Thriving Survivor

Chelsey shares her story of suddenly learning she has leukemia. She's currently in remission, but her path to thriving has been a long and difficult one.

Jodi tells the stories of two tragedies and how they profoundly affected her worldview, and how they ultimately led her to see helping as healing. Hope Loves Company's website is here.Jodi's YouTube content can be found here.Jodi is on Instagram here.

Robyn shares the story of how she was attacked and sexually assaulted while out running, and how she turned that trauma into a life-long passion for helping women stay safer in all areas of their lives.Robyn's online safety course for women is available here: https://www.safebyrobyn.com/SAFECourseFollow Robyn on Instagram here:@aflyonmywall 

In our second conversation with KC, she discusses the toxic relationship she had while in the US Army—including how she was beaten, sexually assaulted and stalked. Now—25 years later—KC's assailant is still cyber stalking and harassing her, but KC is thriving nonetheless. 

In this first of two episodes with KC, we hear the story of the murder of KC's mother. KC was just five years old at the time, and in her mother's apartment where the murder occurred. In KC's second episode, we discuss the sexual assault and stalking she endured as a young adult in the US Army. 

Dan Schaefer is the author of The Gay Jungle: A Beginner's Guide to Navigating Life as a Gay Guy. Dan shares his story of overcoming bullying and family difficulties as part of his journey to his currently fully actualized and happy self. Dan's books can be found here and here.Dan's music can be found here and here and here.

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, we speak with Kelly's cousin Tara. We discuss her story of finding out about her infertility issues, the incredible struggles she and her husband Ethan went through to become pregnant, and the ways in which she has been able to thrive in the midst of it all.

Lori Poland is the Executive Director of The National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect (EndCAN). EndCAN raises awareness of the health, mental health and public health impacts of abuse, as well as focusing on funding research; investing in innovative child abuse prevention and treatment; and supporting a community for survivors. Lori was abducted at three years old from her front yard by a stranger who abused her and placed her in the pit of an outhouse toilet, where she stayed for 3 ½ days until being rescued by bird watchers. Her life has since been dedicated to healing and helping others affected by abuse. 

In this season 2 premiere episode, we talk with Jen Satterly. You might recognize Jen from season 1 where we spoke with her and her husband, Tom, about the effects of military PTS (Post Traumatic Stress). In this episode, Jen gives our listeners a more in-depth look into secondary PTS, an important diagnosis not often discussed, which deeply affects the loved ones and caregivers of primary PTS sufferers. Please check out Jen's new book on the topic, Arsenal Of Hope, which is available on Amazon, as well as Jen's and Tom's organization at www.allsecurefoundation.org.

In this season finale episode, our co-host Kelly is on the other side of the mic, telling our listeners about her lifelong battle with depression, including her experiences with postpartum depression after the births of her two children. Kelly walks us through the ebbs and flows of depression, details the resources she has learned to tap into over the years, and also gives practical and helpful advice to the loved ones of those suffering from depression.

Kerri is a thriving survivor of grief due to the loss of her husband Kevin in 2017. Kevin was a 34 year old boiler maker who died during a tragic workplace incident. Kerrie is the mother of two young sons, as well as a nurse at a children's hospital, where she has become an avid workplace safety advocate. She also practices thriving through keeping fit and then helping others on their fitness journey, and leads a project called Kindness For Kevin.

Julie is a thriving survivor of various childhood traumas, including highly inappropriate sexual behavior from an older brother, and the stress of living with an older sister afflicted with schizophrenia. Julie credits a close group of friends, constant physical activity, and years of talk therapy (among other things) for helping her move to the very positive mindset she finds herself with today.

For 20 years Tom was a member of Delta Force, America’s most elite fighting unit. He and his wife Jen discuss the Post Traumatic Stress he suffered from his experiences fighting desperately for his life, rescuing hostages, killing and capturing terrorist leaders, seeing his friends maimed and killed around him. We also discuss Jen's key role in Tom's journey from survivor to thriver, and their combined efforts to help other military personnel and their families deal with Post Traumatic Stress.

Leanne is a thriving survivor of miscarriage and stillbirth. In 2015, she gave birth to her and her husband’s first child. Leanne went into labor 23 weeks early. Unfortunately, her baby did not survive. Learn about where Leanne is in her healing process today and how she got there.

This episode is centered on domestic violence. Paul is an ongoing survivor of grief due to the loss of his 21-year old daughter, Karissa, who, in 2012, was violently murdered at the hands of her then on-and-off-again boyfriend. Join us a and Paul and learn the ways he has decided to move forward each day in his daughter’s memory.

According to BreastCancer.org, invasive breast cancer will affect about 1 in 8 women in the US, and over 42,000 women are expected to die of breast cancer in 2020. Only lung cancer has a higher death rate than breast cancer for women. With those sobering statistics in mind, on this episode of Thriving Survivor, we chat with Anita, who has survived and thrived for 17 years since receiving her breast cancer diagnosis.

In 2017, 2.1 million people in America had an opioid problem and a staggering 11.4 million people had misused opioids in the previous year. But once you are using such a highly addictive substance, can you ever find yourself again? On this episode of Thriving Survivor, we’ll be talking with Sara, a recovering opioid addict, who tells us her story of addiction, finding recovery, and thriving.

The true prevalence of childhood sexual abuse is unknown because so many victims are unable to report their abuse. In this episode, we will hear from Imani; she will share her story, along with the ways grown victims of childhood abuse can heal and thrive through opening up about about their trauma.

Each day, people of color experience acts of racism on institutional, corporate, and individual levels. In this podcast episode, we sit down with doctors Paul and Jessica Spradley, a married black couple who have made it their life’s work to research, educate, and empower individuals to understand the inequities that still exist in our society and to embrace diversity and inclusion throughout our daily lives, both in and out of the workplace. The two share their stories of surviving and thriving in an America where racism still very much exists.

Kelly and Brad briefly discuss the inspiration for and aspirations of the Thriving Survivor Podcast.