The Suffering Podcast

Send us Fan Mail James Gardner lives in New Jersey with his wife of forty years, Kelly. Together they have three daughters and five grandchildren.  James had a lengthy career in corporate finance, accounting and auditing before retiring in 2019.  In 2020, James began substitute teaching at a local elementary school. In the same year he and Kelly launched their podcast, Your History Your Story. A h...

Send us Fan Mail John Sullivan was born January 1, 1960 and was raised on the tough streets of Yorkville on the East Side of NYC.  His father was killed when he was 2 years old his Mother left his sister and John to be raised by his Grandmother.  Raising a young child was tough in that neighborhood and John’s Grandmother did her best until the streets got the best of him. John found himself gettin...

Send us Fan Mail Gene Hauburger grew up, and raised his family, in Orangeburg NY located in Rockland County. He married his wife, Noreen O’Shea, in 1993. Gene worked as a Supreme Court Officer for 31 years and retired in 2014. He has two daughters, Amanda and Kelly and a son, Jimmy, who was tragically lost to suicide at the age of 17 after being bullied and cyber bullied.  After Jimmy’s passing in...

Send us Fan Mail Mark Hettinger Jr (Firefighter, EMT, Fire, Inspector, Arson Investigator, Firearms Instructor, ECT.) is a highly decorated first responder with over 20+ years of experience with numerous Awards, comondations and citations for his work and life-saving efforts. When not saving or protecting lives, he's teaching other people how to, as an educator. Born the oldest of three boys, and...

Send us Fan Mail Dennis Benigno is the founder and CEO of Street Cop Training and began formal police instruction in 2012.  His law enforcement career began in 2001 at 19 years of age as an NJ Corrections Officer. In 2004, Benigno became a police officer with the US Park Police Dept. in Washington, DC, and in 2005 moved over to the position of a police officer in one of NJ’s largest municipalities...

Send us Fan Mail Chance meetings are never by chance.  Lavana Wilson and Tashiann Yasmine are two strong and spirited women who empower their community in all the positive ways possible.  Together they create to change the face of empowerment in the face of adversity through love and life’s purpose. Lavana (Slayer V) Wilson is a Mom, YouTube Podcaster, creative director, lifestyle blogger, influen...

Send us Fan Mail Bobby Crudele comes from a family that has deep roots in Jersey City and Belleville and as a kid moved to North Arlington. After living in Jersey City for a decade as an adult, Bobby met his wife Kara and eventually bought a house in North Arlington where he currently resides and raises his 3 children. Bobby has served honorably as a Sergeant in the North Arlington Police departme...

Send us Fan Mail Part 2 Mike Arena began his law enforcement career in 2011 at 19 years of age starting out as a Special Law Enforcement Officer with the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department. He was then hired by The New Jersey Department of Corrections and became a Corrections Officer and worked in multiple prisons throughout the state. After a few years of working in corrections, Mike became a...

Send us Fan Mail Part 1 Mike Arena began his law enforcement career in 2011 at 19 years of age starting out as a Special Law Enforcement Officer with the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department. He was then hired by The New Jersey Department of Corrections and became a Corrections Officer and worked in multiple prisons throughout the state. After a few years of working in corrections, Mike became a...

Send us Fan Mail Jose L. Medina is currently a 27-year veteran and leader of Law Enforcement and 20 year owner of Awareness Protective consultants, doing business as Team APC-Medina Tactical Dynamics. Jose has an extensive background in training and consulting for various groups such as Law Enforcement, Military, School Educators, and Corporate Industries. Jose Medina started his consulting firm w...

Send us Fan Mail Tammie Starnes has taken a journey with multiple traumas and found a new direction on healing.  Finding an avenue of healing through the Harmonic Egg therapy.  When hope was waining for her 11 year old daughter to come out of her shell, Tammie was out of options and sought help in any place that was offered.  Almost non-verbal, a new therapy method was found in the Harmonic Egg Vi...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 129: The Suffering of Bullying with Jay Aponte We welcome back Jay Aponte to The Suffering Podcast. Jay gave a second chance to Kevin in Episode 12 (original air date 3/7/21).  (Original show notes) We get a second chance to right a wrong in the episode of The Suffering Podcast.  We talk with Jay Aponte who 34 years ago I put through hell.  Jay gets the opportunity to conf...

Send us Fan Mail Nick Ricciotti attended Chestnut Hill College to play Division 2 baseball and received my BA in Criminal Justice. Nick worked as a cop in Morris County NJ for 6 years before losing my job due to substance and alcohol abuse. Prior to losing his job Nick’s mental health was at a decline which got worse during the process of losing the job he loved. Eventually the initiative was take...

Send us Fan Mail Mary Sciarrone (née Valastro) is one of the owners of the world famous Carlos Bakery and featured on the reality show Cake Boss alongside her family and brother Buddy Valestro.  Her unique personality shines through and has become a fan favorite for her insight and savvy business skills.   Mary has been able to keep a business running for such a long time after taking it over from...

Send us Fan Mail Part 2 of this amazing story Mike's life was on the fast track to success. As a proud Marine and College student in his Senior year, Mike's life came to an abrupt halt one cold winter night in 2005. Mike was celebrating with his friends and decided to get behind the wheel of his car after having too much to drink. His vehicle slipped on a patch of black ice and violently crashed....

Send us Fan Mail Part 1 of this amazing story Mike's life was on the fast track to success. As a proud Marine and College student in his Senior year, Mike's life came to an abrupt halt one cold winter night in 2005. Mike was celebrating with his friends and decided to get behind the wheel of his car after having too much to drink. His vehicle slipped on a patch of black ice and violently crashed....

Send us Fan Mail Roman is a 1st generation immigrant from Ukraine. He arrived in US with 6 other family members to a 2 bedroom apartment. Roman interned with the Secret Service and held a top secret government clearance. He was forced to become a self taught digital marketer as a result of the 2008 recession, and fell in love with it. Roman has 13 years of experience leading digital teams in senio...

Send us Fan Mail Damon Hayes came to prominence as a star football player for Rutgers University.  Playing Defensive Back for the Scarlett Knights, Damon knew that he must work hard to achieve his goals.  His football ability afforded one of the greatest gifts in life, a college education.  When his career was over, Damon chose to take a new path and follow the road less traveled.  An aspiring Fil...

Send us Fan Mail Paul Cimins is a renowned personality in the autism advocacy community and the President of Autism Radio, a501(c)3 charity. He is an autism dad and podcast host. Paul has dedicated his life to raising awareness about autism and helping families impacted by autism. Paul's journey in autism advocacy started when his son Jonathan was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. This diag...

Send us Fan Mail One of our dearest friends, and most loyal supporters, joined us once again in the studio to go over a very sensitive subject. Mike DePalma has seen war, a career in law-enforcement, and a personal battle that would cripple most. Multiple concussive blasts, while overseas in the army coupled with on the job injuries as a police officer have left Mike with a diagnosed traumatic bra...

Send us Fan Mail Josh Vadell is a husband and father of three girls. He is a 10- year veteran of the Atlantic City Police Department where he served in the Operations Division. On September 3, 2016, while on duty, Josh was shot in the head and critically injured while he and his partner interrupted an armed robbery in progress. Since his near fatal incident, Josh has persevered through extensive p...

Send us Fan Mail Stacey lived a life of chaos that began at birth. Born into a life of instability, drug abuse, and neglect, having to recreate her childhood as an adult. The chaos led her to a life on the streets of Trenton hopeless, broken, angry, and lost. Stacey refused to let her mistakes or the mistakes of others define her future. Life began in 2018 when Stacey made the choice to get sober...

Send us Fan Mail Chris Anderson has led a life of service working as a homicide detective on the streets of Birmingham Alabama.  We are honored to have Chris in studio for this extra special episode to talk about how the police profession slowly eats away at your soul.   Working effectively for a full career led Chris to be featured on A&E’s First 48 then led him to investigate wrongful prosecutio...

Send us Fan Mail Frank Failace Sr. has led a wild life but always remains a steadfast rock to his two sons.  Born in Jersey City in the heyday of all sorts of turmoil, Frank’s spirit shines through in an entrepreneurial spirit.  The stories and names all resonate of a time when life was simpler but just as wild.  This very special episode pulls at your heartstrings and documents a man who has done...

Send us Fan Mail Earl Granville, a combat wounded veteran was two weeks into in boot camp at Ft Benning with his twin brother Joe, when 9/11 happened. On his final tour, he lost his left leg through the knee to a roadside bomb while on patrol. He is currently working with many non-profits such as Operation Enduring Warrior, the Oscar Mike Foundation and Warrior Strong. These 501c3s help keep wound...