We Are Ocean: Suzanne Yeo - Lightbeam
Suzanne Yeo is an inspirational yoga instructor and breast cancer survivor from Camp We Are Ocean – an organization championing the restorative and healing powers of the ocean.
WIN: Championship Traits For Life - CPT(R) Ben Harrow
We’re not gonna hold back, our first episode of WIN is EPIC.
Watch or listen to this interview with Ben Harrow and you’ll have the word perseverance redefined while also learning how to conquer past incredibly intense adversity. Let us know what you love and learned!
Captain Ben Harrow is an accomplished special forces officer and decorated American hero, as well as a father, husband, and athlete. His journey started as an athlete, culminating in a collegiate Lacrosse career at West Point Military Academy. After graduation. Ben earned the rank of Captain and began his military career which included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. In May of 2012, while deployed in Afghanistan, Ben was leading a team of Green Berets on an anti terrorism mission when he stepped on an IED. He lost both legs above the knee, two fingers, and a large portion of flesh from his right forearm.
In spite of Doctors telling him that he would be restricted to a wheelchair the rest of his life, Ben refused to accept that outcome. Two months after stepping on the IED, Ben was out of Bed and moving. In spite of being told his femur was now too short for prosthetic limbs, Ben researched and found an experimental procedure to grow his femur bone back. After multiple surgeries, Ben was able to grow back 6.5 inches of his femur setting world records in the process. The procedure is now the standard for soldiers with similar injuries.
If that level of resilience wasn’t enough, Ben continued to push the limits of what he could do. In the summer of 2014, a little over two years after his near fatal accident, Ben stood up and walked under his own power. In June of 2016 Ben joined his team on the lacrosse field to participate in the Shootout For Soldiers event. To take it to another level, Ben began playing goalie for the USA Warriors sled hockey team and had such success at the position that he competes at the world stage having been the goalie for the Italian National Paralympic team.
In spite of his extensive injuries, Ben continues to define the words resilience, perseverance and triumph in the face of adversity.
Notes:
Ben talks about his love for Lacrosse and time at West Point: 03:16
Ben talks about being the hardest worker in the room: 6:24
Ben gives advice about finding a path in life: 10:35
Ben talks about mental toughness being a learned skill: 14:08
Ben tells his story and how he overcame his adversity: 17:36
Ben talks about his will to compete despite the extreme odds he had to face: 37:30
Ben shares the experience of walking back into his special forces unit: 43:36 Ben shares his secrets to staying in the present moment: 46:19
Ben discusses how the US military is truly the greatest team on the planet: 55:01
Ben talks about his mental fitness routine: 1:00:56
Detroit Hives: Transforming Vacant Detroit Lots into Urban Bee Farms - Lightbeam
In East Detroit, Tim Paule and Nicole Lindsey are transforming their community one hive at a time.
Art Therapy – Tackling Our Challenges Through Expression
“What I found is that I really loved listening to their stories and learning all about how they used art as a way of processing their pain and expressing themselves and kind of communicating all of that to the world.” Kathryn Mullins, a Resident in Licensed Professional Counseling in Virginia with a Master’s in Art Therapy, joined We Are Everyone to discuss how studying artists and their expression led her to a career in art therapy, the beneficial process of recapturing our own creativity, the power behind redefining the word strength and the importance of expanding access to art therapy.
Show notes:
0:00 Intro
0:58 Kathryn shares a little bit of history about herself and how she ended up becoming an art therapist
2:33 Kathryn talks about some of the things that made her be interested in art therapy and not any other counseling
5:07 Kathryn talks about how working as an art therapist led her to work with patients with eating disorders
7:19 Kathryn also talks about some of the methods for applying art therapy to counseling generally
10:34 Kathryn shares her thoughts when she hears the term mental fitness and what it means in her own terms
13:50 Kathryn shares her thoughts on why people need to redefine the terms mental fitness and mental strength
16:00 Kathryn talks about some of her experiences as a resident and licensed professional counselor and how it has impacted her approach to conversations
19:04 Kathryn talks about how her mental fitness techniques evolved throughout the pandemic
22:35 Kathryn talks about why we should not suppress or forget our emotions but recognize and process them as a reference point and how you can use art to help you do that
23:45 Kathryn talks about how creating art has helped her to be mentally fit and how it has helped her approach and stay in a position where she can help others
26:56 Kathryn shares ways in which you can discover yourself and also let loose of the professional side of things a little bit
28:30 Kathryn shares her advice for applying art therapy especially as it comes to mental fitness and how to continue to strengthen our mental fitness and boundaries
30:14 Kathryn also talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are different from you and who will challenge you
31:18 Kathryn talks about the importance of following artists on Instagram and watching films on Netflix about therapy and about art therapy
Books Mentioned:
Vincent Van Gogh and Frida Kahlo: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44502018-vincent-van-gogh-frida-kahlo
Quotes Mentioned:
“Art is a great form of self-expression.”
“Our mental health is just as important as our physical health.”
“Food is in a lot of ways how people connect with others and build communities and art is so similar.”
“Everybody has creative instincts and it’s just something they probably lost along the way.”
“It’s okay to back down.”
“Being strong is also being vulnerable and being honest about how you’re feeling.”
“Surround yourself with people from all walks of life.”
Guests Social Media Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-mullins-ma-resident-in-counseling-51049598/
Life After The Military - Ed Abner
In this Life After the Military episode, Lee and Howie interview Ed Abner, a retired United States Naval Officer and graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Ed shares his broad and deep experiences working in federal contracting in business development; holding executive leadership positions in a number of federal contracting organizations; consulting with other businesses to make them more successful and profitable; and, his extensive experiences as an effective teacher, coach and mentor.
0:00 Lee introduces the podcast
00:40 Lee introduces Ed Abner
1:45 Ed talks about how his military experience shaped him
6:00 Ed describes his baseball playing and coaching career
8:48 Ed explains how he learned to do federal contracting business development. Lee shares his experience with sales.
25:01 Ed shares about his federal contracting experience and work withFedSources
35:50 Ed talks about how he helped Howie transition from the military and to his corporate position, add value, and achieve success
44:00 Howie talks about the lack of corporate leadership and the need to help veterans transition into their organizations
47:30 Ed talks about the need for leaders to pay attention to what is going on in their organizations
49:00 Lee, Ed, and Howie talk about the need to ask for help if you are struggling with how to do your job, your mental fitness/health, or anything that cause you to feel stress
58:40 Ed describes how he joined the Achievance team as a leader and consultant
1:05:02 Ed talks about his athletic coaching experiences
1:16:00 Ed defines what mental fitness means to him and how he strengthens his own mental fitness
1:24:34 Lee suggests the title of Ed’s book if he were to write one
1:24:52 Lee closes out the episode
Life After The Military: Steve Sosland
Steve Sosland, Chief People Officer of the University of Texas Tech University System, and former United States Army Airborne Ranger Officer joins the Life After the Military podcast. Steve shares stories and talks about his military and corporate experiences; leadership, coaching, and mentoring; developing and sustaining a high-performing, values-based culture; personal and professional development; and gives a lesson on great whiskies and bourbons.
0:00 – 1:23 Introduction to podcast and Steve Sosland
1:58 – 7:16 Steve describes how his military experience and leaders shaped him
7:17- 11:00 Steve and Lee talk about the importance of strong team bonds
11:01 – 13:15 Steve and Howie talk about their personal mission statements
13:16 – 24:59 Steve talks about his experience at West Point, his early assignments, and his experiences with Brigadier General Herbert Lloyd, a military hero and legend
25:00 – 36:00 Steve describes his transition from the military and experience as a recruiter for military officers, talks about the impact of ego, and describes his work experience at KFC
36:01 – 44:44 Lee, Steve and Howie talk about leadership
44:45 – 47:00 Steve talks about his life’s purpose: developing and sustaining a high performing organization based on a strong set of core values
49:15 – 56:30 Steve defines the difference between mentoring and coaching
56:31 – 1:02:30 Steve talks about his entry into the healthcare field and building a values-based culture
1:07:30 – 1:16:15 Steve talks about being a life-long leader, the importance of self-development, and suggests four books to read
1:20:57 – 1:27:00 Steve shares his top picks for bourbon and whiskey
1:27:40 Lee gives Steve his book title
1:28:30 – 1:33:54 Steve shares his definition of mental fitness and what he does to strengthen his own mental fitness
1:35:30 – 1:36:40 Steve thanks all who were in uniform or are currently in uniform
1:36:45 Lee closes the episode
Steve’s Social Media:
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-sosland-58492010/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1039208053
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ssosland
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/stevesosland/
On Meditation With Sharon Salzberg (The Path to Inner Healing) - Lightbeam
Explore the path of the inner journey with New York TImes bestselling author and teacher of Buddhist meditation practices, Sharon Salzberg.
Stronger than bullying (short-film) - Lightbeam
A touching story of one survivor’s resilience and healing after the trauma of bullying.
Defining and Maintaining Your Mental Fitness
“Different workouts work for different people; just as different therapy works for different people.” Sara Battista, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Saroya Tinker, NWHL defenseman, recent graduate of Yale, mentor and podcast host, share the importance of discovering the mental fitness approach that works best for you, tackle toxic positivity and social media impacts, discuss the connection between mental health and activism and advise on the importance of compassion and listening.
0:00 Intro
1:29 Saroya shares a little bit of history about herself, where she’s from, what she does, and also her podcast
2:37 Sara also shares a little bit of background about herself and also what she does as a career
4:42 Saroya talks about the term mental fitness and what comes to her mind when she first hears the term
5:40 Sara also talks about mental fitness, what the term means to her and what comes to her mind when she hears the word
7:26 Sara talks about what to do and what not to do for you to be mentally fit
8:15 Saroya talks about the importance of finding out what works out for you in terms of workouts and therapies so that you remain physically fit
9:16 Saroya shares memories that she has and experiences that she has had that challenge the qualities of resilience
10:24 Sara shares some of the things that the young generations are doing that are challenging the qualities of resilience
12:45 Sara talks about the importance of listening to others and being humbled by their experiences as a way to improve your mental fitness
13:34 Saroya also talks about the importance of listening to others and understand that your experience is not the same as theirs
15:39 Saroya talks about the impact of social media on mental wellness and why people should not post things for the satisfaction of others
17:02 Sara also talks about the impact of social media on mental fitness and why people should be mindful of what they do with their social media platforms
18:26 Saroya talks about the importance of looking deeper into why we’re following what we’re following on social media and how we want it to affect us
19:14 Sara also talks about how social media can cause depression and eating disorders and why you need to be mindful of how much you take in from it
21:51 Saroya talks about how her perspective and approach to mental health has evolved over the years
24:09 Sara also talks about how her perspective and approach to mental health has evolved over the years
27:48 Saroya talks about how the younger generation approaches mental health and what should be done
28:37 Sara also talks about how the younger generation approaches mental health and what she feels should be done
32:43 Sara talks about the importance of being open and having conversations about what you are feeling about mental health
34:20 Saroya and Sara talk about the importance of going for therapy and how that can improve your mental health and that of others
37:43 Sara and Saroya talk about why people should not compare themselves with others and understand that people are different and experience things differently
42:10 Saroya talks about some of the things that she does that she feels fuel her mental fitness muscle
43:01 Sara also shares some of the things that she does that she also feels fuel her mental fitness muscle
46:02 Saroya and Sara share their closing statements and advice that they feel listeners should know Books Mentioned: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Shows Mentioned:
https://www.shutupandplaypodcast.com/
Quotes Mentioned:
“Different workouts work for different people, just as different therapy works for different people.”
“You get resilience and grit from compassion.”
“Just because you had an experience doesn’t mean that the other person had that same experience.” “Never judge a book by its cover.”
“Uncomfortable emotions are part of the human experience.”
“Everyone has to experience some kind of anxiety, but they don’t know how to name it.”
“Don’t make assumptions and don’t take anything personally.”
“Seek out mental health care, give it a try even if you think you don’t need it or there’s no point.”
Guests Social Media Links:
Sara Battista Website: https://www.sarabattistatherapy.com/
Email: SaraBattistaTherapy@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-battista-lcpc-lpc-43237151/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarabattistatherapy/?hl=en
Saroya Tinker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saroya-tinker-jc71/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saroya.tinker
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saroyatinker71/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saroyatinker71
Life After The Military: Skate for the 22 Foundation
In this episode, we talk with Bobby Colliton and Jonathan Demers who started the Skate for the 22 Foundation. Bobby and Jonathan formed the Skate for the 22 Foundation to reduce the tragically high number of military suicides by providing hockey, learn to skate, and skills development sessions, at no cost to their players with the goal of getting veterans back into a supportive, team environment.
0:00 Lee intros the podcast
0:42 Lee introduces Jonathan Demers and Bobby Colliton from the Skate for the 22 Foundation
3:06 Bobby explains the purpose behind the Skate for the 22 Foundation
8:32 Bobby explains the use of hockey to help Veterans by creating a team environment that they miss after leaving the military
14:42 Bobby shares how he created Skate for the 22
19:19 Bobby and Jonathan talk about how Skate for the 22 is organized and how players may offer services to other players
28:12 Bobby shares how his military experiences prepared him to create the Skate for the 22
33:40 Bobby talks about how others may create a similar foundation that gets others involved
37:43 Jonathan talks about how his military experience helped him with his involvement in Skate for the 22
43:04 Bobby and Jonathan share their transition experiences and describe the huge value that their military leadership training brought them in the corporate world 53:50 Bobby talks about how to integrate veterans into the workforce
58:42 Jonathan talks about their podcast, Behind the Boots
1:03:35 Bobby and Jonathan define mental fitness and what they do to strengthen their mental fitness
1:07:30 Bobby describes how to get involved in Skate for the 22
1:11:32 Howie closes out the episode
