On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with is the co-founder and CEO of Perimeter, Bailey Farren. Perimeter is a mapping platform designed to help first responders share information with each other and public during natural disasters.Bailey was recently listed on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Enterprise Technology, and has received recognition from the New York Times Good Tech Awards, the Westly Foundation, and the UCLA Pritzker Environmental Genius AwardFor the last five years, she has also been a speaker for First Responders Resiliency, Inc., where she gives lectures on Neuroanatomy, Flow State, Sleep Deprivation, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.Follow Bailey: https://www.baileyfarren.com/ https://twitter.com/bailey_farren https://www.linkedin.com/in/baileyfarren/ https://www.instagram.com/bailey.farren

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Jas Rawlinson. Jas is an award-winning book coach, resilience speaker, and best-selling author who empowers female changemakers to transform their stories into books that create global impact. Combining her lived experience as a domestic/sexual violence survivor, with a BA degree in creative writing and psychology, Jas is highly renowned for her ability to transform people's lives from hopelessness to healing through the power of writing. Endorsed by high-profile organizations such as America's National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Jas has impacted hundreds of thousands of lives through global outlets such as Business Insider, ABC and news.com.au, and is also a proud anti-trafficking ambassador who has spent time with survivors and investigators in SE Asia. In 2022, Jas featured in front of 100 million people via the award-winning TV series 'Adventure All Stars' as part of her mission to end child trafficking. Above all, Jas believes that everyone has a story with the power to inspire, impact, and change lives. More Information: https://www.jasrawlinson.com/ Follow Jas: https://www.facebook.com/jasrawlinsonofficial http://www.instagram.com/jas_rawlinson https://www.linkedin.com/in/jas-rawlinson/

Dr. Robb Kelly is a renowned Addiction Expert. Born and raised in Manchester, UK, who is eccentric, no holds bar, successful, and places his patients first kind of man. Robb is Meadows Trained in Trauma and holds a double Ph.D. It is necessary for the family to work along with the patient- we uncover the family chaos and dynamics to better resolve addiction. Robb has overcome homelessness, alcohol dependency, trauma, PTSD, and MDD and a whirlwind of events to be the "Gordon Ramsay" of the addiction treatment world. Before Robb succumbed to addiction and mental health issues, he played bass guitar at Abbey Studio with Queen, David Bowie, and Elton John. He is an accomplished musician, and the money he made helped him attend Oxford University to pursue a Ph.D. in Psychology. Robb experienced a spiritual awakening on the cold streets of Manchester while homeless and in dire straits. Robb's work ethic is defined by helping the addict step out of their disease and into a solution. He works with everyday people, professionals, and celebrities who want to reach sobriety and live in sustained recovery through evidence-based modalities and a genuine therapeutic alliance. Robb believes in helping marginalized communities because he understands that everyone has different worldviews when addiction is rearing its ugly head. Robb appeared on The Doctors CBS show, The Funky Brain podcast, and a San Antonio, Texas news segment about opioids and Purdue Pharma. Recently Robb appeared on the addiction celebrity podcast, Knockin Doorz Down. Robb is a beast in the addiction treatment world. Also, Robb is lecturing at the University of Texas at San Antonio about Addiction and recovery. Follow Dr. Kelly:https://robbkelly.com/

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Advocacy Director of The Hidden Opponent, Andy Saul. Andy is a former football student-athlete from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. He earned his degree in Health Promotion and Wellness, where his passion for mental health started to grow. As Advocacy Director, Andy oversees the Campus Captains program. Andy dreams of working with first responders to improve their health in every aspect. About The Hidden Opponent The Hidden Opponent is an accredited nonprofit and advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness for student-athlete mental health. Through advocacy, education, and support, our goal is to end mental health stigma in sports culture. More Information:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsaul18/ thehiddenopponent.org

On this week's episode, Jeff does his first solo podcast since the 2021 Non-Alcoholic Beer Review. This time he sits down, no script, and talks about the things going on in his mind. He talks about:Navigating Through GriefMental Wellness For Teens & Young AdultsBattling AddictionFinding PurposeJeff's Book: https://www.thisonesforyoubook.com/The Living Undeterred Project: https://www.livingundeterred.org/Brigthn App: https://brightn.app/TwitterJeff: https://twitter.com/undeterreddadLiving Undeterred Project: https://twitter.com/liveundeterred Brightn: https://twitter.com/brightn_app FacebookThe Living Undeterred Project: https://www.facebook.com/livingundeterredproject/ Brightn: https://www.facebook.com/brightnapp The Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/LivingUndeterred/InstagramThe Living Undeterred Project: https://www.instagram.com/livingundeterred/Brightn: https://www.instagram.com/brightnapp/ LinkedInJeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-a-johnston/Brightn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightnapp/ TikTokLiving Undeterred Project: https://www.tiktok.com/@livingundeterred

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Francesca Reicherter. Francesca is the Founder and President of Inspiring My Generation, a 501(c)3 on a mission of suicide prevention through awareness, conversation, education, and support. She holds an MS in Information Systems and Operations Management from the University of Florida and is a current MA in Psychology student at Pepperdine University where she was recognized in a Student Spotlight. Inspired by her mental health journey, Francesca works to make resources and information accessible. On January 20, 2019, Francesca lost her uncle to suicide. Just 27 days before that, she had attempted suicide for the first time, and he was the one who supported her to find hope. After losing him to suicide, Francesca’s world fell apart. Today, Francesca is a 3x suicide attempt survivor and the Founder of a national nonprofit organization, Inspiring My Generation. Dedicated to ending the stigma, Francesca hosts Normalize The Conversation, a podcast series amplifying the voices of mental health professionals, advocates, and any individual interested in sharing their story. There are over 100 episodes currently available with new episodes every week. In 2021, Francesca published, “You Are Not Alone: The Workbook,” as a guide to help the reader build a coping toolbox. In 2022, Francesca published “I AM,” an interactive workbook to help the reader build the tools needed to advocate for their mental health, and “How Are You?” as an interactive guide to checking in with your mental health. In 2023, Francesca published “Self Care,” as a guide to help the reader implement self-care practices that work for their needs and lifestyle. Francesca was contracted by the Peer Support Coalition of Florida to turn these workbooks into three workshops that began in 2023 and will continue into 2024. In addition to developing resources, Fran is a speaker spreading hope, most known for her keynote speech at NAMI CA 2022 Annual Youth Conference. She presented a session on Mental Health Conversations at the NAMI FL 2022 Annual Conference. Francesca was also a panelist at the When The Music Stops 2022 Annual Summit. Furthermore, she recently spoke on virtual panels for Magellan Health and for the National Federation of Families. She did a fireside chat at the 2023 Mind Out Loud Event, presented at the 2023 Brave Summit, and presented on her own experience and innovative ways to reduce suicide at NAMI Con 2023. Her work has been featured in the Kindness Channel and IDontMind Journal. She was a top finalist at the RevolutionHER 2022 Summit for Impact in Leadership and was honored as a Peer Recovery Champion at the NAMI FL 2022 Annual Conference. Her organization was featured on NBC6 South Florida in September 2022. In 2021, Francesca was named an Amplifier by the ConversationaLIST Awards. Francesca’s mission is to make preventative resources available, eliminate barriers, and normalize the conversation so that no one else will lose themselves or a loved one to suicide. For more information: https://www.inspiringmygeneration.org/ https://www.instagram.com/inspiringmygeneration/ https://twitter.com/inspiringmygen

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling call or text 988. On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Founder of Good Deed Revolution and The Promise2Live, Brandy Vega. While Brandy is a very accomplished entrepreneur, her heart also lies with humanitarian work. She created her own nonprofit organization called Good Deed Revolution in 2015 and has helped hundreds of people. In this venture, Brandy energetically strives to promote good deeds throughout the world by providing an online platform for people to join a community and share their experiences spreading kindness to those around them. In an effort to save lives, Brandy has been very vulnerable sharing her story of her teen daughters suicide attempts and her girls struggles with mental health. She is launching a sucide prevention and mental health series to combat this second global pandemic. For more information on Brandy, The Good Deed Revolution, and Promise to Live Visit: www.promise2live.org https://gooddeedrevolution.org/ #mentalhealth #suicideprevention #suicideawareness #mentalwellness #conversation #podcast #genz

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Ken Stearns.Ken Stearns is a writer, lyricist, photographer, and podcast creator. He’s a well-traveled, seasoned, mid-western kid, who is beginning his third act in life for himself, and in that for others too. 14 months ago he traded in his suit for a van, a mic, some questions and started his own traveling podcast called The Jar.14 months into this journey, and The Jar giving him so much more than he ever imagined. With 200 guests on his podcast so far and 60 cities he’s been able to explore the most intimate questions about their views on life from across all kinds of people in all the corners of the US.Follow Kenhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-stearns-b104167/https://www.instagram.com/thejar_podcast/https://www.facebook.com/podcast.thejarwww.thejar.live

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with founder & CEO of The Hyer Calling Foundation, Inc. Kevin formed Hyer Calling as part of his own higher calling: to break the stereotypes of addiction that reinforce the stigma which perpetuates it. In doing so, Kevin draws on his background in employment law and HR management to offer the recovery community a second chance at a career. A graduate of Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College, Kevin earned his J.D. at The University of Baltimore School of Law where he concentrated in labor/employment law and was a Judicial Intern with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Kevin is an active member in good standing in both the New Jersey and District of Columbia Bar Associations and practices law in Pennsylvania pursuant to a pending Rule 302 Limited In-House Corporate Counsel License.Kevin had no prior history of drug use when he became addicted to methamphetamine at the age of 39 while practicing law in a large Philadelphia law firm. After nearly dying from an overdose in July 2020, Kevin and his family started the Foundation to give men and women recovering from the disease of addiction the purpose and identity which only a career can offer. In telling Kevin’s story, that even lawyers in big cities can battle the demon that is methamphetamine, the Hyer’s aim to open hearts and minds so that other families may be spared the heartbreak they experienced.More Information:https://hyercalling.org/kevin.html#

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with founder of Meta Wellness Terrance Williams. Meta Wellness provides affordable Virtual Reality platforms for mental health professionals to conduct telehealth sessions, group sessions, and training in the metaverse.More Information: https://www.metawellness.space/Follow Terrance:https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/homeInstagram: @terrancewilliamsvr

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Founder of Wired For Addiction®, Dr. Evelyn Higgins. Dr. Higgins is a recognized international expert in the science of addiction recovery. As a Certified Addictionologist, Diplomate of the American Board of Disability Analysts specializing in pain management, and Diplomate of the American College of Addictionology and Compulsive Disorders, Dr. Higgins has had the honor of advising the U.S. Surgeon General, producing and hosting a Gracie Award winning nationally syndicated health and wellness radio program, and serving as a 1996 Olympic Team Doctor and Olympic torch bearer. With 35 years in practice, Dr. Higgins has specialized in the clinical application of the neuroscience & epigenetics behind mental health complexities. Recent events include presenting at the 2023 Executive Summit on Addiction Treatment in Waikoloa Beach, Hawaii, honored as a 2022 TEDx Speaker, 2022 International Society of Substance Use Professionals Annual Conference panelist in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2022 International Gambling Conference in Auckland, New Zealand speaker, 2021 Nominee for Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Innovators in Healthcare, 2018 & 2023 Compass Transatlantic speaker, and frequent national media healthcare commentator, Dr. Higgins finds herself at the nexus of epigenetics, neuroscience, and health.Follow Dr. Higgins & Wired For Addiction:wiredforaddiction.comTwitter: @WiredForAddictInstagram: @WiredForAddiction and @DoctorEvelynHigginsFacebook: @WiredForAddictionLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelyn-higgins-44a31b19/

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with artist & veteran, Ramona Patterson.

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Tom Matlack. Tom is a recovering venture capitalist whose mission is to help men. He writes daily on the crisis in manhood, mental health, addiction and positive masculinity at https://tommatlack.substack.com/Tom has three kids (29,27,18) and adoring wife of 20 years. At 58 he has never been happier.

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Angela Sullivan. Angela is the Director of Special Projects for Recovery International. She helps develop programs that are extensions of the successful 85-year RI Method. Angela develops curriculum, training materials, and does marketing for Recovery International, a non-profit mental health organization based out of Chicago. Angela was attracted to the Recovery Method because of its simplicity in helping people deal with everyday annoyances. With two teenagers of her own, she is passionate about early intervention and mental wellness. Most recently, she became a Youth Mental Health First Aider through the National Council for Behavioral Health.More Information: http://www.linkedin.com/company/recovery-internationalhttps://twitter.com/RecoveryIntlhttps://www.instagram.com/PowerYourMindtools/https://www.facebook.com/PowerYourMindToolswww.poweryourmind.org

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Founder of XXO Connect, Jason Lebowitz. About Jason: Jason Lebowitz, founder of XXO, the platform built for connection to self first, XXO wellbeing for the modern workplace, XXO conscious connection, dating and relationship community and RAQVISION Youth Social Network is creating an energetic tidal wave to accelerate human connection, save intimacy from becoming extinct, restore connection to humanity, completely reinvent the current online dating model through the whole human connection experience, create the world’s most energized community wired for connection and transform one million lives by 2025. Connection over convenience is a way of life for Jason. His curiosity with connection, dating and relationships, in a modern online dating culture where connection, self-worth, acceptance, vulnerability and intimacy have been lost, XXO was created out of sheer necessity. What started as an offline matchmaking service and podcast has evolved into an out of app experience for personal growth and transformation with the need to curve the culture back to connection over convenience. The desire to remove distraction from ourselves and deepen the relationship we first have with self and then others. Jason believes connection is the root of it all. Connection to self first. Connection begins within and travels outward. If there was a formula, intimacy X vulnerability = connection. Today, we’ve lost connection. To self and with each other. We live in a world of distraction. Distraction from ourselves. We seek validation and attention to provide temporary artificial happiness. We just want to be accepted and not rejected, but we haven’t accepted ourselves. While dating apps are built like a casino, becoming an addiction and causing further isolation and loneliness, in a swipe culture where we seek validation and attention to provide temporary artificial happiness, in a world where we get caught up in the comparison, Jason and his team continue to accelerate human connection to self and each other, making the inner work sexy, fun, and placing the relationship focus on personal growth, mental and emotional health and wellness. Follow Jason & XXO Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlebowitz Instagram: @connectionoverconvenience Instagram: @xxoconnect Website: xxoconnect.com

*This episode contains discussion of suicide. If you or a loved one are in crisis, contact Call/Text 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or chat online: https://988lifeline.org/ (US) CALM – 0800 585858 or Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 (UK) On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with co-founder of the Baton of Hope, Mike McCarthy. Mike was a journalist – for more than 36 years, he reported on headline stories across the world, notching up hundreds of appearances on the BBC and Sky News. Some of his riskier assignments saw him covering masked rioters looting in Manchester, and the frontlines of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, none of these experiences prepared him for the ordeal of losing his 31-year-old son Ross in February 2021. Ross had battled depression for a decade when he died; he left a young son, a fiancée, and a heartfelt request that his family campaign for better mental health support. Mike is committed to honoring Ross’ final wish.More Information on Baton of Hope: https://batonofhopeuk.org/

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Director of Professional Development at the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health, Dr. Kari Vogelgesang. Dr. Kari Vogelgesang is a Clinical Associate Professor of Elementary Education. She also serves as the Director of Professional Development for the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health and the Baker Teacher Leader Center. Dr. Vogelgesang began her career in education as an elementary classroom teacher. In 2015 she graduated from the University of Iowa with her Ph.D. in special education and her area of focus in social, emotional, and behavioral disorders in school-aged children. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in social, emotional, and behavioral interventions for the classroom teacher; characteristics of disabilities; individuals with exceptional needs; and introduction to IEP’s, professional practice, and educational technology. Over the last 10 years, Dr. Vogelgesang has focused much of her work on partnering with school districts across the country to develop evidence-based, meaningful, and accessible teacher professional development opportunities. Some of this work has been highlighted through professional organizations such as the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the National Education Association, and the Iowa Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Dr. Vogelgesang has also been a member of numerous research projects focusing on best practice teacher professional development implementation, and evidence-based social, emotional, behavioral interventions for students with challenging behaviors. Publications of this research can be found in numerous peer-reviewed journals and has been presented at national and international professional organization conferences. More Information on the Scanlan Center: https://scsmh.education.uiowa.edu/ #mentalhealth #mentalwellness #education #mentalhealthawareness #podcast #conversation

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Johnny Crowder, Resilience, Wellbeing, and Mental Health Expert, Certified Recovery Peer Specialist, Founder and CEO of Cope Notes®Mental health CEO and entrepreneur Johnny Crowder is a true master of one of the most pressing strategic concerns in business today: wellbeing. But revealing the keys to a healthier workplace, headspace, and heartspace for all is just the beginning.As the founder and CEO of the globally-utilized positive psychology startup Cope Notes, Johnny Crowder gives audiences practical self-care tools and mental health strategies that people can start using now to improve their emotional health and wellbeing. With infectious positivity, humor, and authenticity, this trauma survivor and Certified Recovery Peer Specialist shows audiences why opening up about mental health is the key to coping, and why the most resilient organizational cultures proudly prioritize and support mental health for all.Whether he’s discussing ordinary, everyday struggles or challenges like anxiety, depression, addiction, burnout, and compassion fatigue, Johnny Crowder confronts the myths that keep people stuck. As he explains in his 2020 TEDx Talk that garnered over one million views and catapulted him to the world stage, good mental health is like physical health—quick fixes and miracle cures don’t work. Instead, Johnny gives audiences a toolkit of self-care and wellness techniques they can put into practice immediately to re-wire the brain for positivity over time, coupled with a blueprint for making mental and emotional wellbeing a cultural cornerstone in any workplace.Johnny’s own personal experiences of poverty, childhood abuse, and trauma, his deep knowledge of psychology, and his remarkable ability to explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand way make for presentations that are both powerful and practical. His refreshingly vulnerable and candid perspective has attracted praise from hundreds of outlets, including Upworthy, CNN, and Forbes. Even when commanding a virtual stage or touring with his Billboard-charting heavy metal band, Prison, his firsthand experiences with mental illness and his infectiously positive humor never fail to resonate, educate, and inspire.Follow Johnny: https://linkedin.com/johnnycrowderhttps://facebook.com/johnnyxcrowder https://johnnycrowder.comhttps://copenotes.comInstagram: @johnnycrowderlovesyouTwitter: @copenotes

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with Co-founder of The HOFFA Foundation, Tom Herb. Tom is a community impact player and is on a mission to save lives. He has worked in the tech industry for the last 17 years and specializes in empowering leaders to build winning teams. The HOFFA Foundation was established in 2019 to provide recovery services, promote community awareness, and offer a stable, supportive home for men in addiction recovery. Traditional sober living doesn’t work for everyone. And their mission is to provide an alternative. Like so many Maryland families, the co-founders of the HOFFA Foundations lost someone who was loved deeply by many and who is missed beyond measure. Jimmy Zumbrun, the foundation’s namesake, passed away due to overdose in the summer of 2019 while waiting for an available sober living bed. The HOFFA Foundation's goal was to create something Jimmy Zumbrun would be proud to be part of.More Information on the HOFFA Foundation:www.hoffafoundation.org https://www.facebook.com/HOFFAFoundationhttps://www.instagram.com/hoffafoundation/https://www.linkedin.com/company/hoffafoundation

On this week's episode, Jeff speaks with COO & Cofounder of Goldfinch Health, John Greenwood. His extensive background in advanced surgical procedures prompted John Greenwood to make his vision of improved standards of care available to everyone. This led to him joining Brand Newland in founding Goldfinch Health, where he’s able to ensure patients receive the best possible surgical experiences. John’s background in medical research led him to a career of working with physicians. For over a decade, he worked in operating rooms, training and advising on thousands of advanced procedures with some of the most advanced and respected companies in healthcare. With 15 years of experience with physicians, John brings leadership expertise in pain management, surgical techniques, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, and clinical program implementation. He holds a bachelor of science in biology degree from the University of Iowa. In this episode: 👉 John discusses Enhance Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols 👉 John discusses Goldfinch's approach to non-opioid pain management 👉 John shares what he has learned about start-ups so far on his journey Follow John & Goldfinch: https://www.facebook.com/goldfinchhealth/ https://twitter.com/goldfinchhlth https://www.linkedin.com/company/goldfinchhealth/