The Teaching Journeys Podcast

Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts ,MSW, LMSW is an adjunct professor of psychology child life at Utica University, an author a bereavement support specialist, and a parent who experienced the death of an adult child on March 1,2003. He was inspired to create The Teaching Journeys Podcast by two of his former Utica University students. Dave strives to have meaningful conversations with individuals , young and old, whose life journeys, life skills and challenges ,can teach us about addressing our own challenges. It is Dave's hope that the teachings from these conversations live on in future generations. Weekly episodes have featured guests from all walks of life, with diverse experiences and life skills to share . Dave hopes that his guests ‘experiences resonate with all who listen, both young and old. We are all students and teachers...... let's learn from each other. To find out more about Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

  1. From Prison to Purpose: How RJ Johnson Found Redemption Through Faith

    6 hrs ago

    From Prison to Purpose: How RJ Johnson Found Redemption Through Faith

    What happens when your worst chapter becomes the foundation for your greatest purpose? In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with RJ Johnson — speaker, author, and founder of Not My Will Ministries — to explore one of the most remarkable stories of redemption, faith, and transformation you'll ever hear. After making a devastating choice that led to a 20-year prison sentence, RJ didn't just survive incarceration — he encountered the relentless grace of Jesus Christ and came out with a mission. Serving seven of those years, RJ faced multiple attempts on his life, found faith in the darkest of places, and ultimately discovered that God doesn't waste a single moment of our pain. In this episode, you'll learn: • How RJ found faith and purpose while serving time in a maximum-security prison • Why taking full accountability — without justification — is the first step toward real healing • The powerful scripture-based workshop RJ created to help men break free from destructive cycles • What forgiveness truly looks like, even toward those who tried to take your life • How RJ's nonprofit, Not My Will Ministries, is transforming lives both inside and outside prison walls • The story behind his memoir God Doesn't Waste a Thing (written under the pen name Luke Chance) Whether you're walking through your own dark season, working in ministry, counseling, or simply looking for proof that God can redeem any story — this episode will challenge and inspire you. Bio and Contact Information RJ Johnson | Founder & CEO, Not My Will Ministries | Author of God Doesn’t Waste a Thing www.notmywillministries.com RJ Johnson is a speaker, author, and redeemed son of God who is passionate about helping others discover that God is still in the miracle business. After serving seven years of a twenty-year prison sentence, RJ encountered the relentless grace of Jesus—and everything changed. Through his journey of transformation, RJ founded Not My Will Ministries, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to helping men—both in prison and in society—break free from destructive cycles and rediscover their identity, value, and purpose in Christ. His ministry leads powerful, scripture-based Cycle Workshops that equip men to confront lies, build resilience, and walk in lasting freedom. RJ is also the author of God Doesn’t Waste a Thing (written under the pen name Luke Chance), an awe-inspiring memoir of the miracles he witnessed behind bars. His story challenges churches and communities to step outside their comfort zones and into God’s mission field—even when that mission field has razor wire and locked gates. With transparency, intentionality, and a spirit of joy, RJ brings a message of hope, redemption, and real-life faith. Whether he’s speaking to a church, podcast audience, or leadership circle, RJ’s life proclaims one core truth: Your worst chapter does not have to be your last one—and God can use every broken piece to build something beautiful. Connect with RJ Johnson: 🌐 NotMyWillMinistries.com 📖 God Doesn't Waste a Thing by Luke Chance — available on Amazon If this episode moved you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it, leave a rating and review, and subscribe so you never miss a Teaching Journeys conversation. To connect with Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com

    53 min
  2. Live with Intention: Lessons in Leadership, Coaching, and Connection

    2d ago

    Live with Intention: Lessons in Leadership, Coaching, and Connection

    What does it take to lead with heart, communicate with impact, and live with true purpose? In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Amrita Mukherjee — TEDx speaker, ICF ACC executive coach, author, and founder of the Thriving Women's Tribe — for a deeply inspiring conversation on emotional intelligence, leadership communication, and the power of intentional living. Amrita shares how personal adversity, including recovering from a burn injury and losing her sister, shaped her passion for purposeful leadership. She breaks down the EQ-i 2.0 framework and explains why emotional intelligence — not technical expertise — is the defining factor in today's workplace. The conversation also explores how her engineering background at Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo gave her a unique systems-thinking edge as an executive coach. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why listening is the most underrated leadership skill • How emotional intelligence, executive presence, and leadership communication work together • The danger of groupthink and how to build psychological safety on your team • Why Amrita chose fiction over a leadership book — and how storytelling connects generations • How the Thriving Women's Tribe empowers women through coaching, community, and connection • The one takeaway Amrita wants every listener to remember Bio and Contact Information Amrita Mukherjee is a TEDx speaker, an ICF-ACC executive coach, author, and seasoned industry leader with nearly 20 years of leadership experience in Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo. She is recognised for her expertise in EI-driven leadership, strategic communication, building remote and diverse teams, and strengthening employee engagement in today’s disconnected workplace. Known for her blend of data-driven insights, storytelling, and actionable strategies, Amrita equips leaders to build inclusive cultures that drive innovation and business performance. She has spoken at colleges, global forums, corporate events, and leadership summits across diverse sectors. As the founder of SHEvolution, Amrita is committed to empowering women through coaching, mentoring, and community-building. She has delivered impactful workshops for corporate leaders, universities, and schools, including programs designed to inspire confidence, communication, and leadership in teenage girls. Her advocacy extends to girls’ education and menstrual health awareness, supporting campaigns such as #PadforFreedom. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mukherjeeamrita/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamamritamukherjee Website - https://thrivingwomenstribe.com/ Links to my books: Avani The Girl Who Found Her Voice - https://amzn.in/d/056QnH4n She & Me - https://amzn.in/d/0a0WLRPl To connect with Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com

    41 min
  3. Childhood Loss, MDMA Therapy & Ayahuasca: A Journey Through Pain to Beauty

    4d ago

    Childhood Loss, MDMA Therapy & Ayahuasca: A Journey Through Pain to Beauty

    Can pain really become a portal to beauty? What happens when you stop numbing and start feeling everything? In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with writer and self-healing advocate Alexis Leigh, author of Pain Is a Portal to Beauty — a transformative memoir about grief, authenticity, and the unconventional path to wholeness. Alexis opens up about losing her mother to addiction at age 11, spending decades numbing her pain, and the moment a voice in the woods in 2020 told her, "If you die today, your life will have been a tragedy" — a wake-up call that changed everything. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why conventional wisdom and gratitude practices can actually keep you emotionally stuck • How MDMA therapy and ayahuasca helped Alexis access grief that years of talk therapy couldn't reach • The difference between performative happiness and genuine emotional freedom • How processing childhood trauma reshapes your identity at every life stage • Why codependency may be blocking your ability to love yourself and others fully • What it means to truly surrender — to pain, to healing, and to life itself This is a deeply honest conversation about the courage it takes to feel everything, embrace the shadow side of who we are, and discover the beauty waiting on the other side of pain. Bio and Contact Information Alexis Leigh is a writer and advocate for self-healing through unconventional methods, including psychedelics and deep inner work. With a background in finance and consulting, her personal journey led her away from the corporate world and into a life centered around authenticity and transformation. Pain Is a Portal to Beauty is her first book, a testament to the power of feeling deeply and embracing the unknown." 📖 Pain Is a Portal to Beauty is available everywhere books are sold. 🌐 Connect with Alexis at alexisleigh.com To connect with Dave , go to davidrobertsmsw.com

    51 min
  4. From Abuse Survivor to Kindness Advocate: Randy McNeely & The Courageous Kindness Shift

    6d ago

    From Abuse Survivor to Kindness Advocate: Randy McNeely & The Courageous Kindness Shift

    What if kindness could literally save a life? In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Randy McNeely — also known as Captain Kind Man — a survivor of childhood abuse turned passionate advocate for courageous kindness. Randy shares the deeply personal journey that shaped his mission: from surviving multiple forms of abuse and near-suicidal darkness, to becoming a bestselling author, speaker, filmmaker, and founder of the Kindness Giver LLC and The Kindness Factor International. In this episode, you'll discover: • How Randy's traumatic childhood became the foundation for a worldwide kindness movement • The 5-step Kindness Givers Formula you can start using today • The difference between ordinary kindness and courageous kindness — and why it matters • How kindness can bridge divides, heal polarization, and transform organizations • Real stories of how a smile, a hug, or nine simple words saved someone's life • Why love — delivered through kindness — is the keystone of every successful relationship, team, and community Randy's Bio and Contact Information Randy McNeely—Captain Kindman—is a man of faith, husband, father of five, survivor, and passionate advocate for Courageous Kindness. Guided by the belief that we are all children of God, Randy inspires people to live and lead with love in every part of life. Through The Courageous Kindness Shift,™ Randy teaches how to see, think, feel, listen, and respond differently—helping students, educators, and organizations bridge divides, heal polarization, and create cultures of empathy and respect. As founder of The Kindness Giver, LLC, he equips others with the ICA Method™ (Identify, Clarify, Amplify) and The Kindness Giver’s Formula™ to turn kindness into real, sustainable action. Randy is also co-founder of positive film company The Kindness Factor International, producer of For Such a Time as This, co-creator of The Kindness Factor series, and co-host of The Kindness Factor Podcast. Mantra: Love People Motto: You Can’t Fail with Kindness Mission: To inspire and equip others to embrace The Courageous Kindness Shift and transform the world—one act of love-driven kindness at a time. Connect with Randy McNeely: 🌐 captainkindman.com 📚 Available on Amazon: The Kindness Givers Formula 2.0 🔗 LinkedIn: Randy McNeely If this episode moved you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it — and leave us a rating or review. Your support makes all the difference. **Teaching Journeys Podcast | Host: Dave Roberts Passing knowledge from one generation to the next — one extraordinary conversation at a time.

    50 min
  5. Sacred Law vs. Human Law: Understanding Child Loss, Consciousness & Life After Death

    Jun 18

    Sacred Law vs. Human Law: Understanding Child Loss, Consciousness & Life After Death

    What happens when a child's life ends too soon — and what can it teach us about love, consciousness, and what lies beyond death? In this deeply moving episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes Katy Gilbertson, founder of Hauora Wellness, for a raw and spiritually rich conversation about child loss, grief, and the survival of consciousness after death. Both Dave and Katy have lived through a parent's worst nightmare — Dave lost his daughter Jeannine to cancer at 18, and Katy lost her son Jaxon to leukemia just before his 10th birthday. Together, they explore the sacred and the human dimensions of these profound losses. In this episode, you'll discover: • The concept of sacred law vs. human law — and why a short life can still be a complete one • How Jaxon and Jeannine demonstrated advanced empathy and spiritual awareness beyond their years • Real accounts of shared-death experiences and signs from the other side • How consciousness survives physical death — and how to stay connected to loved ones who've transitioned • The waves of grief that resurface at unexpected milestones, and how to navigate them • How Katy transformed her experience into Hauora Wellness, guiding high-achieving women beyond burnout into embodied leadership • Why "once you learn how to die, you learn how to live" • This episode is for anyone navigating grief, curious about life after death, or seeking meaning after profound loss. Katy Gilbertson's Bio and Contact Information Katy is the founder of Hauora Wellness, an expert in holistic wellness, embodied leadership, and human potential, guiding high-level women to expand their capacity and step into their next level of life, leadership, and business in a sustainable and deeply aligned way. Her work sits at the intersection of holistic health, nervous system regulation, human potential, identity transformation, energy work, and personal mastery. Blending a holistic and functional medicine lens with embodiment, leadership development, and transformational coaching, Katy guides women to reconnect with the deeper intelligence of their body, energy, and purpose so they can lead from alignment rather than exhaustion. At the heart of her philosophy is Hauora, the interconnected relationship between physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental wellbeing. Her work is deeply shaped by lived experience. After navigating her own health challenges, chronic stress, periods of losing herself, and the profound journey of supporting her son through cancer and loss while continuing to lead in life and business, Katy’s understanding of resilience, regulation, grief, leadership, and human potential transformed entirely. These experiences became the foundation for the work she now shares through transformational immersions, private mentorship, embodied leadership experiences, and teachings devoted to sustainable expansion and self-mastery. Today, Katy supports high-level women, entrepreneurs, and leaders who know they are here for more, helping them move beyond overthinking, dysregulation, and survival-mode patterns so they can access deeper levels of vitality, clarity, creativity, leadership, and fulfillment. Through Hauora Wellness, Katy is building a movement devoted to embodied expansion, sustainable leadership, and helping women fully hold the mission they are here to lead. Connect Instagram: @hauorawellness Facebook: @hauorawellness Website: www.hauorawellness.com Email: katy@hauorawellness.com Subscribe, share, and leave a review — your support makes all the difference.

    1h 5m
  6. Can One Partner Save a Marriage? Lee Baucom Says Yes — Here's How

    Jun 16

    Can One Partner Save a Marriage? Lee Baucom Says Yes — Here's How

    What if you could save your marriage — even if your partner has already given up? In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Dr. Lee Baucom, PhD, creator of the globally used Save the Marriage system and host of the Save the Marriage podcast (600+ episodes strong). Lee breaks down why most marriages fail — not from conflict, but from disconnection — and introduces his concept of the "pause button": the moment couples stop investing in their relationship and slowly drift apart. He reveals the three levels of connection (physical, emotional, and spiritual) that every healthy marriage requires, and explains why neglecting even one can quietly erode a relationship over years. You'll also discover: • Why premarital counseling rarely works — and what actually does • How to rebuild intimacy using a team approach, even through trauma, grief, and conflict • Why one motivated partner can shift the entire relationship dynamic (no dragging a reluctant spouse to therapy required) • The chaser-spacer dynamic — and how to invite connection instead of pushing your partner away • How Lee's Unpause app helps couples build new habits of connection daily • Whether your marriage is quietly disconnecting or at a full-blown crisis point, this episode delivers a clear, actionable roadmap for turning things around. Lee’s Bio and Contact Information Lee Baucom, Ph.D., is the creator of the Save The Marriage System, used around the world for over two decades. He is the author of four books on relationship issues and marriage recovery. As a Relationship Coach, Lee works with people around the world to save and restore their intimate relationships, even when a partner has given up. His method proved useful for people, working on their own, to turn their marriages and committed relationships around into loving, thriving, connected relationships. He shares that approach in his System, his writing, and the Save The Marriage Podcast. He has been podcasting since 2013. He is married, with two adult children and two active dogs. Connect with Lee Baucom: 📌 Connect with Lee Baucom: Chronically disconnected → unpauseyourmarriage.com At a crisis point → savethemarriage.com Save the Marriage Podcast: savethemarriage.com YouTube: Search : Lee Baucom Save the Marriage To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

    48 min
  7. Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming Addiction, Abuse & Generational Trauma with Shannan Kym

    Jun 14

    Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming Addiction, Abuse & Generational Trauma with Shannan Kym

    What does it take to break free from a lifetime of addiction, childhood abuse, and generational trauma? In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with internationally award-winning author, public speaker, and transformational mentor Shannan Kym to share her extraordinary journey from rock bottom to radical freedom. Growing up as the youngest of eight children in a home defined by alcoholism, mental illness, and abuse, Shannan endured unimaginable hardship — only to find herself trapped in a marriage to a narcissist and drinking up to six bottles of wine a day. Her story is raw, honest, and ultimately deeply inspiring. In this episode, you'll discover: •How childhood trauma and generational patterns fuel addiction — and how to break the cycle • What hitting rock bottom really looks like and the moment Shannan finally surrendered • Why traditional therapy and AA didn't work for her — and what did • The awakening that led to nearly 7 years of sobriety •How writing her award-winning book How in the Hell Did I Get Here? changed everything •The 10 Pathways to Self-Discovery . · •How she helps women ages 40–60 reclaim their identity, rebuild their lives, and step into their greatness Shannan's Bio and Contact Information SHANNAN KYM grew up in a family where addiction, violence, and extreme dysfunction were normalized. Robbed of her childhood, she was forced to grow up at a very young age. After dropping out of high school and leaving her family, she was filled with self-loathing and shame. Suppressing her feelings, Shannan became an alcoholic. For years, she abused her body, gained excessive weight, and let herself be taken advantage of by toxic people, including marrying a narcissist. She experienced career highs and lows and suffered the loss of a child. Eventually, Shannan hit rock bottom; but on August 17, 2019, everything changed. That day, Shannan made up her mind to stop letting addiction control her life. She also made a decision to get real, let go of her past hurts, embrace forgiveness, and focus on living each day with gratitude, purpose, light, and love. Connect with Shannan Kym at shannankym.com or find her on all social platforms @shannankym. To connect with Dave , go to davidrobertsmsw.com

    52 min
  8. Legacy Architect Debbie Simmons: From Quadruplet Loss to Nonprofit CEO and Adoptive Mom of Nine

    Jun 12

    Legacy Architect Debbie Simmons: From Quadruplet Loss to Nonprofit CEO and Adoptive Mom of Nine

    What would you do if you lost four babies in one day — and then built a multi-million dollar nonprofit, wrote a book, and adopted nine children from trauma backgrounds? In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Debbie Simmons — Legacy Architect, keynote speaker, author, and CEO/founder of Anchor Point, a nonprofit serving families in crisis. Debbie shares the extraordinary journey that shaped her: surviving the loss of quadruplet sons, battling infertility, finding purpose through grief, and ultimately adopting nine children from the foster care system. Together, Dave and Debbie explore: • How to process grief without getting stuck in the "why" questions • The founding of Anchor Point — a nonprofit offering medical care, maternity housing, parenting classes, and trauma-informed family camps • Debbie's proprietary frameworks: The Architecture of Trust and The Obedience Engine — and how leaders can identify where trust is leaking in their organizations • Why control and hustle are maladaptive survival mechanisms — and how to replace them • The realities of parenting nine adopted children from hard places • How to take the "next best step" no matter where you are in life • Debbie's book, The Heart of Legacy, is available FREE at theheartoflegacy.com. to teaching journeys podcast listeners. Debbie's Bio and Contact Information Debbie Simmons is The Legacy Architect™ — a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and the CEO/Founder of Anchor Point, a multimillion-dollar nonprofit changing lives every day. With over two decades of leadership at the intersection of impact and exhaustion, Debbie equips high-capacity leaders to rebuild what success was never designed to carry alone. She’s the creator of the Architecture of Trust™, a structural framework that helps leaders diagnose where trust is leaking — and the Obedience Engine™, a proprietary rhythm and decision-making model that aligns identity, trust, and forward movement. Her frameworks weren’t built in theory. They were born under pressure. Debbie has adopted nine children from trauma backgrounds, lost quadruplets, and battled a health crisis that nearly killed her. Despite the outward success — leading teams, speaking on global stages, publishing a bestselling book — her system began to collapse from the inside out. That breakdown exposed what many leaders quietly feel: they’ve built strong organizations but left their own structure weak. From that wreckage, she rebuilt. Today, Debbie is a trusted strategist to CEOs, founders, pastors, and high-level teams navigating leadership at scale. She doesn’t just speak truth — she helps leaders structure their obedience, rebuild trust at the root, and lead from a place that holds under pressure. If you’re successful but stretched, respected but unraveling, or tired but still performing… Debbie is your mirror, your strategist, and your challenger. SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: https://www.facebook.com/TheDebbieSimmonsSpeaks https://www.youtube.com/@TheDebbieSimmonsSpeaks https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedebbiesimmons/ https://www.instagram.com/thedebbiesimmons/ To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

    46 min

Ratings & Reviews

About

Dave Roberts ,MSW, LMSW is an adjunct professor of psychology child life at Utica University, an author a bereavement support specialist, and a parent who experienced the death of an adult child on March 1,2003. He was inspired to create The Teaching Journeys Podcast by two of his former Utica University students. Dave strives to have meaningful conversations with individuals , young and old, whose life journeys, life skills and challenges ,can teach us about addressing our own challenges. It is Dave's hope that the teachings from these conversations live on in future generations. Weekly episodes have featured guests from all walks of life, with diverse experiences and life skills to share . Dave hopes that his guests ‘experiences resonate with all who listen, both young and old. We are all students and teachers...... let's learn from each other. To find out more about Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

You Might Also Like