Couch Stories

 It's hard to believe how many old and new hardships Amber Valdez has had to overcome — but they've made her stronger for herself, and an inspiring mentor to others. Listen in to hear how you can change “you're crazy” into “your life purpose.” Follow @iamambervaldez and visit www.ambervaldez.com.

Dawn Averitt was diagnosed with HIV in 1988 at age 19 and has since become one of the nation's most prominent HIV and AIDS advocates as well as an accomplished speaker and published writer on women's health issues. As the founder of the Women's Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS (WRI), Dawn has been instrumental in shifting the research paradigm to include more women and people of color. Ms. Averitt is the founder of The Well Project, a non-profit organization formed in 2002 to improve the lives of women living with HIV and AIDS and change the course of the AIDS pandemic through a comprehensive focus on treatment and prevention for women. She joins Dr. M to kick off HIV and AIDS Awareness Month, to share how she transformed herself from fearing the worst when she first learned of her HIV status, to becoming the fierce advocate for others that she is today.

Mary Randolph Carter is the quintessential American style icon, executive, and muse to Ralph Lauren for over 30 years. She's a regular contributor to Country Living Magazine and has authored book after book about creating a warm and inviting home with things that others may even call junk. In this sometimes raw interview, she shares how she learned about resilience from her parents after her family survived not one, but two,  devastating house fires that took the lives of loved ones, heirlooms, and family homesteads — but never her perseverance or steadfast love of family, home, and welcoming others. 

Carmeon Hamilton, is a wife, mom, interior designer and lifestyle blogger based in Memphis, TN. A stickler for the details, she's sought after by residential and commercial clients alike, to bring life and style to everyday spaces.  She and Dr. M discuss how they both strive to help others love the way they live, not just during the pandemic, but every day.  A lifestyle rising star, Carmeon is likely to find a place in your heart, just as she does in the homes of every one of her clients. 

Willie Moore, Jr is perhaps best known for his work in the entertainment industry, as the Grammy recognized R&B artist, Pretty Willie, and for his wildly successful “The Willie Moore, Jr. Show” with over 2 million listeners weekly. In celebrating National Adoption Month, Dr. M asks him about one of his less well-known passions — helping families foster and adopt children —soon the be the subject of a documentary, The Missing Peace Movie, with a release date of 12-20-2020. He is the Founder of the WilFlo Foundation that helps parents provide homes to children who need them and he partners with Bethany Christian Services to help with fostering and adoption internationally. To learn more and give, visit www.williemoorejr.org,  www.bethany.org, and www.themissingpeacemovie.com. 

Brad Trotter, CEO of the non-profit organization, The Pink Wig Project, shares his heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking account, of how his wife Teri, discovered joy and inspiration after chemotherapy in a bright pink wig and decided to create thIs organization to share her joy with other cancer warriors like herself. Sadly she lost her fight to breast cancer, leaving Brad to raise two children alone, who together as a family have continued to promote breast cancer awareness through The Pink Wig Project.  This is a resilience in action story of a family that turned their heartache into a legacy that helps women all over the world feel better about themselves and forget about cancer for a few priceless moments.  Visit www.pinkwig.org and for a small donation, The Pink Wig Project will send the gift of a pink wig and all of the love, support, and joy that the wig represents. 

Mother of three, Casey Somerville, sits down with Dr. M to discuss how how she opted to have preventative surgeries after learning that she was BRCA1 gene positive,  before she developed cancer like so many of the women in her family. She is an ambassador for www.BeBrightPink.org, a non-profit organization that promotes Risk Assessment and cancer Prevention among young women at www.assessyourrisk.org .

Educational philanthropist, Ellie Knauss, talks about how she came from a family where many had breast cancer and of being a 15 year survivor of breast cancer survivor herself. Her story of overcoming triple negative breast cancer to become a cheerleader to other women who are fighting the disease themselves today is inspirational.   

In this highly personal and sometimes raw episode, Dr. M shares a story about his own emotional journey during the pandemic dealing with his sister's death to complications of COVID, and his spouse needing open heart surgery.  He was reminded of a young family that he worked with years ago who were dealing with the death of their mother. Remembering how he helped them to cope with their feelings long ago help him cope with his own today.

In this highly personal and sometimes raw episode, Dr. M shares a story about his own emotional journey during the pandemic dealing with his sister's death to complications of COVID, and his spouse needing open heart surgery.  He was reminded of a young family that he worked with years ago who were dealing with the death of their mother. Remembering how he helped them to cope with their feelings long ago help him cope with his own today.

Dr. Laymon Hicks is one of the most highly sought after youth motivational speakers in middle schools and high schools all around the country. He sits down with Dr. M the value of teaching kids how to overcome failure, the importance of being an authentic adult with children, and the challenges of remaining optimistic when observing racism in America today. His book, A Kid’s Book About Failure, can be found on www.akidsbookabout.com and he can be invited to speak at your school at www.laymonhicks.com. 

Author, therapist, executive coach, Rick Carson, shares some of his well-developed strategies for getting deeply connected to the love that is in each of us in order to reveal our true selves. Often that involves taming our gremlins — and there is no better way to learn how than from the chief gremlin tamer himself. 

In a salute to healthcare workers everywhere, Dr. M interviews Dr. Jacqueline Mahal, an Emergency Room medical doctor working in the Bronx, NY while it was the very epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.  She shares stories about what it's been like to be a mother, a wife, and a doctor in the trenches.

Inspired by a letter from one of his listeners, Dr. M tells a story he learned from his grandmother about the importance of telling the truth.

Celebrated scientist and author, Dr. Angela Duckworth, not only shares her thoughts about grit, resilience, and character development, but she gets personal with a resilience story of her own.

As a successful businessman today, this former policeman talks about why he quit the force when the work of modern policing became too soul crushing.  He describes how working in law enforcement led him to feel hated -- and to hate --and to engage in secret-keeping and other behaviors he now deeply regrets. Since leaving the force, his views on race relations have dramatically changed. He speaks of his transformation after years of self-reflection and now from listening intently to the Black Lives Matter movement. Today he comes forward to offer his story in hopes of contributing to the greater good.As a successful businessman today, this former policeman talks about why he quit the force when the work of modern policing became too soul crushing.  He describes how working in law enforcement led him to feel hated -- and to hate --and to engage in secret-keeping and other behaviors he now deeply regrets. Since leaving the force, his views on race relations have dramatically changed. He speaks of his transformation after years of self-reflection and now from listening intently to the Black Lives Matter movement. Today he comes forward to offer his story in hopes of contributing to the greater good.

As a successful businessman today, this former policeman talks about why he quit the force when the work of modern policing became too soul crushing.  He describes how working in law enforcement led him to feel hated -- and to hate --and to engage in secret-keeping and other behaviors he now deeply regrets. Since leaving the force, his views on race relations have dramatically changed. He speaks of his transformation after years of self-reflection and from listening intently to the Black Lives Matter movement. Today he comes forward to offer his story in hopes of contributing to the greater good.

Business woman, master fitness trainer, and mother of two talks about virtual fitness training during the pandemic, and the changes that young parents have had to negotiate when their children's schools closed for the remainder of the year. She shares her personal challenges of how to handle exercise and eating after an injury during the pandemic. Don’t miss Meredith’s vivacious can-do approach to making plans to be healthy and sticking with them. 

Celebrated  British author of children’s literature, Julie Hearn, talks about how she triumphed over a number of losses, including her eyesight.  Her exuberance and good humor is infectious and she shares her heartfelt story. 

Dr. M sits down with Greg Audino to talk about his transition from being an actor in California to his work as a Certified Life Coach in his home state of Rhode Island, his development of resilience in the struggle of a break-up, and what lessons he learned from these experiences.

As we all consider what life will be like after the pandemic is behind us, Dr. Mandanis turns to his Greek heritage to consider a virtue for the times ahead.

Tim Richards is a life-long educator who offers a unique perspective on preparing today’s teenagers to adapt to struggles and be more resilient not only during the pandemic, but long into the future after high school as well.

Season 1 episode 7 “Trust in the Forest” released Wednesday April 1, 2020.

If you’re looking for tips for not only being physically healthy during the Coronavirus pandemic, but emotionally healthy as well, listen to this Special Episode. Let’s make keeping calm contagious.

One of reasons that many people decide to enter into therapy is to do something about panic or anxiety. Lots of people literally worry themselves sick. Grab some popcorn, we’re headed to the movies for a story that just may help.

An interview with Annette Simmons, author, storyteller, and friend.

This episode will air on Valentine’s Day for the first time. By now, you all have found the right Valentine for your wife or your husband or girlfriend or boyfriend. But have you ever noticed that you can’t buy a Valentine to yourself when there is no one more important to love that YOU.

The recipe for resilience isn’t always available in a cook book or a food network video. Sometimes it is helpful to learn about a few secret ingredients from someone who knows her way around a hot kitchen.

Season 1 Episode 2 of Couch Stories: One Story Can Change Your Life.

Season 1 Episode 1 of Couch Stories: De-cide to be Happy.

Introduction to season 1 of Couch Stories.