Survive and Thrive 8791 ☆Mental Health Help ☆ ANXIETY ☆ DEPRESSION ☆ RECOVERY ☆WELLNESS

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Billy Van Wie to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Billy and wife Amanda’s world changed in 2009 when they welcomed their third daughter Lauren to the family. Almost a week after her birth, the Van Wies would have more questions than answers as doctors diagnosed their daughter with a rare congenital heart defect—a combination of Interrup...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Carter Gilmore to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Gilmore, a standout high school basketball player, would take his talents to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, joining the Badger Men’s Basketball program in 2020. Despite his success on the court, Carter’s first four years in college were marked by lack of confidence, anxiety, depre...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Jess Lawinger to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Jess Lawinger and her husband, also named Jess, have shared a journey filled with family, love, and hope as the cornerstone of their life. For over a decade, the Lawingers built a strong foundation as a couple, but infertility became a heartbreaking hurdle to their dream of starting thei...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Coach Steve Erato to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. In 2019, at the age of 39, Coach Erato faced a life-threatening health scare when he was diagnosed with the Widowmaker , a 100% blockage of his left anterior descending artery. Surgery would save his life. Steve’s journey is one of gratitude, hard work, and never giving up. He talks...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Christine Gruetzmacher to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Christine was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of 38. A wife and mother of three, she faced her diagnosis with passion, courage, and a deep faith that allowed her to focus on her health and the health of her family. An active runner who has completed half marathons and t...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Executive Director at One Voice of Hunterdon County, Lesley Gabel to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Gabel, an Invasive Ductal Carcinoma breast cancer survivor whose journey began in August 2012 when she received life-altering news from her primary care provider. As a wife and mother of three, Lesley faced her diagnosis with determined...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome sports writer Tom Oates to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Tom, whose 40 year career with the Wisconsin State Journal was his dream job. Tom shares his story of growing up in Appleton, WI, to attending Xavier High School, and eventually landing in Madison, Wisconsin where he covered some of the most memorable times in Wisconsin spo...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Kerri Kane to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios to promote the 4th Annual Broken to Brave Event, a powerful gathering of inspiration, connection, and music, sponsored by Waunakee Project Brave. This free event on Sunday, February 16th, is a space where stories of bravery, hope, and resilience come to life. Through courageous guest speaker...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Dee Dee Crowley to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. We share the inspiring story of Dee Dee, a liver transplant recipient, devoted wife, and loving mother of two. Her story is one of determination, self-advocacy, and finding clarity about what truly matters in life. Faced with a life-threatening health crisis in December 2022, Dee Dee l...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Caleb Frostman to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Survive & Thrive 8791 , the podcast is where we share real stories that make you cry, laugh, and think. Caleb’s here to share his journey of navigating life after losing a job he truly loved. His journey is one of courage, mental toughness, and the lessons learned from a challenge e...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Paul Schneider to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Survive & Thrive 8791 , the podcast is where we share real stories that make you cry, laugh, and think. Paul’s journey is one of courage, honesty, and authenticity. For Paul, life once revolved around family, children, and his church. Yet, amidst this dedication, his marriage took a...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, we share the inspiring story of Troy Melton, who overcame immense challenges as a single father to raise his son Nick into a fine young man and an outstanding athlete. For the first seven years of Nick's life, it was just the two of them—Troy working tirelessly to care and nurture his son’s potential. Their bond was unbreakable, defined by love, resili...

In this powerful episode of Survive & Thrive 8791 , Clinical Professional Counselor and Sport and Mental Performance Consultant, Patrice Whitfield, opens up about her personal journey with perfectionism. From a young age, Patrice struggled with the pressure of always needing to excel, a challenge she carried into adulthood. Her story is one of resilience, as she navigates the complexities of h...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, Brian Kenney, owner of Team Extreme, a team building company specializing in hands-on customized team building events on site, opens up about his personal journey through the struggles of a gambling disorder and the steps he took to reclaim control of his life.  Brian candidly shares the emotional and psychological toll that gambling took on him, from...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I share parts of my story and offer up the 5 suggestions that have helped me survive and thrive for the last 1,100+ days. In December 2021, I took a leap of faith, afraid of the unknown and asked for help.  With the help of two co-workers, I got the necessary direction and help from a counselor and psychiatrist that saved my life.  In segment one, I sh...

According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 12 million women in the United States ages 12 and older had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the past year. On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Kristi Tanner to the Buck & Honey's remote studios. For many years, Kristi struggled with alcohol and sobriety.  With four young children, Tanner found it hard to...

According to an internet search, almost 50% of all marriages will end in divorce or separation.  On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, we welcome Mary Kay consultant Sheryl Motiff into the Buck & Honey's remote studios.  Motiff has accomplished many things in her professional career. In addition to Mary Kay, she has been an engineer, bookkeeper, Uber driver, and managing director of Po...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Emily Murray into the Buck & Honey's remote studios. According to an internet search, 1 in 5 women experience postpartum anxiety and 1 in 8 women experience postpartum depression. Emily Murray was experiencing both. After a normal pregnancy with her first child, Emily gave birth to a bouncing baby girl. Just six weeks into motherhood, Emi...

On this episode of Survive and Thrive 8791, Coach Decorah talks about the start of his anxiety. It all started as a two to three month old baby tracking his great grandmother's movements, watching her struggle with the onset of Parkinson's. Seeing her shake and tremble, fall due to the loss of balance and coordination, or helping her to her feet once he was old enough to stand himself, things just...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, Coach Decorah gives thanks to his amazing guests, the listeners, and most of all his family and friends who have made this podcast one of the best!  Coach Decorah reviews the survival skills that each guest has shared that have allowed them to thrive despite challenging circumstances. You'll hear from a hall of fame basketball coach, top athletes, educ...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, Libby Wipperfurth shares her story of addiction and how she was able to find sobriety. Her parents divorced at the age of 8 which would lead to a lot of loneliness. At the age of 12, Libby started to experiment with alcohol and other substances to numb the pain of being alone. In high school, she had the house to herself, she said, "That may sound grea...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, Laura Sowinski shares how a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2001 has not slowed her down, but has given her more DRIVE in life. Laura climbed the educational ladder starting out as a Spanish teacher before finding her way into administration as an assistant principal. She was thriving before some blurred vision turned into a diagnosis of MS. With th...

On this episode of Survive and Thrive 8791, we welcome Kristan Nielsen into the Buck & Honey's remote studios. Citing a concern for more family time, mental health concerns, and placing too much energy into her profession, Kristan decided to leave the classroom and change careers. In her mid 40s, when most teachers are contemplating retirement, Kristan listened to the voice in her head, that o...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, educator Amy Frank shares how she coped with a stage 3C breast cancer diagnosis in 2010. Since then, she has thrived as a cancer survivor for the last 14 years. That has allowed her to be a huge asset to the 5th & 6th grade staff and students at her school. Amy will share the things that have allowed her to get through the initial shock of a life-a...

On this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, we welcome Coach Bill Freidig into the Buck & Honey's remote studios.   Bill, a successful coach and health & performance trainer shares his story of losing his father at the tender age of eleven. Fortunately, his family helped nurture him and help him through the days that would follow.  In addition to family, Bill was able to have some mentor...