenges of fatherhood to the deep philosophical questions that keep us up at night.

Do we truly have free will, or is life predetermined?

How does childhood trauma shape our adult fears and behaviors?

What does it mean to surrender control and embrace life’s uncertainties?

Can recognizing our own patterns lead to true personal growth?

Slade, a father of two sets of twins under two years old, shares his journey of patience, self-reflection, and breaking cycles from the past. Sam pushes the conversation deeper into existential thought, questioning the nature of reality, perception, and the ways we navigate our emotions.

If you’re drawn to introspective conversations that challenge your perspective, this episode is for you.

Listen now and subscribe for more real, thought-provoking discussions.

Visit www.throughtherough.net for more episodes.