Modern Day Over-Thinker

In this heartfelt episode of The Modern Day Overthinker Podcast, host Collin Strajack returns after a transformative hiatus to share his journey through OCD treatment. After months of debilitating intrusive thoughts and isolation, Collin opens up about his 60-day residential treatment in Wisconsin, where he tackled his OCD with exposure response prevention (ERP) therapy. From chaotic yet bonding moments with fellow patients to finding solace in comedy as therapy, Collin reflects on his path to recovery. Now back home, he discusses balancing work, ongoing therapy, and personal growth while challenging the grip OCD once had on his life. With gratitude for his supportive family, friends, and recovery community, Collin delivers an honest, inspiring update on facing fears head-on and reclaiming his values.

In this episode of the "Modern Day Overthinker" podcast, host Collin Strajack talks with guest Bailee Huethert about personal struggles and recovery, particularly in the context of addiction. Bailee shares her journey into recovery, which began unexpectedly during a work trip away from familiar support structures, leading her to her first recovery meeting. She delves into the challenges of recovery, emphasizing the difference between mere abstinence and true recovery, a distinction highlighted by her father's insights. A significant part of the conversation focuses on Bailee's battles with mental health issues, including severe depression diagnosed from a young age, and her complex relationship with her mother, which feeds into her complex PTSD. She discusses the importance of support systems and being truthful in therapeutic settings to truly benefit from them. Bailee and Collin also touch upon lighter topics, such as gaming and living arrangements, providing a break from the more intense themes of addiction and recovery. They discuss the impact of COVID-19 on personal relationships and the commonality of coping mechanisms that people often adopt in stressful times. Towards the end of the podcast, there's a shift towards a discussion of faith and spirituality. Bailee expresses a nuanced view on organized religion, suggesting that while it does not currently meet her needs, she recognizes its value for others and does not completely close off the possibility of it playing a role in her future. Overall, this episode of the podcast offers a deep dive into the challenges and nuances of personal recovery and mental health, balanced with everyday realities and a touch of humor, providing a comprehensive and relatable discussion for listeners. For all the links: www.moderndayoverthinker.com

On this episode of the Modern Day Overthinker podcast, we delve deep into the intricate world of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) with special guest Cody Fournier, a licensed independent clinical social worker LICSW who currently works with NOCD (www.treatmyocd.com), a platform dedicated to helping people treat their OCD. Our conversation traverses a range of poignant and educational topics, offering invaluable insights for anyone touched by OCD. We start by exploring the roots of Cody's interest in OCD, tracing back to his personal journey of losing his mother to substance abuse and how this traumatic experience ignited his own OCD. Cody candidly shares his experiences with changing subtypes of OCD and the common misconceptions that surround this often-misunderstood disorder. A significant portion of our talk is dedicated to discussing Harm OCD, a lesser-known subtype, and how OCD tends to attack what we value most. Cody's passion shines through as he explains why he loves working as an OCD therapist, especially in the current landscape of OCD awareness in 2024. We also delve into the challenges of being incorrectly diagnosed, the phenomenon of high-functioning individuals who hide their OCD and anxiety, and the intricacies of explaining one's OCD to others. Cody shares his journey of specializing in OCD therapy and the profound satisfaction he feels witnessing the progress of his patients through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy. As we navigate the conversation, Cody offers practical advice on managing and treating OCD, emphasizing the importance of confronting short-term discomfort in therapy for long-term gain. We also touch upon the critical topics of addiction, avoidance, and how external stressors can heighten OCD symptoms. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand more about OCD, from those living with the disorder to loved ones seeking to support them, and even mental health professionals looking to deepen their knowledge. Join us as we unpack the complexities of OCD with Cody Fournier. Learn more about Cody here: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/my-path-to-treating-ocd-began-as-a-teenager Follow him here: https://www.instagram.com/codyfournier.ocd/ Find treatment and resources for OCD here: https://www.treatmyocd.com/

Ben Hagarty is a video director, cinematographer, and podcaster from Cedar Falls, Iowa. On this episode (recorded 1/8/24), Ben and I discuss his journey to success as a creator who has worked with some of the biggest artists, celebrities, and brands in the world. His journey is inspiring to say the least. When it comes to his work ethic, networking skills, and talents behind the scenes, Ben is a creator like no other. His value in his industry is an another level. That is not him saying this either because he is too humble to say all of that... which is another reason I enjoyed speaking with Ben. We even talked about how much he could flex with his accomplishments, but doesn't feel the need to do so. The dude has a Grammy award for his work on Homecoming: A Film By Beyonce and casually brought it up like it wasn't a big deal. That's the kind of Ben is. A successful guy with humility who keeps himself grounded. We talk about how and what attributes to those qualities as well. We talked about a lot on this episode because Ben loves to talk about what he does considering he 100% loves what he does. I was also ready to listen and ask all the questions I could think of to learn more about a dude I have watched explode into a creative machine online for over a decade after connecting in Cedar Falls around 2010. Here are the 5 key topics of discussion I had with Ben Hagarty: - Creative journey - Personal growth & challenges - The inspiration from artists he loves and has worked with he is obtained - Building a creative community (Black With No Cream) - His family upbringing and Iowa roots It was awesome having Ben Hagarty on the podcast as a fellow Iowan, dreamer, and creator. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did making it. Keep up with Ben here: https://www.benrealvsworld.com/ https://www.instagram.com/benrealvsworld/ https://www.instagram.com/blackwithnocream/ Keep up with Modern Day Overthinker and Collin the host here: https://moderndayoverthinker.com/

On the latest episode of the Modern Day Overthinker podcast, we dive into the world of fitness and personal training with Chase Hollmer, a Sports Performance Coach, Hybrid Athlete, and Online Personal Trainer. Chase and I discussed exploring the mental benefits of fitness. Chase stresses the importance of consistency in any fitness regime, discussing how regularity is more crucial than anything when it comes to working out. We also agreed that the that embracing discomfort and doing things that are challenging can lead to remarkable growth, both physically and mentally. Supplements are a hot topic in fitness, and Chase does not shy away from sharing his personal regimen and recommendations. We also talked about some of the trends and crazes in fitness, including Chase's opinions on cold plunges and the '75 Hard' challenge. Chase offers a balanced view, considering both the benefits and potential drawbacks. One of his key messages is about finding joy in exercise. He encourages listeners to engage in workouts they genuinely enjoy, as passion is a significant driver of persistence in fitness. We also delve into the challenges of coaching young athletes.  Chase also shares his experiences and the unique approaches required to train the youth. This episode is not just for fitness enthusiasts but for anyone looking to gain practical insights into health, wellness, and personal growth. Keep up with Chase here: https://www.instagram.com/hollmertime https://www.tiktok.com/@hollmertime https://www.youtube.com/@Hollmertime

On episode 79 of the Modern Day Overthinker podcast, I dive deep into a variety of topics with another great guest: Adam Peters. Adam Peters is the Director of Operations at Clock, Inc. LGBT+ Community Center in the Quad Cities, a Show Choir Coach, Runner, and Political Campaign Organizer. Join us as we explore his journey through sobriety, working on political campaigns, coming out, his experience of being adopted, his self-care practices, therapy, managing anxiety, and practicing gratitude. Don't forget to subscribe to the Modern Day Overthinker podcast for more thought-provoking discussions. Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below, and be sure to share this episode with your friends! Instead of social links, Adam has asked I provide the following link for you to support Clock, Inc. https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/YeIG6g?vid=12ymso Keep up with Modern Day Overthinker here: https://www.facebook.com/mdoverthinker https://www.instagram.com/mdoverthinker/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mdoverthinker https://twitter.com/mdoverthinker https://moderndayoverthinker.com/

Bobby Ray Bunch is a veteran, realtor, comedian, musician, realtor, and event planner from the Quad Cities. We sat down and discussed a variety of topics on this episode which included comparing yourself to others, his experience in the military, ketamine therapy, self talk, self sabotage, mental well being, the vulnerability of stand up comedy, Matt Rife outrage, deleting old Facebook memories, taking responsibility and taking action for getting better, what has worked for him, and having a purpose. Another solid episode with a guest who brought a lot to the table. Keep up with Bobby here: https://www.bobbyraybunch.com https://www.foodtruckfight.com https://www.brbishome.com

On this episode of the Modern Day Overthinker podcast, I spoke with Ramiro Antonio Perez about his battles with addiction, mental health, and building a new life. I appreciate Ramiro for being so open and audience with me during our talk (recorded 11/11/23) and hope to have many more conversions with him in the future. New episodes of the Modern Day Overthinker podcast are released every other Monday. This one was a little late, but I promise it is worth the wait. Keep up with everything MDOT here: www.moderndayoverthinker.com Sponsors: Fly Over State Pictures https://www.facebook.com/flyoverstatepictures Lillie and Pine https://www.lillieandpine.com/ Use code MDOT at checkout for $10 off your order!

Grace McCubbin is an advocate, speaker, and business owner here in the Quad Cities. She and I sat down and discussed her recent TEDx talk in Davenport, Iowa which was focused on her son's (16 years old at the time) cardiac arrest back in February. We also discussed how she ended up on the TEDx stage sharing that story. Following that, we discussed her experience developing trauma induced OCD, being a child of an alcoholic, imposter syndrome, authenticity, and advocating for yourself medically. That, and much more is incapsulated in this episode. Remember to keep up with the social media pages: @mdoverthinker on all platforms :) New episodes of the podcast drop every Monday!

Dan Alten is a standup comedian based in Louisville, Kentucky. However, he spends most of his time on the road doing shows throughout the country. I was fortunate enough to host a show for him on 10/7 at The V'ue in Clinton, IA. Since Dan was crashing at my place that night, we decided to record the podcast after the show since he had to hit the road again for another show in another state the next day. This is an episode unlike any other because the majority of the conversation was about Dan being what we call a "road comic" who seems to almost always be on tour. As another comedian, I was very curious about this lifestyle and I hope others will appreciate how interesting Dan's life is as well. He is also hilarious which made it difficult to stick to the serious stuff. We managed to get some of it in, though as I always do. We talked about loneliness on the road, highs and lows, his experience with anti-depressants, relationships, getting out of a rut, and more. Dan also enjoyed saying my name wrong on purpose. If anything, you will be entertained by this episode. Enjoy!  Keep up with Dan here when he decides to post on social media: https://www.facebook.com/dan.alten https://www.instagram.com/danalten69/

Jake Truemper is a comedian (improv/stand up), radio host, social media creator, local business owner, and LEGO connoisseur. We sat down in my home studio and discussed a variety of topics including (but not limited to) blowing up on social media, being early adapter of TikTok, creating social media content, addiction to work, fear of missing out (FOMO), imposter syndrome, conspiracy theories, and ADHD. Keep up with Jake here: https://www.youtube.com/@JakeTruemper  https://www.instagram.com/jake_truemper/ https://x.com/truemper_jake?s=20 https://www.tiktok.com/@jaketruemper44 Like the episode? Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more deep dives every other Monday on the Modern Day Overthinker podcast!

Jonathan Bogner is a creative producer, entrepreneur, investor, disruptor, and consummate problem solver in his professional life. However, in 2007, Jonathan's whole life changed completely. In his own words: My “prior” life was great. I had a beautiful wife, two teenage sons, a nice home in Beverly Hills, and--- I was living my dream job--- of producing movies. In 2007, when I came back from selling my movie at a major film festival---My life changed in an instant.--- I had heart failure, two massive strokes and aphasia (the inability to speak). I survived ---but my heart had become a ticking time bomb. On this episode of the Modern Day Overthinker podcast, Jonathan and I discussed not only his health issues, but his perspective on life after going through all that he did. From having 2 strokes, learning to speak again, and having a heart transplant, Jonathan has a hell of a story to tell. So much was shared throughout this episode including not being a victim of your circumstances, living in the moment, getting rid of toxic people from your life, and just having a more optimistic, positive perspective on life.  One warning I'd like to issue here that suicide was discussed on this episode, and the opinions shared are opinions, and we all view the world differently. Most of us also know that suicide is a very touchy subject. If you are suicidal and need someone to talk to: Please call or text 988 or a loved one who cares about you. Don't let fear or shame get in the way of asking for help! People care! Special shout out to our sponsor "Hidden Gem" vacation rental in Cape Coral, Florida. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/hiddengemflorida If you book a stay, be sure to email mdoverthinker@gmail.com so I can get you a 50% refund ($100) off your cleaning fee.

Reena Friedman Watts is a mom, entrepreneur, podcaster (Host of Better Call Daddy Podcast), radio host, and former television producer (Jerry Springer Show, Nanny 911) and interviewer for VH1 and E. She helps people create podcasts, hosts an online radio show, has a podcast of her own, and does freelance marketing as well. We talked about podcasting being therapy, parenting, dating, miscarriages, perfectionism, and much more on this episode. Be sure to drop a comment, like, subscribe, and all that good stuff if you like this episode!  Keep up with Reena here: https://bettercalldaddy.com/ Hidden Gem (Cape Coral, FL) Vacation Sponsor: https://bit.ly/hiddengemflorida Remember to email confirmation to mdoverthinker@gmail.com to get a discount on cleaning fee!

Soultru (formally known as Terrance Banks) and I sat down to get to know the man behind the music after he recently arrived home from the Mile of Music festival in Appleton, WI. Both of us are natives of Davenport, Iowa so we had plenty to talk about locally in addition to our in depth conversations about mental health, specifically relating to anxiety, medication, therapy, imposter syndrome, and struggling with identity. Those are just some of the topics discussed in this episode the Modern Day Overthinker podcast. Hope you enjoy!

Since it's the 70th episode, I decided to switch things up and have a guest host interview me. Tabbatha Strong (co-host of Deck Diaries) was up for the challenge. She devoloped a variety of questions to ask me so everyone can get a little more insight into the regular host of this podcast. We also have some listener questions I was able to answer as well. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did recording it! New episodes of the podcast drop every other Monday so be sure to follow/subscribe to stay up to date. All the links: www.moderndayoverthinker.com Tabbatha's podcast Deck Diaries can be found on Apple, Spotify, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

This episode features an entertaining friend of mine who goes by the name Johnny Tuesday. Johnny and I discussed his recent challenge to live a sober adjacent lifestyle as well as substance abuse in general. We also talk about the challenge entertainers face when they have to perform, but are not in the right headspace. Johnny also did a street corner therapy experiment a few years back that we discussed bringing back, so stay tuned for that! Like the podcast? Review, share with your friends, send a message. Really appreciate the support! https://moderndayoverthinker.com/

Veronica Memoir is a comedian, artist, writer, and ex-stripper who joined me on the podcast to discuss her past, present, and future. Her work on dealing with masochism, PTSD, people pleasing, as well as other trauma work came with a lot of consistent therapy spanning over many years. Other topics of discussion varied from her upbringing, the origin of her stage name, her divorce that is currently in the process, as well as her getting to know and love herself. Keep up Veronica here: https://www.instagram.com/veronica_memoir/ https://www.tiktok.com/@veroncia.memoir

Tabbatha Strong is a fellow podcaster, empath, and public speaker residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her and I sat down after recording an episode of her podcast (Deck Diaries) and discussed a variety of topics such as relationships, speaking at Women Lead Change, how she started her podcast, the importance of deep conversations, her Grandma (Grandma Lee), and so much more. Keep up with Deck Diaries on Facebook and Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/deckdiaries/ https://www.facebook.com/deckdiaries Modern Day Overthinker links: https://www.facebook.com/mdoverthinker https://www.instagram.com/mdoverthinker/

Joseph Reid is an Amazon Best Selling author and speaker from Detroit, Michigan. On the podcast, we discussed his book "Broken Like Me" which was released in May of 2021. I was able to catch him while he was in town speaking for #NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) here in Davenport, Iowa. We discussed his mental health journey as well as some of the tools he highlights in the book as it is a toolkit for "broken people" who struggle with mental illness. Not only did I get the chance to hear Joseph's (Joe's) story as to what brought him into the world of mental health advocacy, I also had the opportunity to speak to his daughter Hannah Reid for a bit about her father as well as some of her struggles as well. **Trigger warning: suicide is discussed frequently in this podcast.** Joseph Reid's non-profit website: https://www.broken-people.org/ Mental Health Scale: https://www.broken-people.org/myscale Broken Like Me: An Insider's Toolkit For Mending Broken People: https://www.broken-people.org/broken-like-me Facebook Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/287522532033608 Some of the topics discussed on this episode: Suicidal ideation Communicating your mental struggle to other people Mental Health Rehabilitation Stigmas Loss of a friend to suicide Loneliness OCD

Lauren Wood and I discussed her schizophrenia diagnosis, the stigma involved with that diagnosis, as well substance abuse, taking medication, and so much more on this episode of the Modern Day Overthinker podcast. Keep up with MDOT here: https://moderndayoverthinker.com/

Giving everyone an update on what is going on my world today. From being 33 and single, fighting OCD and depression, using paid time off, stand up comedy, recovery, people pleasing, and a whole lot more. I wanted to take some time to address my listeners for mental health month and open my book (mine) up for everyone. I also took some time to respond to some suggested topics people suggested on social media. Hope you enjoy, and if not, I will have a new episode for ya next week! I apologize, I do NOT have any episodes with Borderline Personality Disorder as a topic, so if you know someone who is open about it and wants to talk, email mdoverthinker @ gmail . com!

Collin sits down with the first matchmaker to do speed dating in Iowa, but that is not all she has done while she has been on this earth. Suzon has lived a wild life that started with booking and promoting punk rock bands in the 80's, meeting her husband, losing her husband while she was pregnant with her first born son, and matchmaking in the Quad Cities. She now runs events for Skylark in the Quad Cities and creates art for her Eclectic Market at Skylark. This was a fun, lighthearted episode for those who just want to hear about an awesome woman.

Carson Tuttle is a standup comedian and middle school teacher located in Iowa City. We sat down at his home with his dog George Michael and discussed comedy, some regrets of his, failure, the importance of good friends, living in the moment, and the challenges he faces being a middle school teacher in 2023. Keep up with Carson here: www.instagram.com/mrtuttlenation Follow Modern Day Overthinker everywhere here: www.moderndayoverthinker.com

Nikki Murray is a Quad Cities personality who embodies the ultimate Jack of all Trades. Wearing many hats in her life including mom, comedian, makeup artist, burlesque dancer, and more. On this episode, Nikki and I discussed ADHD, Postpartum Depression, Therapy, and more. Keep up with Nikki and MDOT using the links below. https://linktr.ee/nikkimartistry https://moderndayoverthinker.com/

Brandon Scott has been my barber on and off for about a decade now. For at least the last couple years, every time I get my haircut with him we discuss mental health. So obviously, I had to have on the podcast again. This time, he came over and we talked about him living with Bipolar Disorder (BPD 2) as well as his eagerness to challenge himself. Other topics include his relationships with his clients, and how the interactions are why he loves being a barber, as well as everyone having the ability to change. Brandon also had a perspective regarding living with his mental illness that I enjoyed hearing him share. That and so much more can be heard on this episode.

Sarah Edwards is the founder of Set Apart Company and a fellow mental health advocate. We had the opportunity to talk about a variety of topics such as OCD, anxiety, work flow process, consistency, setting goals, and plenty more. Sarah is an awesome person who loves to talk about self growth and mental health. I hope to have many more conversations with her in the future. More about Sarah: https://www.liinks.co/setapartcompany

On this episode of the Modern Day Overthinker podcast I sat down with a new friend of mine Judi Creighton and talked about her experience with a traumatic brain injury. Judi deals with memory loss, depression, and anxiety as a result of a car accident. We discussed her injuries and how those have impacted her up to this day. We also conversed about her having a teenager at home with mental health battles as well. Judi and I know each other from the local performance arts scene (comedy, burlesque, drag, etc) in the Quad Cities, so we had to talk about that as well. New episodes of the MDOT podcast are now being released every other Monday on all platforms.

Adam is a friend of mine who loves to talk about recovery, addiction, and mental illness. So, of course, I had to have him on to talk considering I do as well. Adam had plenty to share with me as we sat in my office/studio on Saturday the 19th. We made sure to talk about his CPTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) diagnoses in addition to Substance Use Disorder. We also talked about recovery and the experiences Adam had before getting to where he is now. *Trigger warning: descriptive discussion of drug use is discussed during this episode

Liv Carrow is the President of QC Harm Reduction and a full-time therapist as well. I had the pleasure of having her on the show to discuss harm reduction, addiction, recovery, EAP (Employee Assistance Program), therapy, and trends she is seeing as a therapist.

Stevie Mo is a local comedian here in the Quad Cities who sat in my living room and talked to me for just shy of 3 hours. Don't worry, I cut it down and still gave you a great episode to listen to. Stevie and I talked about him growing up in Rock Island and going to Rock Island High School, how he loves cooking for people, his battles with alcohol abuse, suicide, losing his best friend and our mutual buddy Brad Hann, and challenging yourself. Disclaimer: There is a lot of swearing this episode and talk about suicide. I want everyone to be aware of that before they listen. Stevie has his own podcast called Getting Strange with Stevie Mo which you can check out here: https://anchor.fm/strangestevepod

Christian Hann is a Quad City native and a new comic on the stand up comedy scene. We both sat in our living room with a brief outlife of what we wanted to talk about. Those topics included anxiety, depression, comedy, deck hockey, acting, and the passing of Christian's father Brad Hann who passed away in September. This was a huge blow to his family as well as the comedy community and other performing arts scenes in the Quad Cities. I appreciate Christian for discussing Brad with me as I know it was not easy to talk about.

Zach Nielsen (LMHC) is the founder of Bloom Therapy. He is a therapist who specializes in trauma-informed counseling and LGBTQ+ research. He also has a background in social work, specifically with crisis intervention. On this episode we talked about how Bloom Therapy became a reality for Zach as well as societal expectations, therapy, escapism, addiction, recovery, and how we both believe everyone is capable of change. They just have to want it. Learn more about Zach's practice here: https://www.bloomtherapyqc.com/

Quinn and I go back with a friendship spanning over 10 years. She is someone I have always enjoyed talking to, and I know I am not the only one. Therefore, her being a guest just made sense. On this episode, you can hear Quinn and I discussing how she found out she is autistic as well as other topics many can relate to such as social anxiety, depression, communication, and more. Bonus: you get to here about one of my coolest dating stories ever. New episodes of the Modern Day Overthinker podcast drop every Monday!

Dana Moss-Peterson is comedian, actor, and writer from the Quad Cities. We have shared the stage on multiple occasions as well as a couple of car rides to do comedy outside of town. On this episode we talked about some of my/our favorite comedians, Dana losing both of his parents, grieving, resentments, possible PTSD from a relationship, and his personality type. New episodes of the podcast are released every Monday so make sure you are subscribed.

Decided to make the 50th episode a little different where I am the guest, and a good friend the host. Callie was one of the first people to ever be on this podcast and has seen my go through a lot in the last 5 1/2 years. I answered all the questions that were submitted that I felt were relatable to you as the listener, which was basically all of them. Thank you everyone who submitted questions. The topics covered include many, but some of them include: recovery, acceptance, perspective, meditation, the future of the podcast, standup comedy, and a whole lot more.

With episode 50 delayed due to audio issues, I decided an episode still needed to be dropped. New episodes drop every Monday, and I wasn't gonna just not upload a new episode for the week. So, what did I do? I hooked up the mic and started talking directly to you the best I could. Hopefully something resonates with you or someone you possibly share this with. Also, I want to note that you will hear my furnace in the background randomly throughout the episode. It's cold here in Iowa. I touched on a lot in just shy of 50 minutes including depression, recovery, suicide rates, imposter syndrome, and more. I apologize for the delay on episode 50, but I will make it worth the wait next Monday!

Lori Hopper is a Mental Fitness Coach (Reframe: Mental Fitness Coaching) and fellow Assumption High School alumni based in the Quad Cities. This is an episode jam packed with so much information I cannot fit in one brief description. The key thing we discussed was our relationship with ourselves, and how that effects the way we see and approach life. A couple of main topics of conversation were boundaries, becoming a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), the fight or flight response, meditation, PTSD, projection, emathy, and so much more. Keep up with Lori here: https://www.facebook.com/ReframeMFC

Ben Woodfield is a standup comedian, podcaster, writer, and actor from Muscatine, Iowa. He is also a recent graduate of the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!). Ben and I sat in my living room a couple weeks ago and talked about a variety of topics. The topics we discussed included, but are not limited to social media, forgiveness, processing death, seasonal depression, comedy, and much more. Ben has his own podcast which you can find here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2077241 He also wants help blowing up on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benwoodfieldtv He also wants help blowing up on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benwoodfieldtv

Katy Miller is the founder and product creator at Lillie and Pine, a cruelty free + vegan bath + body brand based in the Quad Cities. Katy and I discussed a lot on this episode. We wanted to focus on her ADHD diagnosis, and how it was recognized at an early age for her. We also talked about our grandparents a bit, relationships, how her business got started, and much much more. Katy and I are also both in recovery from substance abuse and share growing up going to the same Catholic schools in Davenport, Iowa. This is one of the many podcast episodes where a guest has becomes an awesome new friend. After or before you listen to the episode, you should check out Katy's business: https://www.lillieandpine.com/

Katlyn is a Mindset Mentor who I stumbled upon on TikTok and have been keeping up with for awhile now. Many have fit the description of the podcast title, and Katlyn (Katy) is definitely one of those people. She is definitely an overthinker, and we could have kept talking all day if this were a Joe Rogan podcast. However, I like to keep the episodes limited to 1 to 1.5 hours and we barely went over with all the edits. Katy and I discussed a lot over our Zoom podcast session, including (but not limited to) self love, self acceptance, self awareness, the importance of discipline, and giving Katy the opportunity to break down her very deep viral video which can be seen here: https://www.tiktok.com/@katlyng/video/7161621199582203179?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1 Follow Katlyn on TikTok: @katlyng https://www.tiktok.com/@katlyng

Jake McDowell is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Combat Veteran, and Comedian from the Quad Cities. He joined me on this week's episode to discuss authenticity, PTSD, addiction, and so much more. We also share a love for doing standup comedy so we had to discuss that as well. This is one of my longer episodes, but it's filled with honesty, authenticity, and some humor as well.

Dana is a Social Worker and MMA fighter currently located in Des Moines, Iowa who was excited to share her story and struggles with mental health throughout her life. She is a proud member of the LGBTQ community and currently works for a non-profit advocating for LGBTQ youth. She also has a background working with at risk youth in residential treatment. Her personal story started with depression and OCD (Obsessive Complulsive Disorder) and Dana truly understands the importance of sharing her story so others don't feel alone. I also admire her for sharing her struggle with an eating disorder that she has just recently been more open about. This episode is a solid conversation that covered a wide array of topics that makes for a great listen regardless of where you are at mentally or in life in general.

Dan Bush is the founder of Bummer City Inc., which is a hospitality company based in the Quad Cities. They are all about building your favorite hang out spots in Davenport, Iowa and Moline, Illinois. Dan has struggled with depression and anxiety for most of his life. He decided a few years ago to try something different. He tried ketamine therapy and his life has not been the same since. It was great learning more about this approach to mental health therapy, and it was even better hearing about how it's changed Dan's life. Keep up with Dan and his business ventures here: www.bummercityinc.com

Jon Clash (formerly known as J-Clash) is a former rapper turned entrepreneur who has a transformation story I wanted everyone (including myself) to hear. I have known Jon virtually for over at least a decade and have been seeing all the great things he has been doing online with his life and business ventures. He has evolved into a devout Christian, and the path to get there was not overnight. This conversation was long overdue, and I hope to have more in the future with Jon, because I know there's gonna be plenty more to add to his story. Keep up with Jon here: https://www.godtrepreneurbrand.com/jonclash/

Robert Jaynes (Uncle Cletus) is an East Moline, IL native who recently got involved (over the past year) in comedy and how he has always wanted to do it. We talked about how he deals with PTSD, being bipolar, and having mild schizophrenia. He feeds off positive energy, his higher power, and the planet to uplift himself in addition to comedy to assist in battling his mental illnesses. We also went into his background and I got to meet the man behind Uncle Cletus and share part of his story with all of you.

Lauren Rosen (LFMT) is the Founder and Director of The Obsessive Mind which specializes in treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Anxiety, and Eat Disorders. Lauren and I talked about my personal struggles with OCD, recovery (from substances and disorders), and about the Evidence-Based Therapy methods that are used today to treat anxiety disorders such as OCD. Follow Lauren on Instagram here and keep up with here weekly podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theobsessivemind The Obssessive Mind Website

Bringing you a bonus episode this week for International OCD Awareness Week with my friend Jenna Overbaugh! Jenna is a licensed professional counselor and the Clinical Marketing Director at NOCD (www.treatmyocd.com). We talked about the different subtypes of OCD, its misconnceptions, and I shared my personal struggles with this time of the year and it coincidently being the time of year when my OCD started developing. Great episode to learn more about OCD and hear my friend Jenna and I discuss something we both have dealt with for years. Her on a professional and personal basis. Keep up with Jenna here: https://linktr.ee/jennaoverbaugh

Yoshi is a Navy veteran and small business owner from Davenport, Iowa. We talked about his experience with starting over, growing up in the Southside of Chicago, and his battle with the United States criminal justice system. We also had a great discussion about division and conflict in our country. Yoshi has a hell of a story that everyone needs to hear.

Madina Alam is Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified yoga instructor, and the Director of Clinical Operations at NOCD. NOCD is a platform that provides therapy as well as a community for those who struggle with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Madina and I talked about ERP therapy which is the most proven therapy for treating OCD. We also discussed the importance of self care, mindfulness, and not being so hard on ourselves. Of course there's more, but that's what the episode is for. Keep up with Madina on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mentalhealth_madina_/

Spike Cohen was the 2020 Vice Presidential candidate for the Libertarian party. We discussed a variety of topics including addiction, work/life balance, active gratitude, as well as other coping skills Spike has implemented in his life that have helped him a lot. We also talked about his recent work with holding local government officials accountable. This is an episode everyone can enjoy regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum. Learn more about Spike Cohen here: https://www.spikecohen.com/

Michelle Nash is an aspiring YouTuber and one of my most random guests to date. She went viral on Facebook for a post about there still being loving men out there, so I reached out to her to see if she'd be interested. Like all of us, she has a story. One that involves addiction in her family, personal struggles, and just trying to grow into the type of person she aspires to be. Michelle can be found on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/michellenssh/