Surviving-ISH Podcast

David Keck

"Surviving-ish" is a podcast with a unique and purposeful dual focus. The "Surviving-ish" is our way of creating a space for lightheartedness—it’s about the everyday, petty grievances that are frustrating but also a source of shared, human comedy. These are the moments we survive, like when the laundry pod explodes all over the clothes, your morning coffee isn't quite hot enough, or a passive-aggressive text from a relative ruins your mood. The core mission behind "Surviving-ish" is to show our audience that while we may have been victims of serious circumstances, that does not mean people have to walk on eggshells around us. We believe in the power of laughter and the importance of finding humor in life's small frustrations. By blending serious topics with these minor, everyday grievances, we aim to normalize the idea that it's okay to joke and laugh, even after enduring significant challenges. For further inquiries or to share your own story, please reach out to us at survivingabusepodcast@gmail.com. Together, we can create a network of support and healing for survivors.

  1. 9 July

    Is Life Ever Actually Figured Out? The Art of Surviving "Ish" | w/ Shawn Helgerson

    Send us Fan Mail Let’s be honest: life is rarely clean, perfect, or entirely figured out. Most of the time, we’re all just surviving the "ish"—the messy, chaotic, uncertain gray areas of being human. 🤷‍♂️ In this episode of Surviving Ish, host David is joined by author, teacher, and Air Force veteran Shawn Helgerson to talk about what happens when the rigid, black-and-white rules we're handed collapse, and we're forced to live in the messy middle. Sure, it starts with the everyday "ish"—like fighting with glitchy Bluetooth earbuds—but it quickly evolves into a masterclass on navigating life’s biggest blindspots. Shawn shares how a deployment to Iraq shattered his neatly boxed-up worldview, and how losing his marriage, his home, and his stability forced him to stop looking for clean, magical answers. If you are tired of toxic positivity, fake "perfect life" formulas, and the pressure to have it all together, this raw conversation is for you. David and Shawn break down how to stop waiting for an external savior, how to embrace your own "shadow self," and why finding peace in the middle of the absolute chaos is the ultimate superpower. Life isn't perfect. It's "ish." Let's talk about it. 🧠 INSIDE THE MESSY MIDDLE: The Glitchy Reality: Why everyday annoyances (like bad tech) are the perfect metaphor for life When the Plan Fails: Surviving the collapse of your marriage, your home, and your worldview The "Answers to Prayer" Illusion: Moving past rigid formulas and learning to trust yourself Embracing the Shadow: Why integrating your messy, unpolished side is the only way to heal The Power of "Ish": How letting go of absolute certainty actually makes life infinitely better #SurvivingIsh #EmbraceTheMess #EmpathyAndGrowth #ShadowWork #InnerChild #RealTalkPodcast #LifeHardTruths #MindsetShift • Substack: substack.com/@shawnhelgerson • The Abundance Institute: skool.com/the-abundance-institute-2294 • Wordsmiths Guild: skool.com/wordsmiths-guild-6221 Support the show

  2. 3 July

    The Night the Lights Went Out: Overcoming Decades of Family Denial / Andrea Leeb

    Send us Fan Mail When Andrea Leeb finally spoke the truth about her childhood, her mother’s physical reaction was so intense it defied medical explanation. What followed was decades of denial, a secret that nearly broke her, and a reckoning that changed everything. 👇 Subscribe to Surviving-ISH for more raw, unfiltered stories of survival: [Insert Link] ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this gripping episode of Surviving-ish, David sits down with USA Today bestselling author and memoirist Andrea. Prepare to be moved as Andrea opens up about the horrific grooming and abuse she suffered from her father starting at just four and a half years old—and the shocking "hysterical blindness" her mother suffered the moment she found out. From a sudden mental health crisis at age 33 that forced her into inpatient treatment, to a literal rain-soaked book launch that couldn't stop her memoir from going viral during the MeToo movement, Andrea’s story is the ultimate blueprint for turning pain into power. Today, she is a powerhouse advocate working with the UCLA Rape Treatment Center and RAINN, proving that you can reclaim your inner child, find joy through movement, and truly thrive after the unthinkable. https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/622896 https://books.google.com/books/about/Such_a_Pretty_Picture.html?id=gB5GEQAAQBAJ RESOURCES & HELP: If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault or abuse, please know you are not alone. National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-4673 / rainn.orgUCLA Rape Treatment Center#SurvivingIsh #TraumaRecovery #MeToo #RAINN #HealingJourney #Inspiration #Memoir Support the show

  3. 18 June

    Cults, "K" Texts, & Terrible Delivery Windows: We're Okay-ish! w/ Umbrella Rebellion

    Send us Fan Mail Ever received a single “K” text and immediately felt the passive-aggressive wrath? Or had your spellcheck completely ruin your life by changing it to an “L”? In this wildly unfiltered episode of Surviving-ish, we are jumping from hilarious everyday frustrations straight into some of the heaviest realities facing our world today. Joining the conversation is Dee from the incredible Umbrella Rebellion podcast, and no topic is off-limits. We kick things off with the ultimate ADHD tangents—debating the true meaning of “K” vs “KK,” arguing over infuriatingly wide delivery windows, skyrocketing utility bills, and a chaotic TVA home energy inspection. But things take a raw and deeply serious turn as we dive into the dark side of fundamentalism. Dee opens up about the immense strain of supporting a neurodivergent family member dealing with chronic suicidal ideation, completely isolated by a lack of community support after escaping a cult. We tackle the terrifying reality of how political targeting impacts the LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities, while the host shares a deeply personal reflection on losing a stepfather to suicide and surviving his own traumatic past. If you want to understand the terrifying truth behind Christian nationalism, the deep-seated misogyny in fundamentalist groups, and how Dee is actively fueling a rebellion against the harms of the IBLP and IFB, you cannot afford to miss this episode. Hit that subscribe button, leave a comment with your thoughts on the "K" text, and join the rebellion. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/umbrella-rebellion/id1600802861 #SurvivingIsh #UmbrellaRebellion #ReligiousTrauma #IBLP #IFB #Deconstruction #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #Neurodivergent #ADHDBrain #LGBTQVoices #ChristianNationalism #CultSurvivor #PodcastRebellion Support the show

About

"Surviving-ish" is a podcast with a unique and purposeful dual focus. The "Surviving-ish" is our way of creating a space for lightheartedness—it’s about the everyday, petty grievances that are frustrating but also a source of shared, human comedy. These are the moments we survive, like when the laundry pod explodes all over the clothes, your morning coffee isn't quite hot enough, or a passive-aggressive text from a relative ruins your mood. The core mission behind "Surviving-ish" is to show our audience that while we may have been victims of serious circumstances, that does not mean people have to walk on eggshells around us. We believe in the power of laughter and the importance of finding humor in life's small frustrations. By blending serious topics with these minor, everyday grievances, we aim to normalize the idea that it's okay to joke and laugh, even after enduring significant challenges. For further inquiries or to share your own story, please reach out to us at survivingabusepodcast@gmail.com. Together, we can create a network of support and healing for survivors.

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