A Twist of Fate

Kenna did not have what you would consider a typical childhood. Her parents divorced when she was about a year old, and her mom's battle with drug addiction had her in and out of rehab centers, and sometimes without a home. In this episode, we explore the impact of addiction on families, the complexities it creates in a parent-child relationship, and the empathy needed for those facing similar challenges. If you or a loved one is struggling with drug addiction, you may call the National Drug Abuse & Addiction Hotline: (844) 289-0879. Visit https://drughelpline.org for more details. ---------------

"Blowing out someone else's candle doesn't make yours shine any brighter." Harmony was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan. She is the proud daughter of a Nigerian father, and a Japanese mother. At an early age, Harmony became increasingly aware of her looks and ethnicity, after being severely bullied in traditional Japanese school. It had a huge impact on her mental health, and it escalated to a point where she had to be transferred to a new school. Tune in to this episode to learn more about what it's like to be Black in Japan, what racism and discrimination looks like in Asia, and the negative effects of bullying on children. --------------- If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying, you can find helpful resources on the official "Stop Bullying" website: https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/get-help-now ---------------

“You are not the darkness you endured. You are the light that refused to surrender.” Liz thought that she had it all. The perfect life with a perfect new job, and a perfect boyfriend. Until one night, she and her boyfriend went out drinking, only for her to wake up the next day with blood all over her pillow, unable to remember what happened. She had been violently attacked. This episode discusses the harsh reality of abuse, the fear of speaking up, and the learnings that come with the experience. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233) SMS: Text START to 88788 ---------------

Mike is the father to a beautiful 2 and a half year old girl, Celia. In October of 2022, he and his wife at the time decided to get a divorce. Shortly after, he packed his bags and moved out. He now has shared custody of Celia and spends half his week as a full-time parent, and half the time learning how to be single again. In this episode, we talk about the challenges of single parenting, its impact on mental health, and learning how to navigate life in what is now your new normal.---------------

When Jean's mother developed an unknown and aggressive form of cancer, her entire life had to be put on hold. She quit her job at the time to help care for her sick mom, only to lose her about a year later. Fast forward a few years, Jean gets yet another scare as her father gets suffers from a heart attack - which happened right after one of the happiest moments of her life, her wedding. Together, we explore the depths of grief, the power of resilience, and the transformative nature of loss. ---------------

“To anyone out there who's hurting — it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help. It's a sign of strength.” - Barack Obama For as long as he can remember, Carlo has struggled with low self esteem. He was surrounded by a loving family, friends that cared about him, and had recently gotten engaged to his long time girlfriend. Despite this, he couldn't shake off the feelings of depression and low self worth. One day in 2022, after a difficult situation led to him getting cancelled by his close friends, he tried taking his own life. His family was heartbroken, but they eventually took him to the mental ward to get professional help. In this Part 2 episode, we go deeper on Carlo's experience in the mental ward, and what he learned from this time of personal reflection. He teaches us the importance of seeking help when you need it, and to be more understanding of other people's traumas and hardships. -- Please know that asking for help is a sign of strength — not weakness. If you're in a crisis, please dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you're looking for professional help or looking for specific support, we encourage you to use Good Good Good's Mental Health Resources Guide. You can also text HOME to 741-741 to instantly connect with a trained crisis counselor, 24/7, for free. -- ☕ support by buying me a coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/beagutierrez)

**TRIGGER WARNING: Contains sensitive language around suicide, please be advised** “To anyone out there who's hurting — it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help. It's a sign of strength.” - Barack Obama For as long as he can remember, Carlo has struggled with low self esteem. He was surrounded by a loving family, friends that cared about him, and had recently gotten engaged to his long time girlfriend. Despite this, he couldn't shake off the feelings of depression and low self worth. One day in 2022, after a difficult situation led to him getting cancelled by his close friends, he tried taking his own life. His family was heartbroken, but they eventually took him to the mental ward to get professional help. In this Part 1 episode, Carlo shares more about his family life and upbringing, and the culmination of experiences that led to him reaching rock bottom. He shares vulnerable details about his suicide attempt, and the overwhelming emotions and pain surrounding it. -- Please know that asking for help is a sign of strength — not weakness. If you're in a crisis, please dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you're looking for professional help or looking for specific support, we encourage you to use Good Good Good's Mental Health Resources Guide. You can also text HOME to 741-741 to instantly connect with a trained crisis counselor, 24/7, for free. -- ☕ support by buying me a coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/beagutierrez)

“When you focus on someone's disability you'll overlook their abilities, beauty and uniqueness. Once you learn to accept and love them for who they are, you subconsciously learn to love yourself unconditionally.” - Yvonne Pierre Like many of us, family has played a huge role in Sam's life. His father was a medical missionary, and met his mother at a church she frequented during a phase of homelessness, with 2 kids in tow. They soon married and shared 9 more children together. A few years after Sam was born, they welcomed his brother Caleb. He was born with only one hand, and with Down Syndrome, a genetic disorder causing developmental delays and differences in physical features. Sam has spent his life caring for Caleb and trying his hardest to be his teacher, his hero, only to realize later on that Caleb had actually been that for him. In this episode, Sam sheds light on the joys and struggles of navigating life with a sibling who is differently-abled and how it has shaped him into the person he is today. He teaches us the importance of selfless love and becoming a champion for inclusion and belonging. LinkedIn Learning Path on Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/paths/build-a-more-equitable-and-inclusive-workplace?u=104 --- ☕ support by buying me a coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/beagutierrez)

Listen to this short trailer to learn more about what this podcast is about! I'm excited that you're here. Thank you! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beagutierrez/support

Tommy was walking to work at his new job when he suddenly felt symptoms of what seemed like a sinus infection. His condition quickly worsened with different parts of his body failing, and he went from doctor to doctor trying to find an answer with no luck. He then started to notice that he couldn't move one side of his face. After multiple misdiagnoses, one doctor finally shared that he likely had what was called Ramsay Hunt Syndrome - a very rare neurological disorder that causes facial paralysis and hearing loss, impacting 5 out of every 100k people, mostly ages 60 and up. You may have heard about Ramsay Hunt in the news recently, as Justin Bieber announced in June that he would stop touring due to his condition. In this season finale episode, we talk about what it's like to have such a rare medical condition, how important a strong support system is in the healing process, and what a shift in mindset can do to change how you see the world and yourself. ---------------

“Just because I can't control what life throws at me, doesn't mean I can't control how I handle it." - Devin Duncan Hae Jun was the victim of a hit and run accident in New York City. He was biking home from a work happy hour, and suddenly gets hit by a car that speeds off after the incident. Doctors initially told him there was a chance he may never walk again. After months in a neck brace and doing physical therapy, he has returned to a relatively normal life but with a newfound perspective on what really matters. In this episode, Hae Jun teaches us about the importance of a healthy mindset during a difficult period, focusing on the small wins, and creating more meaning in your life. ---------------

“No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body” ― Margaret Sanger In March of 2021, Jen was ecstatic to find out that she was pregnant with her second child - a son she had named Luke. During her second trimester, her doctor broke the terrible news that she had had a miscarriage, and recommended that she get an abortion to avoid the risks of induced labor. She and her husband went to Planned Parenthood the next day, where they were berated by people yelling names like murderer and killer. In this episode, we discuss the intricacies of having an abortion, and unpack the pain and trauma that is often kept private, and hidden in the shadows. ---------------

"Wish not so much to live long as to live well." — Benjamin Franklin In 2008, Kevin Delaney woke up from a coma with doctors telling his family that he had only about 24 hours left to live. He was 42 years old, active and healthy, and now suddenly in need of an emergency liver transplant. The odds were stacked against him, but by some miracle, a few hours later they found an organ donor match in Arizona. Kevin was given a second shot at life, and now spends it helping teach others how to live life to the fullest. --------------- Buy Kevin's Book - A Life Worth Living (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Life-Worth-Living-Finding-Imagined-ebook/dp/B08H1DLFHQ Check out Kevin's official website and sign up for his email newsletter: https://www.kevinjohndelaney.com/ ---------------

"Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do." Carla is in her mid-30s and just recently gave birth to her first child - a beautiful baby boy named Wade. Her journey to motherhood has not been easy - she and her husband had been trying to get pregnant for over four years. Carla was diagnosed with what is known as "Premature Ovarian Failure" - doctors had told her that she had less than a 5% chance of conceiving. After more than 20 IVF cycles and countless hormone injections, they are finally welcoming the newest addition to their family. In this episode, we talk about the oftentimes hidden struggles of fertility challenges, the guilt and shame that come with it, as well as the incredible miracle of life.

“Family is like branches on a tree; we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.” Dennis is a 37 year old Columbian man who was adopted by a family in Sweden. For his entire life, he didn't know much about his family other than what was written on his adoption papers. This all changed when, a few months ago, Dennis took a DNA test which led to him finally getting reunited with his long lost biological sister Annelie. He is now a proud uncle of 2 children, Lima and Alba, and is busy catching up on 37 years of lost time. timestamps: [03:17] as a child, understanding what it means to be adopted [04:26] what it's like to start getting curious at a young age about your biological family [06:42] getting cold feet about the search, and deciding to hold off [08:38] reaching a turning point to begin the search [12:31] DNA test leads to an introduction [18:52] navigating emotions during the first meeting [20:53] learning more about the past [22:24] what's next post-reunion [25:36] lessons learned

"In war, truth is often the first casualty." - Winston Churchill Olya Sukhopar is a US-based Ukrainian native whose family and friends are currently taking shelter in Central Ukraine amidst the ongoing war. Her mother has had to evacuate to Poland to seek medical assistance for her health issues. Outside of her day job, Olya is fighting the informational war with her volunteer efforts at "Now in Ukraine", a media non-profit that translates and serves local news using verified sources. In this episode, we talk about the situation in Ukraine, and the far-reaching impact its had on people who have had to worry about the safety of their loved ones. #StandWithUkraine

"The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other." - Mario Puzo Bijan Hardison is a 29-year old military veteran who grew up in a household with 15 foster siblings, and today, is responsible for raising his 18 year old foster sister. In this episode, we explore the complexities of foster families, and what it takes to show up for the people in your life who each have different needs. Bijan teaches us about compassion and acceptance of the family you choose to keep.

"We repeat what we don't repair." - Christine Langley Obaugh Luigi works as a psychotherapist helping clients from all walks of life navigate their own personal challenges. In this episode, we explore the intricacies of providing emotional support for others while at the same time taking care of your own mental health. We dig into Luigi's own journey with therapy, and the "aha moment" behind wanting a career whose purpose is to help lift others.

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Yorick is my stepbrother, but just 2 years ago, I knew him as my stepsister Yesika. In February of 2020, Yesika began the transition from female to male - including hormone therapy, surgery, and a name change to Yorick. In this episode, we discuss the experience of becoming a new version of yourself and how we approach creating our own identity.