John is a Multi award winning author but describes himself as renaissance man.

He spent over 30 years trying his hands on different jobs amongst which are door-to-door sales, children’s home counselling ,substitute school teaching , truck driving , fireman, building contractor, minister and journalism before he finally found his niche operating halfway homes for those looking to rebuild their lives after incarceration, in partnership with local councils at the age of 53.

John says he knows what it is to be homeless so he can empathise with hard-working people who find themselves in difficult positions .

John explained how his diverse career experiences shape his empathy and insight in helping the estranged men and women who he offers a home

His story emulates a true Life of a Christian , Living life by example ,He is someone who makes the world a better place for others and i hope people would aim to emulate him after listening to the episode

John says the driving force behind his decision to offer help is just to practice acts of mercy and kindness towards others rather than preaching for people to get converted , he demonstrates love and compassion to people he meets daily .

John's journey encapsulates the struggle and triumph of starting anew after significant life challenges

He talks about numerous ways the neighbours in the community tried to frustrate his efforts in launching a non-profit for former inmates but he won them over one neighbour at a time through community activities like cleaning up the neighbourhood , shovelling snow off the side walks etc

The episode explores personal transformation, the process of giving and receiving second chances, and the societal impacts of rehabilitation and resilience.

John's debut novel 'Running As Fast As I Can 'went from being rejected 200 times by publishers to winning 25 book awards

It is available via Amazon.com: Running As Fast As I Can eBook : Graham, John David: Kindle Store

john's website John David Graham – author

#Society & Culture

#Author

#Business Owner

#Entrepreneur

#Historical Fiction

#Journalist

#Non-Profit

#Resilientce

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 , we acknowledge the vital leadership roles of individuals with disabilities. The mantra, "Nothing about us without us," highlights the significance of their involvement, representation, and inclusion in leadership.

My guests on this episode are Ken and Anna Kunken

As a junior at Cornell University's College of Engineering, Ken Kunken suffered a neck injury while making a tackle during a lightweight football game against Columbia University.

Ken underwent over nine months of hospital stays and rehabilitation. During this time, he testified before a U.S. Senate Sub-Committee on Health Care, led by Senator Edward Kennedy.

He returned to Cornell to finish his degree in Industrial Engineering. After graduating, Ken shifted his career focus towards helping people, especially those with disabilities. He earned a Master of Arts in Education from Cornell and a Master of Education in Psychology from Columbia University, becoming the first quadriplegic to receive a graduate degree from Cornell.

Anna was initially employed as Ken's carer but he fell in love with her and they have been married for 21 years .They had IVF procedures which failed three times before they were finally blessed with a set of boy triplets .Ken and Anna Kunken reside in Long Island, New York, they are married , and together they parent a set of boy triplet

Ken and Anna were exceptional guests, and I admired how they completed each other's sentences. They are a prime example that physical or hidden disabilities should not hinder one's pursuit of happiness or achievements in life .

Later, Ken pursued a Juris Doctor degree at Hofstra University's School of Law, graduating in 1982.

For over four decades, Ken served as an assistant district attorney in Nassau County, eventually becoming Deputy Bureau Chief. Ken, still married to Anna, is a proud father to his triplets. His biography, "I Dream of Things That Never Were: The Ken Kunken Story," was published in 2023.

#Cornell graduate

#Disability

#Fatherhood

#NothingaboutUsWithout Us

#Former Prosecutor

#Disabled Leader

#Lawyer

#Motivational Speaker

On Halloween night in 1985, Susan Williams (Snow) experienced a life-changing event when her father, LAPD Detective Thomas C. Williams, was tragically ambushed and killed. Her moving account of her family's loss and their path to healing from trauma provides hope and practical advice for those impacted by violence and loss.

Susan recounts her story authentically and openly, discussing her journey through the trauma of losing her father to murder at the age of 17, her struggle with PTSD, and her courage in speaking her truth. Her message of healing and resilience brings hope to those coping with trauma and grief.

Susan shared how she regained control of her life, managed PTSD effectively, and learned to embrace vulnerability with courage through her experience of loss, without falling into victimhood, and to practice love with forgiveness.

Susan's story will resonate with anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one, demonstrating that healing is a process that takes time.

Furthermore, Susan detailed how her unwavering commitment to excellence facilitated her healing over time. Her message and personal narrative of love and hope are both strong and powerful.

#Childhood Trauma

#Emotional Intelligence

#Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD

#Trauma Recovery

#True Crime

#Grief

#Law Enforcement

#Mental Health Awareness

#Lest wee forget

November is Military awareness and Veterans appreciation month

My guest on this episode is Jason Pike, an Army Veteran who overcame incredible odds to serve in the military. Diagnosed with a learning disability at the age of seven and suffering from osteomyelitis, a bone infection that left him unable to walk at nine, Jason faced significant challenges. His health issues caused him to fail first grade and prevented him from attending college at that time. With limited options, he turned to the military, joining the National Guard and eventually transitioning to active duty in the Army.

During his 31 years in the U.S. Army, Jason became a decorated combat veteran with multiple deployments, including nine years overseas in five countries. He shared how his military experiences continue to impact his mental health and offered insights into how he copes with post-traumatic stress, a common struggle for many veterans.

Jason Pike has also become a national best-selling author, sharing his journey through three powerful books:

• Soldier Against All Odds: A memoir that offers readers a glimpse into the adventures, challenges, and costs of service.
• Out of the Uniform, Back into Civilian Life: No-Nonsense Veterans Benefits Guide
• Leading Through the Crossfire: A Veteran's Blueprint for Navigating Toxic Work Environments

#November

#Veterans

#Remembrance

#Army

#Resilient Survivor

#Newsly

Podmatch

Available data from the US Census Bureau statistical as reported in the 2021 National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) shows Deaths from suicide for people In Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation industry (males = 47.9; females = 15.0 this figure is approximately 33% higher than it was 2 decades ago.

My guest on this episode Richard Seeram is a young Black Music Artist , when he first launched in the music industry , being told he couldn't succeed , he had no guidance on how to , no help , no support system found himself inundated with destructive criticisms , He was overwhelmed In despair , having constant battles with his self worth because he equated his self-worth and purpose in life to a successful career . He had lots of struggles with addiction , anxiety , Depression , feeling worthless , being suicidal due to the criticisms and negative opinions from other people .

However , through introspection and and a lot of intervention, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery he turned these challenges around , finding an emotional outlet in his unique rap music where he is able to talk about all the negative thoughts he experienced , sending the same message he wished someone had gifted him when he was in despair and suicidal conveying a message of hope to himself and other people who may find themselves in similar situations we talked about the importance of having a mental health support system for Musicians , as well as artists and creatives he re has rewritten his own story , reclaimed the narrative of his life.

we also talked about the use of AI in music , and how it can impact the future of music writing

Born weighing only 1 pound and 4 ounces, Danielle was given a mere zero to five percent chance of survival. Despite facing numerous negative prognosis, including the potential for brain damage, she defied the odds and is alive today without any health complications.

Danielle Vassell is a motivational speaker, author, and film producer. In May 2020, she released her debut short film, "Defying The ODDS: Women of Impact," which delves into the personal journeys of five young women of colour who overcame significant challenges in their fields. The film was aired on Sky 193 Vox Africa, reaching a global audience of 130 million viewers, and on Sky 170 Together TV, reaching an additional 26 million viewers in the UK.

Danielle's journey has been a roller coaster, from being a reserved, quiet student who was bullied in school to becoming a school council member appointed by her tutor, giving her the responsibility of being the voice for other students in high school. In college, she was the business representative for her entire business course, which led to her nomination by her tutor to visit 10 Downing Street in England.

Danielle's passion is to create platforms for individuals to share their personal stories, thereby inspiring many others.

Her film focused on the stories of women of color defying odds in various sectors of life and was featured on Apple TV in December. It climbed to number 7 on the Apple and iTunes Charts for short films released between 2016 and 2020. Danielle's inspiring story has been featured in various media outlets, including newspapers and magazine articles, and she has appeared on numerous radio stations and television networks, making a positive impact.

Lisa Sugarman is a three-time survivor of suicide loss, a mental health advocate, and a crisis counsellor with The Trevor Project. She is also an author and a nationally syndicated columnist.

We discussed her personal journey of discovering that her father, whom she believed had died from a heart attack when she was just ten years old, actually took his own life. She learned this truth 35 years later, which led her to grieve for him once again. Her cousin and a close family friend also died by suicide.

These tragedies drove Lisa to seek an understanding of the thought processes of individuals who decide to end their lives, leading to her involvement with The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Project provides support to the LGBTQ community's at-risk youth (ages 13-24) for any mental health issues.

We discussed the range of emotions—sadness, heartbreak, pain, agony—that accompany the loss of loved ones, how one questions themselves, asking why, and how signs that someone may be struggling and contemplating suicide can be spotted, as well as their impact on mental health.

We talked about how people might show signs of struggle, such as posting on social media. We also discussed specific ways to help someone contemplating suicide, like being a good listener and offering resources, including the emergency response number.

As a friend or colleague, you could make a third-party call to the emergency number on behalf of the person contemplating suicide.

You could also encourage them to call a therapist, which we shared.

We talked about stigmas surrounding mental health issues and different ways these could push people to being suicidal

Lisa discussed her self-care as someone who confronts trauma and the imminent risk of suicide. She explained how these can sometimes act as trauma triggers for her, as a person who has survived multiple suicide attempts. However, she has access to a robust support network that offers therapy and outlets to help her unwind and debrief after each call.

Additionally, Lisa is a storyteller for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), an LGBTQ+ advocate, a survivor of suicide loss and grief, a support group facilitator with Samaritans, and a mental health advocate.

She writes the opinion column "We Are Who We Are" in Boston and is the author of books such as "How To Raise Perfectly... Imperfect Kids And Be Ok With It,"

"Untying Parent Anxiety," and "LIFE: It Is What It Is," which are all available where books are sold.

Lisa also contributes to Healthline Parenthood, GrownAndFlown, TODAY Parents,

Thrive Global, Little Things, and More Content Now.

Lisa resides and writes just north of Boston. For more information, visit her website at www.lisasugarman.com.

#Suicide

#Suicide Awareness

#Survivor of suicide

#Mental Health

#Mental Health Awareness

#Mental Illness

#Grief

#Healthcare Advocate

#LGBTQ

#it is OK not to be OK