H.O.P.E - Hang On Pain Ends

Do you have someone in your life... that is "unhealthy" in some way??? Drinking... Heart Disease.... Diabetes... Abusive Relationship.... and you find yourself consumed with worry for them, and every chance you get ... you tell them what they "need" to do??? Well... then.... this is a "MUST HEAR" for you. I loved this one ... I recorded it later in the evening, so by the time I listened to it back...

This recording is RAW. REAL. and VERY emotional. If you have any experience with Depression and Suicide in your life, I ask that you PLEASE listen to this. We are losing our CHILDREN to suicide ... our Middle Schoolers are taking their OWN LIVES. I speak about my extensive experience with both suicidal depressions, and coming within 24 hours of taking MY own Life. I hope that this helps even ONE p...

This one starts out with the word I heard last year and exclaimed to myself "OMG!!! THIS WORD IS TOTALLY ME!!! IT DESCRIBES ME PERFECTLY ... UNHINGED!!" I take a short journey realizing ... I somehow would make my chaotic and exhausting and stressful life... the funny performance at the family parties ... I would be describing myself as "Living my life in a state of panic" ... or using this "new"...

This was an open letter Entry... My old self ... verses my New Self ... but without my OLD self ... there is no way in "God's Green Earth" ... I could be my NEW Self. This one is short ... but impactful - it speaks for itself. I invite you... if you have recently started a journey of growth within yourself, to write a letter like this (hopefully in your new journal) ... talking about the changes y...

This one was inspired by my ALL-TIME lyric from the magical Taylor Swift in her song Blank Space ... by the very end of this one ... I come to realize, how accurate that line actually was to myself at one time ... wow wow wow. I discuss how Taylor swift has spoken about how her most creative times come in the middle of the night ... and she records the start of her song idea into her phone ... in...

What if ... you woke up - found yourself ALONE in the middle of a train station ... with a packed bag, a ticket .. and you had NO idea how you got there, or where you were going?? - That is the inspiration behind this Entry ... it visits so many different ideas and concepts that SO many of us need to hear (including me). It's a mix of serious themes... but funny musical "breaks" throughout the who...

The inspiration for this "drive by" entry ... was this little sign I saw in a gift shop recently ... I looked up ... and there it was ... I grabbed my phone and took a photo of it ... but I knew I would remember it no matter what. How clever .... "When Nothing Goes Right...Go Left." The idea ... that if you are pushing and pushing and trying to make something work ... make something be the "RIGHT...

Happy Tuesday everyone! (Has always been my favorite day of the week...) I recorded late last night ... wasn't sure how it would sound since it was way past my bedtime ... but I listened this morning .. and I think it's a pretty damn good listen! I revisit my "soulmate" Entry from the end of January ... now that I feel someone very special (with a soulmate connection) has entered my life ... and I...

This one starts out with a MAJOR bout of Mommy Guilt! Anyone else struggle with this... .especially in the mornings??? God FORBID we remind these kids to brush their damn teeth! What about Faking laughs for the sake of the kids??? (No nooooo I'm not talking about FAKING other things for the hubbys/boyfriends... that will be another episode). I talk about the importance of SLEEP.... grabbing from r...

Suffering, Loss, Illness ... produce character and produce H.O.P.E. Trials ... Obstacles ... Detours ... Stop Signs.... these are all things that can be so incredibly painful, but they all do things to us, that we would not experience if things were just "easy" ... just "smooth sailing." You must believe in what you CAN'T SEE... and that ... the biggest thing... that you need to remember and belie...

This one started when I found a newspaper clipping that my Mom taped to my Mirror years ago ... back when my husband and I were going through our divorce... It makes me take a step back and really examine how I was living my life "before" everything happened ... and now "after" everything happened. This one that was great to listen back to (3 days later) ... because of course I needed to hear it i...

TRIGGER WARNING -- If you have recently lost a loved one, this is an extremely raw and emotional Entry ... it may help you to hear someone else going through the same heart break ... BUT ... it also might trigger more sadness, so I am leaving it up to you. This was one of those days..... where out of NOWHERE - that moment on 12/3/25 ... when I got the call that changed my entire life, that my Fath...

GUYS!!!! OMG. ... you are going to DIE when you hear this CRAZY story!!! My dad has been showing up in my dreams nudging me to record about this one... I really can't say much about this one .... you just MUST LISTEN!!! Don't forget to email me with some feedback ... I love hearing from everyone! alanamichaels18@yahoo.com Love, ALANA

This one documents my very first date ... not only in a very LONG time... but also my first date without my Dad here on Earth with me. Although I did bring him with me (no, I did not pull out the mini earn with my dad's ashes once they dropped off the bread) - although, I am sure my Dad would have loved that. lol but I had Dad's prayer card in my purse. However ... it was pretty clear the minute I...

I am actually SO happy that this is transpiring in REAL TIME ... as I share my podcast and my life with the world in regards to MY diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder ... My 13 year old son Parker was just made aware (accidentally) of his diagnosis of being on the Autism Spectrum. I think a lot of people out there (including me during times of my life) truly struggle once there is a "label" once we (or...

This is a "Drive By" Recording ... aka I am recording as I am Driving... I said in this one I would start "warning" people. that if you have "motion sickness" aka you don't like when my inner "rabid hyper squirrel" is acting up ...perhaps skip this one! I do jump around ... (like the song at the beginning of Mrs Doubtfire...) but if you can stick with me.... I think it's worth it! Oh, and I was pr...

The Blizzard of 26' Is rearing it's ugly head .... we all feel shitty! ... AND THAT IS OK! I visit the concept of "seasonal depression" which then leads to talk about how psychiatric medications "run in the family" ... Talked about how severe depression can look like a massive brain tumor .... wait until you hear about my first experience with a psychiatrist... a very emotional memory to re-live ....

"ANNIE!!!! YOU GOONIE!!!!!" .... Yup, you got it! A lot of throwbacks to different movies and songs in this one (not surprising) ... I have a lot of fun getting the listener prepared for a life-changing road trip .... so pack your bags, stock up on your water bottles and protein bars ... and AWAY.... WE ... GO!!

Got Woken up between 2am and 3am ... I was exhausted and groggy (I apologize for the Yawning). But I knew I had something to say ... I didn't realize it was going to be so long ... but I take myself on a late night (or early morning) journey ... from My Dad's sudden Death .... and then My Mom's almost death ... and how I ended up choosing to finally take a BREAK ... and choose myself and my own he...

The Cocktail hour doors have been opened ... the mashed potato and taco bars are stocked and ready! The good-looking waiters and waitresses are walking between the guests with their trays filled with Delectable Delights ... Everyone is buzzing about what the "Alana Michaels Show" will be like in "real life" ?? We have heard her voice ... but NOW we will see her "IN THE FLESH?!" ... What will she b...

What is something YOU can NOT live without? Some would say Water ... some would say Wine... some would say The Bible ... .and some, including myself would say "My GPS!" This Entry recaps the incredible message I got to listen to at my new church, which was totally MEANT for me to hear today ... and in turn, I am now repeating it (in Alana Fashion of course) back to YOU (the listeners). .. in the h...

"Alana! Stop picking!!" That's a line I have heard since childhood... referring to the horrible habit of picking and biting at my cuticles ... I dive into this a little deeper in this entry ... remembering back to a time where I did not pick at all, because I was on a medication that must have subdued the urge ... but it also subdued my personality, my drive, my spark. So ... at the end of the day...

When you find out someone has heart disease ... do you say "I had a feeling you were heart disease!" ... NO. SO why is it OK for someone to say ..."Ohhhhh I knew you were Bipolar." .... No. It's an illness ... its a sickness... it's a disease ... i HAVE Bipolar disorder, there is a big difference in saying it that way. This episode visits the frustrations I have with verbIage related to mental ill...

Rest in Peace Mr McSteamy ... Eric Dane. I watched some clips of Eric's final interview just a few weeks before his passing ... and he said some powerful words and pieces of Advice, mostly aimed to his two daughters, but I believe his final words were left for ALL of us ... I reflected on this idea that came to me right at the beginning, before I even knew what this "journey" was about to become ....

This is not an exaggeration. I have basically never called out sick to work, to an event, to a family function, for anything... I've always shown up for ... everything and everyone else. Basically, I am realizing today ... which is why I was never showing up for myself. This one takes us through a quick journey in the hopes that the listeners out there won't make the same mistake I have for most o...