The Gooders

Irad Eichler

Inspire people dealing with life challenges by telling stories of “the Gooders”, people that deal with challenges and help others by leading group meetings.In collaboration with Circlesup.com, the go-to place for people dealing with life challenges. read less
Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness

Episodes

Joyce dickens : A Survivor's Journey to Healing and Empowerment
Apr 9 2023
Joyce dickens : A Survivor's Journey to Healing and Empowerment
Discover the inspiring story of Joyce Dickens in the latest episode of The Gooders podcast. This episode delves into the topic of coping with an abusive relationship with a narcissist and the importance of awareness and support for those affected by it. Joyce shares her personal experience of being in a relationship with a narcissist who emotionally and physically abused her, and her journey toward healing and recovery. Joyce talks about the gaslighting, lying, cheating, and control that she experienced in the relationship, and how difficult it was for her to realize that she was in a narcissistic relationship. She also highlights the importance of recognizing and understanding the signs of narcissism and seeking support from those who understand the complexities of these types of relationships.   - Importance of recognizing and understanding the signs of narcissism and seeking support - Joyce's experience of forgiveness and putting herself and her child first - Joyce's advocacy for awareness of narcissistic relationships on social media and through the Circles app - The therapeutic value of sharing personal experiences in the room Joyce created - Joyce's advice on setting boundaries with narcissistic partners and handling situations with a narcissistic parent - Joyce's emphasis on spiritual healing and self-talk for personal growth - Appreciation for Joyce's inspiring story and dedication to helping others.
Jennifer Davis- dealing with grief and divorce
Dec 14 2022
Jennifer Davis- dealing with grief and divorce
75 million Americans experienced grief in the last five years and dealing with it. And 1.3 million Americans went through a divorce just in the last year. Today we touch base with Dr. Jennifer Davis and her story on dealing with divorces that are not your atypical proceedings.“I didn't even realize this until I became a facilitator at circles. That that's not the case for at least 60 or 70% of people. Like most people, do not have just a quick, easy divorce.”Jennifer's story is one of resilience and courage. After seven years of marriage and three children, her husband left abruptly, leaving her to navigate an emotionally painful divorce process alone. With her husband in a different state, Jennifer had to make difficult decisions about the safety of her children while dealing with the shame and guilt of divorce. Over the course of two and a half years, Jennifer faced tremendous obstacles in her divorce process, often feeling isolated and overwhelmed by the opinions of others. Despite the difficulties, Jennifer was able to find strength in her situation and has since used her experience to help others in similar circumstances.“I wish Circles had been around when I went through my divorce because it was just such a lonely and isolating time for me.” Jennifer's divorce was a difficult process and one that she had to fight hard to maintain her mental and emotional health. But through it all, she never lost her faith and persevered. Her turning point came when she was in a therapy session with her therapist and she realized that her family had moved past the trauma and could begin to live a normal life again. From that moment on, Jennifer began to share her story with others who were going through the same experience. Through her own struggles, Jennifer found a way to help others in similar situations and began creating circles of support for those going through similar hardships. Jennifer's story serves as a reminder that no matter the struggle, there is always hope and with the right support, we can all make it through.“she turned to me and she said, Jennifer, you do realize these are very typical age appropriate behaviors that you're talking about. She said, you do realize you guys have moved past the trauma of everything that happened.”Jennifer's group has been a remarkable success story and has proven to be an ongoing source of comfort and support to its members. Through her leadership, she has created an environment where members can come to cry, talk, and be heard. What started as a group of strangers has turned into a family of sorts, and the members have grown together in a way that is truly inspiring. Jennifer's ability to create a safe, nonjudgmental, and understanding space for her members has been the catalyst for the growth and transformation that has taken place. It is clear that her leadership and compassion have impacted the lives of her members and will continue to do so.
Jasmine Parker- dealing with grief and supporting others (“I grieved less for myself, more for them because I just feel like at their age, they shouldn't have to experience loss.” )
Dec 6 2022
Jasmine Parker- dealing with grief and supporting others (“I grieved less for myself, more for them because I just feel like at their age, they shouldn't have to experience loss.” )
75 million Americans currently experience it in some form, whether it's the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or something else entirely. But there is hope. Each episode of the podcast features a courageous individual who has gone through a similar situation and emerged stronger. For Jasmine, her journey through grief began with the loss of her aunt, who had been like a mother to her. During the pandemic, her aunt passed away from an infection in her body. Soon after, her grandmother, another influential woman in her life, also passed away suddenly.“I grieved less for myself, more for them because I just feel like at their age, they shouldn't have to experience loss.” Jasmine’s grief only intensified when she gave birth to her daughter in 2020, during the pandemic. Her daughter was born four weeks early and had to be taken to the NICU. Jasmine spent 7 days in the NICU, experiencing anticipatory grief and preparing herself for the worst. She put a boundary up on how much she would let herself love her daughter, in order to keep herself from being too hurt if her daughter didn’t make it.“And that's when I began to realize I'm always the type to where I like to be, what I didn't have.”Jasmine wallowed in a state of despair and loneliness for a period of time, but eventually, she mustered the strength to reach out for help. She opened up to her loved ones, connected with support groups, and revealed her story. Furthermore, she proactively began to volunteer her time and energy to those who struggled with similar issues, becoming an active member of her community. Ultimately, with the assistance of those around her, she was able to start the healing process and move forward.“We just talked about her son. Her son name was Ocean. I do remember that. And we would talk about him, and she would say how her family was tired of hearing about him. They think that she should move on, move forward. But she's still in the place”After tragically losing her beloved son Ocean to gun violence, a grieving mother found solace and support on Circles. Every day, she would log on to connect with someone who could relate to her pain and allow her to talk about her son, no matter how often she did. This connection was invaluable to her as her family had grown tired of hearing about her son and wanted her to move on. For three to four hours at a time, this mother was able to open up and express her sorrow and process her grief with someone who would listen. This compassionate individual offered her the space and assurance she needed to keep honoring Ocean's memory and eventually find the strength to move forward. As we all know, experiencing loss can be an incredibly difficult and emotional time. However, it can be made easier by having a supportive network of people who understand and can help you through the grieving process.
Kelli Reinhardt- dealing with grief after the loss of her sister to suicide
Nov 30 2022
Kelli Reinhardt- dealing with grief after the loss of her sister to suicide
Losing a loved one is a tragedy that no one should ever have to experience. Unfortunately, it is a reality that far too many people face each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the United States, approximately forty-six thousand people die by suicide each year. We will discuss the realities of loss due to suicide and the resources available to help those affected by this tragedy. Today’s post is about Kelli and her journey through grief and suicide.  Kelli's journey began in 2017 when her middle sister Carrie passed away due to a complecated suicide. This loss hit her hard and she initially just tried to survive and keep busy. She eventually realized that she needed to take care of herself and started going to counseling, and took a leave of absence from her corporate job. Through her journey, she found a fantastic community that supported her and helped her through her trauma, which inspired her to start her own non-profit to help those in similar situations. She wants to start having those hard conversations about suicide, substance abuse, and other causes of death in order to help people feel less alone.“We have to start having those hard conversations about suicide or substance abuse or cancer or all the things that people die by, because we all process it differently.” When Kelli attended an event centered around NLP, she experienced a pivotal moment in her life. Through the process of forgiving her sister and herself, she was able to shift her fear into curiosity and began her journey of healing and starting her nonprofit.“The main point of why I wanted to open this one is just allow a safe space for people to come and whether they want to cry or they want to tell their story or not tell their story.”Once BCC Evolution was start it became important for Kelli to focus on educating people. Through education, BCC Evolution provides support and understanding to those who need it, and works to foster a more inclusive and understanding world.Her Circle group, “Never Alone through Grief and Loss” provides a safe space for people to express their feelings and share their stories. It is a place of understanding and compassion, where people are free to grieve and process their loss in their own way and in their own time. The group has helped many people to find solace and to connect with others who are on the same journey. Whether it’s a wife grieving a husband who died from substance abuse or a mom grieving a suicide of her 9yr old many have no outlets even among their families, Kelli is on a mission to provide a safe place for people to find their tribe.To join Kelli's room: http://bit.ly/3VnaIkO
Mike Schindler- coming back from the battle, is a battle. Veteran's story
Nov 7 2022
Mike Schindler- coming back from the battle, is a battle. Veteran's story
In the United States, there are eighteen million veterans. And just to share with you some of the feelings that nobody understands what they went through, and everyone kept on moving with their lives while they were out there for us. Often, they are fighting the eternal battle and coming back, and they have no sense of who they are. Mike Schindler takes us through his journey back from the front lines and where it has led him.Mike Schindler states oftentimes, the uniform can be both an internal and external battle. A third-generation Navy member had struggles leaving the military into the workforce. Bouncing through 14 different jobs. Mike jokingly referred to this time as speed dating. He created a skill from sampling different industries, which was the start of how he developed self-discovery and took that to create his non-profit organization. What prompted Mike to speed date jobs, that he realized quickly that there are people on jobs he doesn’t like and can't trust. He created a filter, and that's why he started the nonprofit, focusing solely on mission, purpose, identity, and getting guys to really understand and create this trusted circle.“I don't really enjoy doing that, so I don't have to do it anymore. They're like, "oh, you can quit." So I got really good at sampling different industries and finding out what I really enjoyed. And that's how I developed self-discovery.”Within Mike Schindler Circle group, some members share their stories, and Schindler states a lot of veterans are really missing that mentorship. One such story was from Mike.  He reached out and, to his shock, got a callback. Mike was unhappy in his marriage and drinking too much and felt he lost that sense of team and a trusted environment. He couldn’t find the connection in sharing his experience with those that have never served. Within a few meetings, Mike begins to drink less and exercise more.“And then he comes back and reports back and goes, you know what? That really works. I travel so much, and I just sat on up to the bar, and I order a couple of beers before, you know what, I'm a six-pack. He goes, but here, I tried you're just a little thing, like, I'm just having two glasses of water before I have a beer, and I'm done. I'm okay after a beer. And so he started working out. I'm like, what? Tomorrow I want you to just kind of work out and work out. Ten push-ups, ten setups. Just do that. Just start there. And so we started losing weight. And it was really that mentorship that oftentimes we look for.”Through the Circle app and people like Mike Schindler we are building support systems. Its humans helping other humans fulfill these needs. Operations Military Family has facilitated a greater need to the veteran community with they’re process for self-discovery helping veterans fill that team mentorship void. On November 11 Circles app will have a full day of supporting veterans opening rooms and working together to help others.