Real Feel Insights

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Patty Poppenhagen to reflect on her 36-year career as a UPS driver. Patty shares how she entered the workforce at a young age, the lessons she learned over decades on the job, and how the role changed as online shopping transformed the demands of package delivery. She also offers an inside look at the challenges drivers face every day, from long hour...

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Kristin Helmers for a conversation about military families, motherhood, and navigating profound loss. Kristin shares her work as a Soldier and Family Readiness Specialist, where she connects military families with resources and support during deployments. She also reflects on raising three sons while her husband served in the military and the communi...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Michael Scolley for a deeply personal conversation about the sudden loss of his son, Ridge, and the journey that followed. Mike shares who Ridge was beyond the tragedy—a joyful, compassionate young boy who loved sports, brought people together, and never hesitated to care for those around him. He reflects on the day everything changed, the unimaginabl...

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Brent Kaiser for a conversation about his 41-year career as a paramedic and educator in Emergency Medical Services. Brent reflects on what first drew him to the profession, the experiences that shaped him throughout his career, and the lessons he learned while helping people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Throughout the co...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Carrie Wise for a deeply personal conversation about grief, domestic violence, trauma, and the complicated realities of losing both of her parents within a matter of months. Carrie shares the story of her mother's death, her father's role in it, and the difficult journey that followed as she navigated grief, unanswered questions, and the imp...

In this special one-year anniversary episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with the Real Feel Insights team—Producer Cassidy Ziegler, Marketing Director Cecilia George, and Financial Manager Megan Streiff—to reflect on the first year of the podcast. Sarah shares how the team came together, the roles each person plays behind the scenes, and the journey of building Real Feel Insights into what it is tod...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Katie Galbrecht for an honest conversation about breast cancer, motherhood, and navigating life after a diagnosis. Katie shares how subtle symptoms eventually led to testing, biopsies, and the discovery that she had stage 3B invasive ductal carcinoma at just 30 years old. She reflects on balancing treatment while continuing to work, parent her two dau...

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Dave Endicott for a deeply personal conversation about suicide, mental health, and the loss of his brother, Christopher. Dave shares who Chris was beyond the headlines—a father, husband, coach, educator, and someone who struggled silently under the weight of shame, legal troubles, and isolation. Dave reflects on the grief that followed, the importanc...

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Barb Coufal for a thoughtful conversation about education, relationships, and the impact adults can have on young people. Barb reflects on her years working in public schools, first as a para and later as a high school secretary, and the perspective she gained from working with students at different stages of life. She talks about the importance of c...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Kari Haverkamp for an honest conversation about miscarriage, grief, and the emotional weight that comes with trying to start a family. Kari shares her experience navigating multiple miscarriages, the uncertainty that followed, and how those moments impacted her both mentally and emotionally. She also reflects on the pressure of trying to control the p...

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Dexter Schwartz for an honest conversation about fatherhood, perspective, and raising a child with Down syndrome. Dexter shares the unexpected story of his son Braxlee’s birth and the challenges that followed, including the medical complications and surgeries they’ve had to navigate along the way. He also reflects on what it’s been like learning thro...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Taylor Drewes for an honest conversation about postpartum, early motherhood, and the gap between expectations and reality. Taylor shares her experience preparing for motherhood, the challenges she faced during delivery, and how quickly plans can change when life takes a different direction. She also opens up about the emotional side of postpartum—feel...

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Mike Hanson for an honest conversation about law enforcement, service, and the experiences that shape a career over time. Mike shares how he originally planned to pursue a different path before being drawn into law enforcement through a desire to serve others. He reflects on the academy experience, the discipline it required, and the foundation it bu...

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Barbara Pedersen for an honest conversation about growing up as an army brat, navigating constant change, and trying to find where you belong. Barbara shares how moving throughout her childhood shaped her perspective, exposed her to different cultures, and influenced how she approaches life today. She also reflects on the challenges that came with th...

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Bill Aufdenkamp for a reflective conversation about faith, ministry, and the meaning of Easter. Bill shares how he originally planned to become a school teacher, but felt called in a different direction—to teach and share the message of Christ. He walks through the story of Easter and the significance of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Bill exp...

 In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Sara Mattson for an honest conversation about veterinary medicine, resilience, and the path that doesn’t always go as planned. Sara shares how growing up on a farm shaped her early interest in becoming a veterinarian and the moment that confirmed it for her. She walks through her education, including early acceptance into veterinary school, and the c...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Sarah Linden Hudson for a deeply personal conversation about service, loss, and remembrance. Sarah shares the story of her brother Troy, who was killed in Iraq while serving in the military as part of a unit responsible for identifying and clearing explosive threats. She reflects on who Troy was, what led him to serve, and the kind of person he was to...

In Part 2 of this series, Sarah Bachmann continues her conversation with Scott Geiselhart as he shares the steps he took after discovering he was living with PTSD. Scott discusses the research he did to understand his symptoms, the helplines he contacted, and the therapy that helped him begin addressing the trauma he had experienced. He walks through the EMDR treatment process he completed and how...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Scott Geiselhart for a deeply honest conversation about PTSD and the hidden toll trauma can take. Scott shares how running his own mechanic shop while also serving as a volunteer firefighter exposed him to situations that slowly began to affect his mental health. As the nightmares and stress intensified, Scott turned to alcohol and drugs in an attempt...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Mindy Retz for an honest and current conversation about cancer — specifically Mindy’s ongoing battle with rectal cancer. With so many individuals and families in our community facing different forms of cancer, this episode is meant to shine a light on the reality of the “C” word. Cancer comes in many forms, and this conversation is not about one diagn...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Becky Schmitz for an encouraging and practical conversation about mental health. With 18 years of experience in the field, Becky shares how she approaches each individual differently and why there is no one-size-fits-all path to healing. She discusses simple tools like “HALT” — Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired — and how small check-ins can make a mean...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with retired family physician Dr. John Emery for a thoughtful conversation about medicine, service, and a life shaped by steady commitment. John shares how he found his path into family practice, the lessons learned through decades of caring for patients, and the experiences that defined his career—including his time serving as a physician in the Navy. He...

In this episode, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Scott Ailie for an uplifting conversation about faith, transformation, and service. Scott shares his life before faith—marked by addiction, stealing, and searching for something more—and the moment everything changed when he accepted Jesus at nineteen. Not long after, Scott felt called into jail ministry, a role he has faithfully served in ever since....

In the final episode of the addiction series, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Holly Christianson for a deeply personal conversation about loving a child through addiction. Holly shares what it was like watching her son struggle for years, the difficult boundaries she had to set, and the reality of practicing tough love as a parent. She reflects on his time in treatment, the grief of losing him, and...

In part two of the addiction series, Sarah Bachmann sits down with Lindsay Cooksey to talk about addiction, recovery, and rebuilding life from the ground up. Lindsay shares her journey through years of substance use, including meth addiction, and the emotional pain that kept her stuck in destructive patterns. She reflects on quitting cold turkey, building a strong support system, and why hard work...