Episodes

July 9, 2024

JT’s Sad Salve: Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace | 96

This week we continue with another in our “Sad Salve” series. We all have our difficult times in life, and we turn to certain things — often art — to help get us through it. This week’s Sad Salve episode we are releasing is with Kevin’s dear friend John-Thomas, making his fourth appearance on Sad T…

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July 2, 2024

Erich’s Sad Salve: Heavy Metal Music | 95

This week we are releasing something a little different: “A Sad Salve”. We all have our difficult times in life, and we turn to certain things to help get us through it. Our first Sad Salve episode we are releasing is with Kevin’s best friend Erich. Erich talks about his love for heavy metal music.…

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June 18, 2024

Rodney: His Journey as a Counselor and Doctor | 94

This week we speak with Rodney about his work across the years as a counselor. He has worked with both adolescents and adults, and he talks about the various moves he made to follow his career and the effects it had on him and his family. Throughout the journey, no matter how difficult it became fo…

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June 11, 2024

ROUNDTABLE: Kaet, Allison, and Michael Discuss Conception, Pregnancy …

On this special episode of Sad Times we welcome Kaet, Allison, and Michael to discuss the difficult topic of trying to conceive a child, pregnancy loss, and childbirth. While these are issues many women and couples deal with, it is not something that is easily discussed. Join us this week as we spe…

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June 4, 2024

Nikki: Emotions, The Subconscious, and Neuro-Chemical Reactions | 92

This week we speak with Nikki Nicholas. For years, Nikki was leading a conventional life when she realized she needed a change. She left her corporate work and committed to understanding her own mind, and in so doing, could use that knowledge to help others. She is now a successful life coach who o…

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May 28, 2024

Our Host Kevin is Interviewed! | 91

This week we are changing things up a bit! Our host, Kevin, is being interviewed by his longtime close personal friend, JT Brown. With the tables turned, Kevin talks with JT about how his brain works when he’s anxious, some difficult visits he had to the doctor, and much more. Please join us as Kev…

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May 21, 2024

Dr. Kathryn Smerling: Learning to Play Again | 90

This week we speak with Dr. Kathryn Smerling, the author of the forthcoming book “Learning to Play Again: Rediscovering Our Early Selves to Become Better Adults”. During our discussion, Dr. Smerling talks about what brought her to family therapy, intergenerational trauma, the effect divorces can ha…

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May 14, 2024

Will: Vulnerability and Normalizing the Conversation | 89

Please join us this week as we talk with Will about his mental health journey. During the conversation, we discuss Will’s embrace of vulnerability, his struggles with self image, and the difficult topic of suicidal ideation. We also discuss Will’s book “One Step Forward: Ideally in the Right Direct…

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May 7, 2024

Kim: Teaching and the Unconventional Path | 88

This week we speak with Kim, the host of the “One of a Kind You” podcast. Kim talks about her early life, a difficult relationship she endured, and her determination to follow her dream to teach. She discusses how her experiences with teaching conflicted with her idealized vision of helping others …

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April 30, 2024

Jess: Don’t Push the Panic Button | 87

This week we speak with Jess, the host of the “Panic Button Podcast”. Jess talks about when, as a senior in college, she first realized she had mental health struggles. She also relates difficult losses in her family, how she...

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April 23, 2024

Justin: Righteous Rage and Self Discovery | 86

Join us this week as we speak with Justin, the author of the book “The Righteous Rage of a Ten Year Old Boy: A Journey of Self Discovery”. Justin shares the difficulties he had growing up, the long shadow his father cast over his life, his struggles with addiction, and what led him to write this bo…

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April 16, 2024

Brandon Stosuy: Sad Happens | 85

This week we speak with the writer Brandon Stosuy, editor of the new collection “Sad Happens: A Celebration of Tears”. We talk about the very small town where Brandon grew up, his reflections on the home where he grew up, wonderful stories about his family, his writing career, and what inspired him…

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April 9, 2024

David Essel: Spirituality is About Service | 84

This week we speak with bestselling author David Essel. During our conversation, we cover a wide range of topics, including addiction, David’s decades long work helping others, and why the news might not always be the calming influence we might think it is. Visit David’s website: www.DavidEssel.co…

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April 2, 2024

Maggie: Our Thoughts Dictate Our Emotions | 83

Join us today as we speak with Maggie about her years of being a people pleaser, her 7 years of depression as she tried everything she could to feel better, her breakthrough moment when she finally said she wanted to do things her way, and her book that provides tools and inspiration toward a happi…

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March 26, 2024

Bre: “High Control” Religious Groups, how they split families, and Ho…

Join us today as we speak with Bre about being raised in a “high control” Christian Group, how it affected her family, and how she has found community and recovered since leaving the church. Bre’s website: https://brehamilton.com/ Social media: TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@soulfullybre Inst…

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March 19, 2024

Renee: Fighting for Custody: Renee on her Custody Blueprint, preparin…

When a relationship ends and children are involved, the next steps can seem overwhelming. Join us today as we speak with Renee about the template for custody battles she created, what people often don’t know about judicial custody proceedings, and her domestic violence advocacy. Renee’s website: h…

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March 12, 2024

Empowering Women: Mimi on her chaotic early life, the abuse she endur…

Far too often, women endure stalking, terror, and abuse within their own relationships. Join us today as we speak with Mimi about her journey of putting herself through school, the abuse she suffered during a marriage and aft...

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March 5, 2024

Almost Killed by the Taliban: Masuda on being forced to leave her hom…

We often take for granted the fact that we would not need to leave our home cultures if we did not choose. However, refugees all too often have to leave everything they know and love to start over. It is an unbelievable undertaking that so many take each and every day. Join us today as we speak wit…

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Feb. 27, 2024

Merle's Journey: Overcoming Trauma, Navigating a 19-Year Relationship…

We often believe growing up in a well-adjusted household is something most of our peers are experiencing. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Please join us today as we speak with Merle about growing up in a bizarre and abusive household, the work he has done to overcome severe trauma, and …

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Feb. 20, 2024

From Trauma to Healing: Brad on his role growing up in his family, hi…

As Leo Tolstoy immortally said: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”. The truth and poetry of this opening line to Anna Karenina is reflected back to us every day. Join us today as we speak with Brad Wetzler, author of the amazing memoir “Into the Soul of th…

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Feb. 13, 2024

Resilience, the Art of Bouncing Forward: Lisa on her mental health st…

One of the greatest joys of life is building a young family. However, it is not often discussed how difficult this can be on the mental health of the parents. Join us today as we speak with Lisa about her mental health struggles while raising a young family, the unimaginable tragedy that befell her…

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Feb. 6, 2024

Getting Out of Your Head: Brian his encounters with anxiety and menta…

When we first encounter a mental health event, we are often overwhelmed and want to hide. Join us today as we speak with Brian about his original encounters he had with mental health troubles, how he set out to understand what was happening to him, his “Get Out of Your Head” books, and a truly chil…

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Jan. 30, 2024

A Strong Survivor: Ashley on her upbringing, her terrifying encounter…

Join us today as we speak with Ashley about her difficult upbringing and the horrifying and traumatic encounter she had with a heinous crime. Ashley takes us through the harrowing encounter that changed her life and shares not only her thoughts on the Canadian justice system, but also how she is fi…

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Jan. 23, 2024

Living a Meaningful, Nonlinear life: Dr Melanie McNally on her anxiou…

So often, modern society tells us there is one main way: Grow up, graduate high school, go to college, and then get a job. While this is a completely noble path, it is not often the way life turns out. Join us today as we talk with Dr Melanie McNally about her role in her family unit, the many path…

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