Coping Stories

Megan shares the traumas and turning points throughout her emotionally chaotic childhood and early 20s – and how she got from bad to better than ever.    After many years of internal struggle and not having successful relationships with family, friends, or romantic partners, Megan discovered something that has transformed both her mental health and her relationships. And it’s not medication or the...

Spoiler Alert: Gavin coped with crippling anxiety and overwhelming uncertainty in the worst possible ways. Then he had an experience that profoundly shifted his life. And ultimately helped him face death with peace and faith. Gavin's story is for anyone having a challenging day, week, month, year, or life chapter. And especially if you’re dealing with crippling anxiety, addiction, grief, or ho...

What if you had to choose between death and facial disfigurement? This is a very candid conversation with Chris, who explains how a bloody nose led to a cancer diagnosis with the most unforeseen consequences.   His sense of humor, gut instinct, and support from loved ones have been critical to surviving the roughest chapter of his life.   Chris shares his story plus the mental outlook, the music,...

Are you someone who is not comfortable unless everyone is happy? Bonnie discovered that being a people pleaser was a character flaw that was causing painful consequences. This candid conversation hits on a number of subjects: people pleasing, pride, sexuality, religious upbringing, alcoholism, sobriety, and workaholism. Bonnie shares the specific tools she’s learned in her personal and professiona...

Have you ever been in a relationship and felt like you were tap dancing for your life to make it work? When Bob discovered he was codependent (and learned what that really means – different from what he thought it was) everything clicked.   In this very candid conversation, Bob reveals how he coped with unhealthy romantic relationships. We focus on his personal experience with jumping over red fla...

When it comes to fire loss, Scott’s been there. Part 2 of my candid conversation with Scott about his personal experience losing his home in the 2018 Woolsey Fire focuses on his Fire Survivor Action Plan – a checklist of actionable steps plus practical, logistical advice for navigating insurance, securing housing, debris removal, deciding to rebuild or not,understanding mortgages, grants, legal he...

Part 1 of my candid conversation with Scott features his personal experience evacuating his house and coping with the pain of losing nearly everything. Scott shares his story plus the books, the songs, and the thing he did every day that helped him cope with the trauma, grief, and overwhelm of losing his home in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. LINKS: Scott's album "Woolsey" Brandy Menefee's Instagram Brand...