Richard Rierson | Podcasting

Many of us are only recently becoming aware of the current state of our LTD system, so the intent of this podcast conversation is to educate and inform on what happens to a pilot when tragedy strikes. From a broad brushstroke perspective what can we expect with our current system and what are the pitfalls associated with our process. The conversation then transitions to what if we could wave a "magic wand" and create a system that would benefit all and greatly improve the process.

An in-depth conversation with Andy Seward, DFW Contract Compliance & Grievance Chairman, and his analysis on the AIP Attachment-3 and how it compares against our current JCBA.

Carlos Fernandez is the epitome of hope, success, & significance.  17 years ago Carlos found himself in prison doing time; guilty on an Attempted Murder charge.  At the outset he fit the stereotypical image of a troubled teenage Mexican-American, growing up with little parental supervision who found familial support in the Hispanic gangs of north Wichita.  His turbulent past was one of uncertainty, violence, anger, & death. Serving an adult sentence, for an adult crime, while still not legally a man, Carlos began his long journey towards redemption and servant leadership. Through positive intentionality, faith in a higher power, the unwavering faith & sacrifice from his parents, and the grace of some unlikely mentors, Carlos found himself a free man much earlier than expected.  Today we find Carlos a rising entrepreneur in the tech world taking him from Silicon Valley to the Oval Office, twice. We are blessed to have such an authentic & creative force in our world.  He's a shining example of how we are all capable of more than we give ourselves credit for.  How authenticity, transparency, & integrity are the primary currencies needed to overcome adversity and live a life of significance.  I love how his big why is to represent change & add value to everyone and everything he comes in contact with. He's the spark of positive change and the type of leader we can all emulate.  

Rhonda Sciortino was abandoned at the age of six months, and became a ward of the court until she emancipated at 16. Except for a brief time with a wonderful foster family, those first 16 years were spent in the custody of a mentally ill man and alcoholic woman–her grandparents. When Rhonda was eight years old, the little shack where she lived was destroyed by fire. They had no insurance, and for months they were homeless. Rhonda vividly recalls wearing the same filthy sundress and flimsy dimestore flipflops to school day after day for months after that fire. At age 15 Rhonda decided to seek emancipation.  One of the prerequisites was that Rhonda have a job, so she went to work for the first person who would hire her–an insurance agent.  When her employer explained the concept of insurance, Rhonda was flabbergasted. “You mean someone would have paid for our house to be rebuilt AND given us money for clothes and a place to sleep?” Rhonda learned everything she could about insurance. Despite being denied again and again, Rhonda repeatedly petitioned the Insurance Commissioner to allow her to sit for the insurance agent exam even though she wasn’t yet 18. An exception was finally granted, and Rhonda became California’s youngest licensed insurance agent at 17. At the age of 27, Rhonda’s passion for good child welfare providers and appropriate insurance intersected.  She committed herself to protecting people and organizations that protect children. She had personally experienced excellent foster care during her short time with a foster family, and she knew the shame of homelessness as a result of inadequate insurance.  Rhonda quit her job and started her own retail insurance organization.  A few years later, she opened a national brokerage which helped insurance brokers all over the US protect the child welfare organizations in their areas.  In 2008, Rhonda sold Child Welfare Insurance Services to Markel Insurance Company.  She now serves as their National Child Welfare Specialist, helping child welfare organizations all over the US to manage the risks and realities of caring for kids. Rhonda is happily married to Nick Sciortino.  They live in Newport Beach, CA near their daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons who are the joys of their lives.

When US Airways Flight 1549, or “The Miracle on the Hudson,” ditched into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009, Dave Sanderson knew he was exactly where he was supposed to be. The last passenger off the back of the plane on that fateful day, he was largely responsible for the well-being and safety of others, risking his own life in frigid water to help other passengers off the plane. Despite the hazards to himself, Sanderson thought only of helping others, and emerged from the wreckage with a mission: to encourage others to do the right thing. In this Out of the Mud episode, Sanderson shares the story of Flight 1549, revealing the inner strength it took to make it through the day, and how teamwork, leadership, and state management can help overcome any obstacle.

Eric Lind shares an amazing story on Out of the Mud that shows us that there is always hope for redemption & restoration, even when we create our own adverse situation through poor decisions and actins. Eric practiced law for 16 years, and then took a trememdous fall as a result of a pattern of his fraudulent and criminal behavior. He was convicted of four counts of theft and forging the signature of a judge and was sentenced to 28 months in maximum security prison.  While he thought his professional life was over, he found that God had a different plan for him. Eric has experienced tremendous success, and epic failures.  At his lowest and most broken point he found that God was there to take him through a  lengthy period of consequence, cleansing, & restoration. At his lowest point he was convinced that he had no chance of professional/business success; but over time he found that through God all things are possible as long as you are willing to do the work. He credits the success after his release from prision to the conscious choice to be completely transparent in everything he did or said.   After Eric was released from prison his skill in business and authenticity about who he is led to two of the world’s largest lenders trusting in him which allowed hime to turnaround and save the company he found himself running.. Today Eric uses his leadership & consulting expertise with One Accord Partners.

On December 13, 2013, a gunman walked into Arapahoe High School and opened fire, killing a student and scarring a community. Suzanne Tyler, a teacher at the school, was closer to the tragedy than most – the shooter had written her classroom number on his arm before entering the building. Shaken, Tyler faced a long road to inner peace in the aftermath. Her new book, “There Is Hope,” is the result of her healing process. The illustrated book, meant for readers of all ages, speaks of dark times in life. Throughout the story, the book’s protagonist learns to confront and eventually control her “monster,” the dark force in her life that follows her after a traumatic event. “The healing began as I started to share my story, and others shared theirs with me,” Tyler said. Tyler recognizes that tragedy and trauma take form in all shapes and sizes, but that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. “I want to be an instrument for helping others to heal,” Tyler said. “I want people to know that someone understands and that we all have hope.” For more information, visit http://www.suzannektyler.com. There Is Hope By Suzanne Tyler  Suzanne Tyler is an educator who, for many years, watched students deal with significant trauma and circumstances in their young lives, which they did not choose. On December 13, 2013, Suzanne also experienced trauma that was not a choice. She was a teacher at Arapahoe High School when a man with a gun came into the school and traumatized the students, staff, families, friends, and community. Everyone’s life changed that day. Suzanne wrote this book as part of her healing process and hopes that through it, she will help you heal, too.

At thirteen years old, Lynda's life comes to a disastrous halt when her mother and two younger sisters are killed in a plane crash. Her father, overcome by despair, simply continues to exist, in a state devoid of hope. After burying a wife and two young children at the age of 44, the overwhelming responsibility of raising a daughter alone completely immobilizes him.  Teetering on that tender brink between childhood and adolescence, Lynda faces the responsibility of a father in a complete state of shock, a house to take care of and hundreds of decisions about how to proceed with their shattered lives.  In Repairing Rainbows she candidly describes the agonizing memories, deafening silence and endless hardships that are the fallout of incredible loss. As we follow her through marriage, motherhood and her own spiritual journey, Lynda reveals her complex feelings of hope, anger, pity and determination. Most importantly, she learns the crucial difference between "truly living" and the existence that is so often mistaken for being alive.  A true story, written by a woman whose normal and abundant life hides a terrible past, Repairing Rainbows is loaded with important lessons to help others overcome struggles and obstacles, and fulfill their lives. It is a powerful, captivating, riveting and easy-to-read story that will undoubtedly touch the hearts of its readers.

J.R. Martinez is an actor, best-selling author, motivational speaker, advocate, and wounded U.S. Army veteran. He is many things. But perhaps most significantly, he is an inspiration. J.R.’s career path has been incredible, and perhaps even a bit improbable. Once a high school football player from a small town in Georgia, the only son of a single working mother who emigrated from El Salvador, J.R.’s trajectory is nothing if not surprising. Even to him.  Jose Rene Martinez was born June 14, 1983 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Maria Zavala. His two sisters, Consuelo and Anabel, were raised in El Salvador with his mother’s family.  He never met Anabel, who died as a young child.  At nine years old, J.R. moved with his mother to Hope, Arkansas, where he lived until he was 18. He then moved to Dalton, Georgia, a place he proudly calls his hometown. J.R. always loved playing football and had aspirations of making it to the NFL.  After high school, he joined the army. J.R. was proud to serve, as a way to give something back to a country that had already given so much to him and to his family. In September of 2002, J.R. underwent Basic and Advanced Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he gained skills as an 11-B Infantryman. After reporting to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in January of 2003, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. In March of 2003, J.R. was deployed to Iraq. On April 5,he was driving a humvee in Karbala when his front left tire hit a roadside bomb. The three other soldiers were ejected from the burning vehicle, but J.R. was trapped inside. He suffered smoke inhalation and severe burns to 34 percent of his body. J.R. claims that while he was fighting for his life and awaiting medical help, his sister, Anabel, appeared to him giving him the strength to live. J.R. was immediately evacuated to a local medic station in Iraq and then on to Landstuhl, Germany, for immediate care. He spent 34 months in recovery at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC/SAMC) in San Antonio, Texas. He has undergone 34 different surgeries, including skin grafts and cosmetic surgery in the eleven years since his injury.  During his recovery, a nurse asked him to speak to a burn patient, who had just seen his body for the first time and had become withdrawn. After a brief visit,J.R. realized he had a positive impact on this patient and decided to use his own experiences to help others. He continued to visit patients every day sharing his story and listening to theirs. He learned that inspiration is often a two-way street.  Martinez has since become a highly sought-after motivational speaker. He travels the world spreading his message of resilience and optimism. He devotes himself to showing others the true value of making the most of every situation.  He has spoken to troops at various bases around the world, as well as to such groups as the Clinton Global Initiative, the Red Cross, and dozens of universities, non-profits, and Fortune 500 companies. His story is unique, but his message is universal: your path in life is decided by your own ability to Adapt & Overcome℠.  However, many also know J.R. as “Brot Monroe,” a combat veteran who was injured in Iraq and returned home to face the new challenges of reintegrating to civilian life, on the Emmy Award winning daytime drama All My Children. In 2008, J.R.’s friend noticed an open casting call from All My Children looking for a veteran to join their famed cast. That friend encouraged J.R. to try out. After several meetings with producers he was cast and an actor was born. Due to his runaway popularity, what began as a three month story arc for his character developed into a three year role. After All My Children ran its final season, J.R. went on to surprise and inspire a nation on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. Along with partner Karina Smirnoff, J.R. won the coveted mirror ball trophy, and they were named season 13 champions.  J.R. can currently be seen costarring on the syndicated action series, SAF3 (CW Network), as a Los Angeles County firefighter, paramedic, and veteran USAF pararescue jumper “Alfonso Rivera.” He also guest starred in the season 6 finale of Army Wives.  J.R has been featured on many shows, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes, Ellen, The View, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, CBS Nightly News, CNN, Fox, HLN, and Univision. He narrated the CNN documentary series In America: Vets Wanted? In 2013 he was a guest host on The View. He was also the host of the J.R. Martinez Show on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles, one of the most popular talk radio stations in the country.   He has also been featured in the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, the New York Times, US Veterans Magazine, and was featured on the cover of People Magazine, in their annual Sexiest Man Alive issue, and was named one of their Most Intriguing People of 2011. Martinez is the author of the New York Times best-selling book Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength, and Spirit,” a memoir about how he was able to take his own personal tragedy, and turn it into an inspiration for others.

Emmy nominted "American Crime" star Richard Cabral visits Out of the Mud to share how he went from former drug addict and gang member to finding redemption at East Los Angeles' Homeboy Industries on his way to stardom. His performance as Hector Tontz on American Crime is one of the most powerful perfomances in recent television history and is being lauded by many critics. Cabral, however, knows that he's fortunate and blessed to be a free man. "My family had been involved in gangs since the 1970s," Cabral reveals in this episode. "In this society you have to belong to something I feel, and all we have in the neighborhood is a gang. My father figures were all gang members." Cabral's real life mirrors the character he plays -- raised by a single mom, in a gang by 13, addicted to crack at 15 and locked up by 20. "I ended up getting five years, and it was an attempted murder," Cabral said. "I was guilty...I got caught up in it and I believe that if I didn't change my life at that moment, or at least strive for something, that I could have just ended up dead on the streets." Cabral turned to Homeboy Industries to help change his life around. The social services organization takes high-risk former gang members and gives them training, jobs and hope. It was there that he was discovered for a role on Southland in 2009. "They were looking for authentic guys from the street," Cabral said. "They invited us to Warner Bros. Studios. It was like 10 of us that went and they were like, 'Just read the lines.' And we read the lines and three of us booked it and I was one of the guys. That was like the spark. Like, 'Wow! I could do this?'" Other gigs quickly followed. Cabral has been featured in NBC's Chicago Fire, HBO's Luck and Bruno Mars' "Grenade" music video. While he's looking at a bright future that doesn't mean that Cabral is forgetting his past. "I don't stray away from me," Cabral said. "I really embrace the person and the life that I came from because that made me who I am today." Cabral is a beautiful example of choosing a life of authentic courage; once he realized that he mattered in this life Richard chose to do the work required to search and pursue his calling.