Life After the Military: Second Class Petty Officer Alfredo Torres
Are you missing 1000 moments thinking you have 1000 more?
Are you letting your arrogance prevent a low-stress and highly successful transition from the military?
Do you like to drink a cup of coffee to relax, expand your network and develop trusted relationships with others?
Do you suffer from PTS, depression, or have suicidal thoughts?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, meet former Petty Officer Two Alfredo Torres!
In this episode of Life After the Military, Howie and Lee talk with Alfredo about the work he does with the Virginia Department of Veteran Services as a Military Transition Regional Coordinator transitioning veterans.
Alfredo transparently and courageously talks about his problematic transition and how he overcomes his depressive tendencies.
Alfredo is a fun-loving, caring, bear of a man who cares deeply about helping all veterans plan, prepare, and execute a highly successful transition. If you listen to Alfredo and heed his advice, guidance, and mentoring – you will be well on your way to that outcome!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredotorres1/
Virginia Department of Veteran Services: http://www.dvs.virginia.gov/
Alfredo’s Sunday Coffee: Sundays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM EDT: connect with Alfredo
Torres (alfredo.torres@dvs.virginia.gov) or Hope White (linkedin.com/in/hopefulspeaking) to get a link to join the conversation
0:00 Lee opens the podcast
00:30 Lee introduces Alfredo Torres
03:07 Alfredo talks about his departure from the Navy, his troubled transition
experience and his arrogance
06:25 Alfredo shares how he mentors and advises men and women to transition to their life after of the military
19:40 Alfredo discusses the stressors transitioning military members face and dispels many rumors and toxic perceptions they have and listen to
26:52 Howie reinforces the value of connecting to men and women like Alfredo and other Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) for help
28:02 Lee, Howie and Alfredo talk about the high rate of veteran suicide and how problematic transitions significantly add to this problem
31:09 Lee, Howie and Alfredo tackle the challenge veterans face with losing their community, tribe and sense of purpose and the need to replace them quickly
28:44 Alfredo talks about the importance of building trusted relationships + translating their skills/experience into language that employers and recruiters understand
41:58 Alfredo describes Alfredo’s Coffee House, a networking event he holds for transitioning service members on Sunday afternoons
47:06 Lee gives Alfredo his book title
52:08 Alfredo shares transparently and courageously about his challenges with PTS, depression, and suicidal ideations and what he does to manage them
56:19 Howie and Alfredo talk about the need for transitioning veterans to be OK with asking for help
1:04:17 Lee closes out the episode
A Discussion of Atlas of the Heart with Beth Shaha, Part 3
Sandy and Certified Master Life Coach, Beth Shaha continue the discussion of Atlas of The Heart by Brene Brown. This discussion focuses on what you feel when you start to compare yourself to others and how it can impact your mental fitness.
Creating Gateways Through Self Awareness - Part 1
“Are you as a therapist able to understand people’s pain in a real sense? Without that ability where are you going with that therapy session?” Miki Goerdt, clinical social worker, board-certified art therapist, owner of Emerald Leaf Counseling LLC and artist, joins the podcast to share the influences that shape our paths to self-awareness.
In part one of this conversation, she discusses her many roles and interests and chats with Jenn about the lived experiences that have shaped her approach as an artist and therapist. From personal loss to her journey as a Japanese immigrant, Miki dives into how she learned to help clients dissect the roots of their own thoughts, emotions and responses.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miki-goerdt-a61808157
Personal Website: https://www.mikigoerdt.com/
Emerald Leaf Counseling Website: https://www.emeraldleafcc.com/
00:00 Introduction
1:10 Miki introduces herself to the Pivotal Moments audience, detailing her background and connection to art therapy
3:29 Miki explains how a deep personal loss pushed her further into art, prompting Jenn to relay her own personal experience with the same life change
6:47 The discussion shifts to how therapists deal with empathy vs. compassion
7:55 Miki discusses self awareness through the lens of therapy, noting that self awareness is often the goal
11:01 Representations of how emotions translate to the tangible
12:50 Jenn and Miki discuss self awareness as a gateway to self exploration
15:13 Miki explains how her personal journey as a Japanese immigrant to America lead to her influenced and shaped her self awareness
Quotes Mentioned:
“These kinds of experiences give people what it’s like to feel pain.” – M
“Are you as a therapist able to understand people’s pain in a real sense? Without that ability, where are you going with that therapy session?”- M
“Compassion and empathy are two things where you also have to hold space for your client or patient, but at the same time you have to also hold your boundary.” – J
“I am one of those people who crave self exploration.” – J
“It takes perspective to have self awareness.” – J
“What is it that we are actually getting from coming into therapy sessions? That’s self awareness.” – M
“I start cultivating self awareness from dissecting or really kind of understanding emotions.” – M
“How did you learn to think that way? Who taught you that or what environment taught you that? … Because there’s a history and way that you lived your life that led to that thinking pattern.” – M
“What’s the function of this emotion? What is it trying to tell you? – M
“You don’t have to wake up and be happy everyday.” – J
“You can move forward once you address what’s down here.” – J
Books Mentioned:
Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help YouFind – and Keep – Love by Amir Levin
https://www.amazon.com/Amir-Levine/e/B003XYKDYS/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1
WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Vince Papale
When you’re chasing a dream, the only one who can tell you that you’re done – is you. While there may be many moments and obstacles that make you want to stop pursuing what may seem impossible, those that succeed have the will deep inside that whispers, “hold on.”
You may know Vince Papale as the subject of the Disney movie “Invincible,” starring Mark Wahlberg, which shares his story of conquering incredible odds to walk onto the Philadephia Eagles. For some, Vince is known as the man that made them believe that dreams can come true if you’re willing to believe in yourself.
His life is well documented online, on tv, and in the film – but our goal with this episode is to dive deeper into what makes Vince, “Vince,” and what we can learn from him to become better people for tomorrow.
Ty Herndon Signs Multi Project Deal With Pivotal Moments Media
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MULTI-PLATINUM GRAMMY-NOMINATED COUNTRY ARTIST TY HERNDON
INKS MULTI-PROJECT DEAL WITH PIVOTAL MOMENTS MEDIA
HERNDON’S NEW ALBUM “JACOB” SET TO BE RELEASED THIS SPRING
Pictured L To R: Front – Ty Herndon; Back – Steve Dady of Sunset Blvd Studios, Herndon’s long-time lead guitarist and Producer, Erik Halbig, Fusion Entertainment Company’s Amy Aylward, and Pivotal Moments Media Director of Nashville, Tamara Alan.
Photo Credit Courtesy of AristoPR | Download Here
Nashville, TN. (March 4, 2022) – Multi-platinum country music recording artist Ty Herndon and Pivotal Moments Media (PMM) have announced a new partnership that will span three projects, including the release of Herndon’s long-awaited new album, JACOB, set to be released this spring. In addition, Herndon will become an ambassador for PMM and is set to launch a ten-episode podcast, entitled SOUNDBOARD, to accompany the album’s release.
“My new album has been more than a year in the making, and it’s my most personal and revealing to date. It will take listeners on the journey of my life — the ups, the downs, the struggles, the triumphs — and I hope, help others talk about the hard stuff, the stuff that can make or break us. We all have an opportunity to change our ending, and that’s what this album is about,” said Herndon.
Further details about the new album will be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition to the new album, Herndon will host a new, ten-episode podcast on the PMM platform channel Resilience, featuring conversations with high-profile artists discussing their wins and struggles in their mental fitness journeys. Entitled SOUNDBOARD, the series is designed to mirror the themes of Herndon’s new album and will be released alongside the album in late spring.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ty’s voice to the power of Pivotal Moments Media and the work we are doing to bring conversations about mental health and well-being to the mainstream,” said Bob Morgan, founder, and CEO of PMM. “Ty’s journey is a unique one that deserves to be heard and shared, and I know it will resonate with people from all walks of life who struggle with mental health, addiction, and the common trials and tribulations that stand in the way of happiness and healthiness. He has a lot to share, and we are proud to partner with him to do it.”
Pivotal Moments Media is a newly formed global entertainment and education brand, whose mission is to strengthen mental fitness worldwide by creating, distributing, and promoting entertainment and education programs that inspire and motivate people to become mentally fit, overcome adversity, and lead fulfilling lives. Herndon’s SOUNDBOARD podcast will be featured on PMM’s new channel focused on mental fitness for the creative community titled, RESILIENCE.
About Ty Herndon
Ty Herndon is a groundbreaking country music artist who burst onto the scene and made his chart debut in 1995 with “What Mattered Most,” which became his first No. 1 song and garnered a Song of the Year award (Music Row Magazine). It was also the title track to his first album, which debuted on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and had the biggest first-week shipment in the history of Epic Records Nashville.
Between 1995 and 2002, Herndon charted 17 singles, including his three No.1s and numerous top 10 hits, such as “I Want My Goodbye Back,” “Loved Too Much,” “A Man Holding On,” and “Hands of a Working Man.” He topped the charts in 1996 with the single “Living in a Moment” and again in 1998 with “It Must Be Love.”
In 2014, Herndon became the first major male country artist to publicly come out as gay in an exclusive with People magazine. He received an outpouring of support that only strengthened his relationship with fans and the country music community, all while expanding his reach to new and diverse audiences. Shortly after, he made history when he hosted a first-of-its-kind country music event, The Concert for Love and Acceptance, now an annual event that provides a stage for LGBTQ and allied artists. In 2020, he created the Foundation For Love & Acceptance to further his work on behalf of LGBTQ acceptance.
Herndon found himself back at No. 1 in 2020 — this time on iTunes with his remake of “Orphans of God,” a collaboration with Kristin Chenoweth and Paul Cardall featured on his holiday release, Regifted. He is currently working on a new album, JACOB, his first of all-new music since 2016’s House On Fire.
Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning, Ty’s voice is stronger than it’s ever been, and he’s using it to make a difference. In 2020, he created the Foundation For Love & Acceptance to further his work on behalf of LGBTQ acceptance and lends his time and talent to MusiCares, which has supported Ty through his own struggles and supports those in the music industry with a safety net of services. In 2022, he joined Pivotal Moments Media as a Brand Ambassador and as the first artist signed to the organization’s new record label, Pivotal Moments Music.
About Pivotal Moments Media:
Pivotal Moments Media recognizes that many people do not get the information and education to identify and cope with mental health issues early enough. Recent health reports indicate that we live in an unprecedented mental health crisis, and our youth are especially affected (HHS). The PMM platform will curate and produce education and entertainment through its website, film, music, and other avenues with resources to encourage mental fitness. Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Website
CONTACT:
Christy Walker-Watkins: christy@aristomedia.com
Her Journey Told: A Discussion of Atlas of the Heart with Beth Shaha, Part 2
Sandy and Certified Master Life Coach, Beth Shaha continue the discussion of Atlas of The Heart by Brene Brown. This discussion focuses on the what you feel when you start to compare yourself to others and how it can impact your mental fitness.
00:35 Master Certified Life Coach Beth Shaha sits in for part two of the discussion on the Brene Brown book, “Atlas of the Heart”
2:00 Beth gives a detailed synopsis of the book to open the show
4:00 Beth and Sandy review envy and jealousy as defined in the book, connecting their own experiences for better understanding of this new definition
10:27 The conversation pivots to a broader discussion – the hard work of properly identifying emotions and working with them in order to grow
14:18 Sandy and Beth discuss ‘when things don’t go as planned’ through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic
24:22 Beth quotes Brene Brown on setting expectations – “The more significant your expectations are, the more significant the disappointment is.”
28:41 Beth opens up about “the language of the human experience – dialing in, examining it, expressing it, and having the courage and the vulnerability to bring it forward.”
34:25 Sandy and Beth discuss Chapter 4: The Places We Go When It’s Beyond Us
38:02 The conversation pivots to how awe-inducing events or seeing the world can be a method for personal change and growth
44:24 Beth and Sandy talk about the differences between confusion, curiosity, interest and surprise
50:02 Sandy asks the question, what are some ways to explore getting to know yourself better?
57:22 Beth shares her contact info with the audience noting the value of life coaches
Life After the Military: Madeline Moulder
Do you want to meet a Superhero?
Are you a Military Spouse?
Meet the military spouse version of Captain America: Madeline Moulder!
In this episode of Life After the Military, Howie and Lee talk with military spouse, Madeline Moulder, the wife to former combat medic, Sergeant Jeremy Moulder.
Madeline describes the challenges of:
- being married at 19
- moving to Fort Lewis, Washington and expecting a newborn where she initially had no support structures to lean on
- preparing for her husband’s multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan
- helping Jeremy navigate through his challenges with post-traumatic stress
- helping Jeremy manage his medical separation for the Army with only 90 days of notice and preparation
- earning her higher education degrees while providing care to her dad, Jeremy, and her son, Jake
- helping Jeremy take an entrepreneurial step to create their business, USA Flagworks
Madeline transparently talks about how she and Jeremy tackled the challenge of dealing with Jeremy’s multiple combat deployments as a combat medic treating hundreds of casualties which led to his episodes of post-traumatic stress.
You will be inspired by this incredibly strong woman who so magnificently represents the incredible strength, talents and abilities of so many military spouses past and present!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashalexcooper/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madeline.moulder
USA Flagworks: https://usaflagworks.com/
Instagram: @madeline.moulder
Twitter: @madelinemoulder
0:00 Lee opens the podcast
00:30 Lee introduces Madeline
02:40 Madeline tells the story about how she and her husband, Jeremy, met and
describes their early life together after getting married
04:58 Madeline describes her childhood experiences growing up in a military family
09:57 Madeline talks about the challenges she had as a young military spouse who was expecting a child with a husband who immediately deployed to combat
16:43 Madeline shares how she prepared for Jeremy’s first combat deployment and describes the challenges she had to overcome
22:42 Madeline transparently talks about challenges she and Jeremy had when he returned from his first deployment and showed signs of post-traumatic stress
26:21 Madeline shares how she and Jeremy tackled the challenge of dealing with Jeremy’s PTS
28:44 Madeline talks about the signs of PTS that Jeremy exhibited
33:15 Madeline describes the volunteer work she did as a Family Readiness Group leader
37:46 Madeline talks about how she found things to keep her active which enabled her to deal with Jeremy’s absence while deployed
41:02 Madeline describes the challenges of dealing with exiting the Army with only 90 days of preparation as Jeremy was medically separated from the military
49:39 Madeline talks about how she earned her higher education degrees while being a caregiver to Jeremy and Madeline’s Dad
54:40 Madeline tells how she pursued employment after her father’s passing
57:37 Madeline describes how she and Jeremy created their business, USA Flagworks
1:05:10 Lee closes out the episode
Pivotal Moments Media Announces New Platform for Mental Fitness
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pivotal Moments Media Announces New Platform for Mental Fitness.
WASHINGTON, DC. (March 1, 2022) – Pivotal Moments Media (PMM), a national entertainment and education company, announces new platform for Mental Health and Fitness content, including podcasts, documentaries, feature films, music, and access to speakers. The company’s mission is to strengthen mental fitness worldwide by creating, distributing, and promoting entertainment and education programs that inspire and motivate people to become mentally fit, overcome adversity, and lead fulfilling lives.
PMM first partnered with EVERFI, a social impact technology company, to create a first of its kind Mental Wellness Basics course for high school students. The program has reached nearly one million students and counting. In 2021, PMM launched various channels dedicated to different communities. For mental fitness related to the military community (Charlie Mike Vets), for coaches and athletes (GRIT Athletes), for women (Her Journey) and for millennials/gen z in the workplace (We Are Everyone). Podcast guests include celebrities, pro-athletes, best-selling authors, and community influencers. Films can be found, like Saving The Roar, a documentary about the fortitude, grit and leadership of the young men on the 2012 Penn State Football team who saved the football program. Online educational, training and leadership materials are also developed under the company’s Pivotal Lessons channel.
PMM collaborates with brand ambassadors to develop and promote its content. “I’m thrilled to have on-board ground-breaking, multi-platinum artists like Ty Herndon, and emerging music stars like Autumn “Auti” Gillispie. Athletes like NFL player, Freddie Scott II and world renowned brain surgeon, Dr. Jason Cormier, have also joined as ambassadors.” said Bob Morgan, Founder and CEO.
Our content pipeline and ambassador list is growing. Up next is a new channel focused on mental fitness for creatives titled, Resilience. The first podcast will be hosted by Grammy-nominated, Dove award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist Ty Herndon. Episodes will feature a multitude of artists sharing wins and struggles in their mental health journeys.
“I am honored to be an Ambassador, creator, and teacher for PMM. In addition to my forthcoming album, “JACOB” I am developing a podcast called,‘Soundboard’. A soundboard in music is where you control the loudness of instruments on stage. I will share stories with other artists who will teach you how to turn down negative voices and thoughts in our minds, and turn up the positive and healthy.” says Herndon.
In the coming months, PMM will add new podcasts and content. This includes new music releases through Pivotal Moments Music, and access to qualified speakers through its newly launched Pivotal Voices Speakers Collective.
About Pivotal Moments Media
Pivotal Moments Media recognizes that many people do not get the information and education they need to identify and cope with mental health issues early enough. Many recent health reports indicate that we are living in an unprecedented mental health crisis and our youth especially are affected (HHS). The PMM platform will curate and produce education and entertainment through its website, film, music and other avenues with resources to encourage mental fitness. Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Website
CONTACT
Erin McNamara: erin@pivotalmomentsmedia.com
WIN: Championship Traits For Life - Representative Patrick Murphy
When you hear the word leadership, what comes to mind? Do you think of a specific person that influenced your life, or do you dive into descriptive words like decisive, dedicated and diligent? No matter the case, being a leader is a privilege we are all faced with at times. This week’s guest has served in a leadership role for most of his life.
The Honorable Patrick J. Murphy is the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress, the former acting Secretary of the army, a healthcare innovator in the public and private sectors, and a champion for veterans and mental health. As we’ll find out in the show, much, much more than that, he has worked with and among the men and women of uniform, professional athletes, former Congressmen and Congresswomen, and presidents of the United States.
Improving Our Mental Fitness with Financial Education
“There is a lot of anxiety about money…” On this episode of We Are Everyone, Libby Snyder, CFP, CPFA and Financial Adviser at Merrill Lynch, stops by the podcast to share the insight she has gathered on her path from teaching to helping people with financial planning.
She explains how understanding the mind runs deeply through both professions and ties them together, including the toll that disregarding financial preparedness can take on people’s wellness. She also describes her own mental fitness perspective as well as why she has learned to surround herself with those who create a positive environment.
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/libby-snyder-cfp%C2%AE-cpfa-092a5174
Website – https://fa.ml.com/maryland/bethesda/libby-snyder1/
1:47 Libby introduces herself and tells us about her journey from beginning as a teacher to becoming a financial adviser
4:04 Libby explains how her knowledge in education and psychology both relate to her skills as a teacher and financial professional
5:52 Jenn and Libby discuss how the lack of financial literacy in high schools contributes to poor financial decision making in college years
12:20 Libby poignantly answers the question, “how have you maintained your mental fitness and what does mental fitness mean to you?”
14:38 Libby explains that she finds people that align with her values by getting to know what’s most important to them.
16:25 Jenn asks the question, “How do you go about your day practicing mental fitness?”
20:00 Libby drops more wisdom and reminds us to care for those we may not know
