From Survivor to Thriver
Erik DaRosa & Marc Fernandes
1 Creator
1 Creator
We speak with real people who are shattering mental health stigmas and finding their voices. We aim to normalize discussions around mental health topics and remind our audience: "it's perfectly ok to not always be ok."
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Top 10 From Survivor to Thriver Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best From Survivor to Thriver episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to From Survivor to Thriver for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite From Survivor to Thriver episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Building Mental Resilience in Veterans and Healing Through Service with Sgt Q
From Survivor to Thriver
11/08/22 • 72 min
Depression and suicide rates among veterans are high, and not enough veterans get the support they need to heal from their experiences and trauma.
In this episode of From Survivor To Thriver, we sat down with Sgt Q to talk about his journey through his own mental health struggles as a veteran and how he used his experiences and faith to help other people struggling by shifting from reactive to proactive responses when in mental health crises.
He is a firm believer in healing through service and has created an app that is changing the game for mental health emergencies.
Aaron Quinonez (Sgt Q) endured a rough upbringing before becoming a proud Marine right out of high school. He was trained to fight the enemy and was prepared for war. When he volunteered for a combat tour in Iraq, little did he know his real battle would be fought in his mind.
After eight years of military service, Sgt Q suffered from depression, anger, and panic attacks and was diagnosed with PTSD. He nearly ended his own life in the parking lot of a church, where later he was redeemed by Jesus Christ, who gave him a new life.
Sgt Q traded the battlefield for the mission field and found healing and purpose through building homes and churches, feeding children, and supplying precious hope to struggling communities worldwide. God then called him to form QMissions, a pathway for veterans—Sgt Q’s fellow warfighters—to replace the battle scars of their minds with the joy of serving.
Now, Sgt Q is the award-winning author of Healing Thru Service originally aimed at struggling veterans, which also offers help for anyone in crisis and may be one's ticket to a more fulfilled life. He went from being homeless and on the brink of suicide to starting the multi-million dollar company with over 100 employees, Reliable Commercial Cleaning, founding the veteran non-profit, Q Missions, and the health-tech startup, Q Actual 2.0.
In today’s episode we cover:
- Sgt Q’s experience in the military
- The definition of service
- The app Sgt Q built to prevent suicide
- The toll war took on his mental health
- Why helping other people makes you feel better
- The different camps of people struggling with their mental health
- The importance of sharing our experiences
- Becoming proactive to mental health crises instead of reactive
- Building mental resilience
We hope you enjoyed this episode. To learn more about Sgt Q and his app, make sure to visit his website and read his book.
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Links:
Get in touch: [email protected]
“Look for your pain, and there your ministry will be also.” -Sgt Q
“We have to stop trying to do everything by ourselves.” -Marc
“If there ever was a story of hope and light, it’s Sgt Q’s.” -Erik
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Letting Go of The Fear and Finding True Joy with Kerri Hummingbird
From Survivor to Thriver
10/18/22 • 74 min
Many people base their self-worth on what others think. It can be scary to change something about yourself or break harmful patterns because of the fear of what others will think of you, even if it’s for your own highest good. We are all unique and oftentimes, we don’t recognize the power we truly have because this fear that we won’t be accepted holds us back.
In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with special guest Kerri Hummingbird to talk about how we can finally break those patterns, stop trying to find our validation in other people, accept our differences, and start loving and fully embracing our true selves.
Kerri Hummingbird, Soul Guide and host of Soul Nectar Show, is also the #1 international best-selling author of “The Second Wave: Transcending the Human Drama” and the award-winning best-selling book “Awakening to Me: One Woman’s Journey to Self-Love” which describes the early years of her spiritual awakening.
Kerri has over 30 years of experience in leading by inspiration and a special passion for reconnecting people to the guidance of our Mother Earth. She mentors women to rewrite the story of their lives through inner transformation, connection to essence, remembrance of purpose, and realignment to authenticity and truth.
She also inspires people to lead their lives wide awake with an authenticity, passion, and purpose that positively impacts others while catalyzing mind shifts that transform life challenges into gifts of wisdom.
In today’s episode we cover:
- The energy of manifestors
- The uniqueness of each person
- The feminist movement and trusting your instincts
- The power we each have
- Relationship dynamics
- Confirmation bias
- The impact of early childhood trauma
- The book that changed Kerri’s perception
- Finding true joy and love for yourself
- The messy process of healing
- Why acceptance is our greatest gift
- Why it’s okay to be wrong
We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Kerri as much as we did. If you are interested in learning more from Kerri, make sure to check out her books here or tune into the Soul Nectar Show!
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Links:
Listen to the Soul Nectar Show
Get in touch: [email protected]
“Acceptance is the greatest gift we can give others or ourselves.” -Kerri
“None of us need permission from anyone to do anything.” -Erik
“Many of us don’t understand our power.” -Marc
2 Listeners
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Episode 76- Cole Rodgers: You can’t fight in the dark by yourself
From Survivor to Thriver
09/06/22 • 75 min
Cole, a lifestyle entrepreneur, successful businessman and leading minister of impact, came back from the brink of divorce and battling substance use to achieve what all men seek – freedom. Looking back on his childhood, he was constantly seeking validation by acting out through self-sabotage, a practice that led to tremendous self-doubt and negative internal judgment. He liberated himself and, in turn, has liberated men across the globe, allowing them to truly be free and not just exist. To that end, he founded School of Man, an organization that builds real men through a raw and real vulnerability in order to crack the code to have it all – family, wealth and leadership. Today, he reminds our audience that “his greatest successes came from the greatest pain in his life.” Connect with Cole at schoolofman.live.
Contact Us:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @brushcreekthrivers
Facebook: From Survivor to Thriver
2 Listeners
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Understanding How To Manage OCD with Zach Westerbeck, Part 1
From Survivor to Thriver
11/29/22 • 49 min
Do you struggle with OCD?
According to the World Health Organization, it is one of the top ten most debilitating disorders, but it is one of the most misdiagnosed. This means that many people with this disorder aren’t getting the help they need.
In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we have a special two-part episode with Zach Westerbeck, where we talk about the things that people don’t know or understand about OCD, what it actually is, the truth about intrusive thoughts, and so much more.
Zach Westerbeck is a Mental Health advocate, National speaker, College Success Coach, and author of “You’re Not Alone”, who was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in 2016. During that time period he experienced severe anxiety, deep depression, and thoughts of suicide. After hitting his rock bottom moment, he sought help and started to recover.
Through his recovery process, he became Mental Health First Aid certified and now travels the country educating thousands of students on the fundamentals of mental health. Through his personal experiences and extensive research, he is able to relate and clearly articulate why now, more than ever, it is critical to understand how to manage your mental health.
Zach has spoken at higher learning institutions such as Penn State, Georgia Tech, Purdue University, University of Arizona, to name a few.
In today’s episode we cover:
- What OCD really is
- When disorders like this manifest
- The impact of intrusive thoughts
- The relationships that you have with your thoughts
- Breaking compulsive patterns
- Signs of OCD in children
- Exposure and response prevention
- Why ERP therapy is so effective
We hope you enjoyed part one of our conversation with Zach. Make sure to tune in Thursday to hear part 2 as we dive even deeper into this conversation. If you want to hear more from Zach, make sure to check out his book and tune in to his podcast.
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Links:
Get in touch: [email protected]
“OCD isn’t just perfectionism. It’s not just organization, it’s not just cleanliness. It transcends way beyond that.” -Zach
“OCD really is consuming.” -Marc
“For those of us with OCD, the scary part is we can actually change the narrative in our own minds.” -Erik
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Moving from Emotional Pain to Emotional Power with Dr. Julia DiGangi
From Survivor to Thriver
10/11/22 • 83 min
There are many synonyms for pain. You can call it anxiety, stress, irritation, struggles, overwhelm... the list goes on and on. No matter what you call it, the same parts of the brain are being activated. Emotional pain can feel like physical pain, and there is no way to completely avoid it.
In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Dr. Julia DiGangi to talk about how to embrace the idea of pain rather than avoid it so that you can begin to take back your power.
Dr. Julia DiGangi is a neuropsychologist who works with leaders, corporate teams and couples to address pain in their lives. An expert in the brain’s relationship with stress, resilience and relationships, she applies her expertise to help leaders think differently about their relationships, the pain they can cause, and what *actually* works to solve interpersonal problems.
From overwhelmed corporate leaders to traumatized couples to dysfunctional teams, Dr. Julia has taught thousands to create a new relationship with their brain and, subsequently, improve their relationships with the people around them. By helping people understand the brain in new ways, she empowers people to achieve the interpersonal effectiveness they desire.
She is regularly the keynote speaker for corporate, healthcare, government and educational audiences, is presently writing a book for Harvard Business Review titled “From Pain to Progress: The Neuroscience of Smart Leadership in Tough Times” and has also given a TEDx talk on the relationship between our brains and stress.
In today’s episode we cover:
- Different types of pain
- Why it’s so important to talk about pain
- Tackling pain to get back home to yourself
- The Pain Tree
- Humiliation and feelings of unworthiness
- The power of a situation in childhood
- The difference between physical and emotional pain
- Emotional intelligence and connection
- The importance of harnessing our emotional energy for good
- Experiencing the emotional shake
If you are interested in learning how to harness emotional energy to become a more powerful version of yourself, make sure to watch for Dr. DiGangi’s book. You can follow her on Instagram or LinkedIn to stay connected.
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Links:
Get in touch: [email protected]
“It’s only when we understand our pain that we can access our power.” –Dr. Julia DiGangi
“Breaking cycles takes a lot of work and it takes a lot of self-reflection.” -Erik
“It is actually that simple sometimes for us to take back the power in our brains.” -Marc
2 Listeners
1 Comment
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Episode 49- Tim Beisiegel: I am focused on moving forward
From Survivor to Thriver
03/01/22 • 71 min
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1
The Path To Parenthood is Not Linear: The Mental Health Impact of Infertility with Meirav Zur
From Survivor to Thriver
09/27/22 • 68 min
Have you or anyone you know ever struggled with infertility?
In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Meirav Zur to talk about infertility and the significant impact struggling to conceive can have on the mental health of those involved.
Meirav experienced this firsthand and brought light to the issue by doing what she does best: comedy. In doing so, she inspired those around her to open up and talk about the mental health struggles they have experienced as a result of infertility as well.
Meirav Zur is the naturally “that girl” who always “looks familiar,” like a neighbor’s summer guest, local diner waitress, or a distant cousin’s friend, even “that actress” in “that cool TV series” or “that Netflix show” or “that famous movie”.
In 2005, she founded the English-language professional traveling theater in Israel, English on Stage, subsequently writing, directing, and acting in its various original productions, as well as coaching unique theater workshops and classes for both children and adults. She thoroughly believes in both the power and magic of theatre, and loves sharing with people its many parallels with "real life".
Her latest production, “Inconceivable: The Totally True One-Woman Semi-Fertile Quasi-Musical”, has given her the opportunity to get people laughing and thinking about things people don't often discuss (including herself until this show premiered).
In today’s episode we cover:
- Meirav’s journey with infertility and miscarriages
- The mental and emotional toll of infertility
- Why no one talks about infertility
- Using performance as therapy
- The lack of adequate sex education in schools
- The impact of infertility on the men involved
- The path to parenthood is not linear
- Why you shouldn’t bottle up your feelings
We hope you enjoy this conversation with Meirav as much as we did. It was so inspiring to hear how she used comedy to start a conversation about infertility and mental health and help people feel less alone.
If you enjoyed hearing about Meirav’s journey and the show she created based on her experiences with infertility, make sure you check out her show. You can get tickets here!
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Make sure also to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Links:
Get in touch: [email protected]
“When it comes to fertility or infertility, everyone’s path is different. The path to parenthood is not linear at all.” -Meirav
“Not only is there a physical side to infertility, but there is a significant mental health side to it as well.” -Erik
“No one talks about infertility.” -Marc
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Healing from the Past with Carrie Smith
From Survivor to Thriver
06/13/23 • 67 min
Generational trauma is something that so many people struggle with and, unfortunately, it can be one of the hardest things to break free and heal from.
In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Carrie Smith to talk about her life experiences and how it impacted her ability to form relationships in her life.
Carrington “Carrie” Smith is the founder and President of Carrington Legal Search and best-selling author of "Blooming", which tells the story of Carrie’s journey through the shit of life - her struggles, failures, trauma, and challenges – experiences universal to every human from every walk of life – to finding happiness, belonging, purpose, and joy by shifting her mindset and embracing gratitude.
Never able to have a normal relationship, Carrie eventually married and divorced twice. She spent much of her life trying to “fit-in” and conform to the standards and wishes of others while battling years of depression, criticism, and self-loathing.
As she fought to survive, she came to realize that her path to happiness was not about fitting-in but letting go and standing out. During the pandemic, Carrie authored "Blooming" as her answer to this question and her effort to help anyone who is struggling in life or career.
In today’s episode we cover:
- Carrie’s struggles forming “normal relationships” and the trauma it stemmed from
- Carrie’s childhood experiences with a narcissistic father and the moment that changed everything for her
- The value Carrie saw in herself and how it shaped her relationships going forward
- The transformative power of healing hypnosis
- How friendships change as you evolve
- Why comparison really is the thief of joy
- Generational trauma and how you can move away from it
We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Carrie! If you want to learn more from her, make sure to grab a copy of her book! You can also visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Links:
Visit Carries website: https://www.carrington-smith.com
Follow Carrie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriesmithtrabue/
Follow Carrie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carringtonatx/
Follow Carrie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarringtonATX
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brushcreekthrivers
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brushcreekthrivers/
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fromsurvivortothriver
Get in touch: [email protected]
“It’s one of our basic human needs to feel like we belong and to feel secure and loved.” -Marc
“We have to take care of ourselves. And often the people we are around are attracted to our persona, but not the person we are.” -Erik
“In order to thrive in life and to be happy, I have to follow the path that I need to follow.” -Carrie
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Recovering from PTSD and Trauma with the Healing Power of Yoga Therapy with Anissa Hudak
From Survivor to Thriver
09/20/22 • 62 min
PTSD and trauma can be extremely challenging to work through. Unfortunately, the western methods of treatment like medications and therapy just don’t work for everyone. Sometimes you need to branch out into non-traditional therapy forms to find the healing you’re looking for.
Today on From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Anissa Hudak to talk about processing trauma and PTSD with yoga therapy. Anissa found freedom to heal on the mat and now she teaches other people how to find that freedom and healing as well.
Anissa Hudak’s life has been intertwined with PTSD, Trauma, and the military. Not only is she the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran, but she was also married to an active-duty member (and Iraq/Afghanistan Veteran) for over 20 years.
After seeing others struggle and having her own personal struggles with trauma and PTSD, she was inspired to create the Trauma Healing Yoga Therapy Program. As a Yoga Therapist and founder of the Trauma Healing Yoga Therapy Program, she guides others in the use of effective, science-based yoga therapy and other holistic techniques for the management and healing of symptoms relating to PTSD and trauma for people who want to control their PTSD - not allow it to control them.
Most recently, she has focused her efforts toward working with women who have been sexually traumatized to help them heal their PTSD (and other trauma-related issues) with yoga therapy.
In today’s episode we cover:
- The mind, body, and breath connection
- The two types of yoga
- How yoga helps people with PTSD
- Anissa’s story of trauma and PTSD
- The difference between a response and a reaction
- The science of yoga therapy
- Having inanimate objects on our healing team
We hope you enjoy our conversation with Anissa. It’s so inspiring to hear about her journey and how she used yoga therapy to truly go from a survivor to thriver, despite her trauma. If you are interested in testing to find the right medications for you, make sure to check out Gene Sight.
If you loved hearing about yoga therapy from Anissa, We highly recommend you check out her website to see how you can work with her.
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Make sure also to subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Links:
Get in touch: [email protected]
“We’re there to help you meet your needs. We’re there to help you rehab fr
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Art as Therapy, Vulnerability, LGBTQ+ Rights, and a Higher Power with Rebecca Heidt
From Survivor to Thriver
09/13/22 • 65 min
Today on From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with a special guest Rebecca Heidt to talk about her struggles with her mental health and how she used them to impact the lives of people who struggle the way she did.
Rebecca used her lowest moment when she thought she couldn’t go on anymore to start a new chapter helping other people who felt that way. Just like they helped her get through her worst moment, she wanted to help them get through theirs. This led to her books and art.
Rebecca Heidt has been through many different situations that a lot of people may or may not have experienced and made it out to the other side. She worked in the food industry in Management and finance as an Account Executive. However, The Arts were always her home. Her passion lies in writing, painting, anthropology, and nature. She completed her first self-published work “Acceptance: The Beginning.” Rebecca continues pushing the literary boundaries with her second book “Acceptance: The Reality.”
In today’s episode we cover:
- How Rebecca uses painting as an outlet
- The importance of vulnerability when you’re trying to make it to the other side
- The healing power of art
- Mental health struggles of the LGBTQ+ community
- Self-sabotage
- The church that protects LGBT families
- Political unrest and upcoming changes in the world
We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Rebecca as much as we did. She is passionate about protecting the rights of her fellow LGBTQ+ members and it was great to dive into that topic as well as her thoughts on art, love, vulnerability, a higher power, and so much more.
If you’d love to hear more from Rebecca, we highly recommend you check out her book. Make sure to also follow her on social media to stay up to date on her upcoming releases.
Links:
Check out Rebecca’s website: https://www.rebeccaheidt.com
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidt_bristow_revolution/
Connect with Rebecca on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.heidt.1/
Get your copy of Rebecca’s book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VRR75GC
Follow Rebecca on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theexaltedpeacock
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brushcreekthrivers
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brushcreekthrivers/
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fromsurvivortothriver
Get in touch: [email protected]
“Fear is what grips us, as people, to think that we can’t expand.” –Rebecca
“No one can grow or move from the beginning to the reality until you go through that period of vulnerability.” -Erik
“I don’t have to understand to have compassion.” -Marc
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FAQ
How many episodes does From Survivor to Thriver have?
From Survivor to Thriver currently has 176 episodes available.
What topics does From Survivor to Thriver cover?
The podcast is about Addiction, Health & Fitness, Ptsd, Anxiety, Alternative Health, Mental Health, Depression, Podcasts, Sober, Trauma, Recovery and Ocd.
What is the most popular episode on From Survivor to Thriver?
The episode title 'Building Mental Resilience in Veterans and Healing Through Service with Sgt Q' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on From Survivor to Thriver?
The average episode length on From Survivor to Thriver is 70 minutes.
How often are episodes of From Survivor to Thriver released?
Episodes of From Survivor to Thriver are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of From Survivor to Thriver?
The first episode of From Survivor to Thriver was released on Jan 30, 2021.
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Comments
@rocker
Jun 6
Erik and Marc feature great guests and stories. It's okay to talk about mental health, and they show it.
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