Fearless Fridays with Maryann Maryann Rivera-Dannert

Ep. 151 Maryann Rivera-Dannert sits down with Dr. George Ackerman to delve deep into the five stages of Parkinson's disease and his journey as a caregiver for his mother. Dr. Ackerman shares his emotionally gripping experience and the profound impacts of Parkinson's disease. Listeners also gain insights into the symptoms, stages, and ongoing research efforts to find a cure. This episode serves as an inspiring call to action for Parkinson's awareness and caregiver support.
Dr. George Ackerman discusses his career trajectory, starting from his childhood in Brooklyn, through his roles as a lawyer and police officer, to becoming a full-time caregiver for his mother. He highlights the significant symptoms and progression of Parkinson's disease, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness and advocacy. Dr. Ackerman details the psychological and emotional tolls of caregiving, his motivations for writing his book, and his continued efforts to fight for those affected by Parkinson's. The episode closes with a call to action for listeners to support Parkinson's research and legislative efforts.

Resources:

Together for Sharon Foundation


Michael J. Fox Foundation: Michael J. Fox Foundation


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/togetherforsharon112020/
Book: A Son’s Journey
Connect with Maryann
Website: https://www.maryannriveradannert.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryannriveradannert/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MRDEmpowermentSolutions
Linkedin: https://www.bit.ly/maryannriveradannert

Key Takeaways:


Progression Stages of Parkinson's: Dr. Ackerman outlines the five stages of Parkinson’s disease, explaining the symptoms and challenges at each stage, from initial movement issues to severe motor and cognitive impairments.


Caregiving Challenges: The episode deeply explores the emotional and physical burdens faced by caregivers, delving into Dr. Ackerman's personal stress and sacrifices.


Critical Need for Awareness and Advocacy: Dr. Ackerman stresses the importance of public awareness, accurate police training, and the necessity for ongoing research and legislative support for Parkinson's.


Notable Quotes:

"If someone can't be fearless, you need to be an advocate and be fearless for them."

"Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurological disease in the world, with over 10 million people affected globally."

"I don't want my mother to be forgotten because I feel that Parkinson stole 15 years while she was alive and 15 years after."


About the Guest: Dr. George Ackerman is an attorney based in Florida with a deep history in advocacy and public service. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, George has worked extensively in criminal and civil law, alongside serving as a police officer. He holds a PhD with a dissertation focused on aiding African American mothers who have lost children to murder in West Palm Beach, Florida. Driven by personal experience, George became a devoted caregiver to his mother, Sharon, who battled Parkinson’s disease for 15 years before passing away in 2020.
George wanted to honor his mother and continue to help in the Parkinson’s awareness cause and did not know how to bring change. He started TogetherForSharon® as a family for the purpose of keeping his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman’s, memory alive and to share the message of Parkinson’s Awareness and hope for a cure.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:38 From Lawyer to Police Officer: Dr. George Ackerman's Advocacy Journey
3:09 A Son's Fight Against Parkinson's in Memory of His Mother
9:57 Advocating for Parkinson's Awareness and Support
16:50 Caring for a Loved One with Parkinson's Disease
22:30 His Mother's Legacy
26:23 Advocating for Parkinson's Awareness in Police Training
28:48 Conclusion
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Ep. 150 Maryann Rivera-Dannert talks with Bracha Goetz, author of 42 children's books and a memoir on overcoming food addiction. Goetz shares her personal journey, explaining how she found healing through spirituality and gratitude. She introduces the Pleasure Ladder concept, which offers alternative ways to find lasting joy beyond physical consumption. They discuss the impact of childhood influences on eating disorders and the significance of recognizing deeper emotional and spiritual needs. 
Key Takeaways:


Food Addiction and Societal Pressures: Understanding how childhood confusion and societal mixed messaging around dieting and food contributed to Bracha's long battle with food addiction.


Journey through Academia and Addiction: Despite academic achievements at Harvard and medical school, Bracha felt an internal void which perpetuated her secretive and self-destructive behaviors.


Spiritual Awakening in Israel: A life-changing trip to Israel provided Bracha with spiritual insights that filled her inner emptiness, helping her overcome her addictions.


The Pleasure Ladder: Introduction to the five-rung Pleasure Ladder concept, emphasizing how various forms of gratitude and spiritual connection can fill one’s life with lasting joy.


Joyful Gratitude as Healing: Encouragement to incorporate moments of gratitude into daily life to replace feelings of fear and disconnection with lasting pleasure and fulfillment.


Resources:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bracha.goetz.5
Website: www.goetzbookshop.com
Bracha's candid memoir: Nourish the Soul: Filling the Emptiness Within

Connect with Maryann
Website: https://www.maryannriveradannert.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryannriveradannert/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MRDEmpowermentSolutions
Linkedin: https://www.bit.ly/maryannriveradannert

Chapters:
0:00 Healing From Food Addiction Through Personal Growth and Empowerment
2:19 Finding Spiritual Fulfillment to Overcome Food Addictions
9:08 Writing Children's Books to Nourish Bodies and Souls
10:06 Understanding Addiction and the Search for Lasting Pleasure
15:59 Gratitude and Joy: Overcoming Fear and Overeating
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Ep. 149 Meet Gina Cavalier, a dynamic individual who shares her compelling story of transformation from a high-functioning media executive struggling with suicidal ideation and chronic fatigue syndrome to becoming a beacon of hope and healing through her company, the Liberated Healer.
Cavalier reveals her deep personal journey of overcoming childhood trauma and repeated patterns that led to self-sabotage and despair. She highlights her approach to healing, centered around self-love, spirituality, and harnessing one's life purpose. Cavalier's evolution is grounded in the practice of energy work and creating boundaries – keys to her current state of joy and purpose-driven life. As she anticipates the launch of her forthcoming book, she expresses

Resources:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLiberatedHealer
Website: https://www.theliberatedhealer.com/
Email: gina@theliberatedhealer.com 

Connect with Maryann
Website: https://www.maryannriveradannert.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryannriveradannert/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MRDEmpowermentSolutions
Linkedin: https://www.bit.ly/maryannriveradannert

Key Takeaways


Recognizing and Breaking Negative Self-Talk: Understanding the power of positive self-perception and the detrimental effects of internal negative dialogue.


The Vitality of Boundaries and Self-Care: Learning to establish boundaries and prioritize self-care can lead to more fulfilling relationships with others and oneself.


Finding Life’s Purpose Can Be Transformative: Discovering and embracing one's life purpose encourages a fulfilling and fearless approach to life.


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Ep. 148 In this heartening episode of Fearless Fridays with Maryann we meet Brian Sachetta, an author who turned his battle with anxiety and depression into a literary avenue of support for others. Offering a deep dive into the narrative of someone who has firsthand navigated mental health challenges, the conversation unfolds the making of a self-help journey that many can resonate with.
Initially highlighting a pivotal moment in his life that sparked his determination to confront his mental health issues, Brian recounts the incident that triggered his writing journey. Moving forward, he encapsulates the essence of his two-part book series which addresses anxiety and depression through a pragmatic lens, integrating personal experience with research.
Connect with Brian
https://www.facebook.com/getoutofyourheadbooks
Website: https://getoutofyourhead.com/

Connect with Maryann
Website: https://www.maryannriveradannert.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryannriveradannert/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MRDEmpowermentSolutions
Linkedin: https://www.bit.ly/maryannriveradannert

Key Takeaways:

Brian Sachetta's ten-year battle with mental health issues led him to write the "Get Out of Your Head" book series as a tool for others.

His approach to overcoming anxiety and depression is anchored in a biopsychosocial model and a practical, evidence-based mindset.

Brian shares insights into research such as the Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress protocol and discusses how omnipresent mild stress can lead to a state similar to depression.

Strategies such as rejecting the law of attraction, which didn't work for Brian, and instead focusing on past successes can be more beneficial in managing anxiety.


Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:56 Turning Personal Struggles Into Tools for Helping Others
3:50 Engineering Tactics to Combat Anxiety and Depression
7:42 Chronic Stress and Learned Helplessness in Animals
10:00 Breaking Mental Health Stigmas and Seeking Help
15:08 Debunking the Law of Attraction With Personal Experience
17:56 Embracing Fear and Vulnerability in Public Discourse
19:40 Evolving Self-Help Content and Expanding Digital Reach
22:01 Prioritizing Mental Health in Challenging Times
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Ep. 147 In this episode of Fearless Fridays with Maryann, special guest Patty Cabot shares her 20-year struggle with weight fluctuations and how she discovered that her eating disorder was a result of childhood sexual abuse. Through therapies like EMDR and chiropractic care, Patty embarked on a journey of healing and self-discovery. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and finding a supportive tribe. Patty's memoir, "Not That Girl Anymore," is available for free on her website, where she aims to provide hope and resources for those who have experienced trauma.

The Misconception of Physical Appearance Dictating Love
Patty Cabot's sincere narrative begins with a raw admission of what many individuals struggle with silently—body image and its perceived effect on love and relationships. Her journey mirrors a society that fosters a narrow understanding of attractiveness, which becomes mistakenly synonymous with romantic success. 
Patty reflects, "I found myself unacceptable when I was heavy," a confession that slices through the complex layers of self-esteem. This psychological battle is a climate ripe for eating disorders, often manifesting as coping mechanisms for emotional turbulence. Regardless of Patty's prowess in dieting, the persistent cycles of weight gain and loss signified a deeper, unresolved discord.
Resources:

EMDR Association - Resource for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing 

NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association) - nationaleatingdisorders.org 

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) - rainn.org 


Connect with Patty
Book: Not That Girl Anymore
Website: https://www.pattycabot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063599580134

Connect with Maryann
Website: https://www.maryannriveradannert.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryannriveradannert/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MRDEmpowermentSolutions
Linkedin: https://www.bit.ly/maryannriveradannert

Short Bio from Patty Cabot
After gaining and losing 50 to 75 pounds every two years or so since my teens, I decided I needed professional help. In 2005, at the age of 38, I started working with a therapist that specializes in eating disorders, trauma and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). She thought my issues with food and weight were a symptom of a much deeper issue: my childhood sexual abuse.
I was sexually abused by family members until I was 10. For much of my life I would have chosen death before revealing that, so deep was my shame. But I was desperate to find love and believed resolving my weight was key. So began the next 12 years of my life working with my therapist using EMDR, a chiropractor to release trapped fight or flight responses, a sex therapist and group therapy for sexual abuse.

Chapters
0:00 Trigger Warning 
1:27 Patty's Struggle with Weight and Relationships
2:47 Discovering the Root Cause: Sexual Abuse
3:30 Explanation of EMDR Therapy
4:23 Impact of Therapy on Eating Disorders
7:16 Exploring Various Therapies for Healing
10:59 The Role of a Supportive Tribe in Healing
16:36 Living Fearlessly and Looking Forward
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Ep. 146 In this episode of Fearless Fridays with Maryann, Eva Moon shares her inspiring journey of facing a genetic mutation that increased her risk of breast and ovarian cancer. After undergoing a double mastectomy and total hysterectomy, Eva turned to humor and creativity to express her experience, writing and performing a one-woman musical comedy. She also discusses her novel, "Pinocchio's Guide to the End of the World," which explores themes of identity and acceptance. Eva's story is a testament to finding strength and purpose in the face of difficult circumstances.

Notable Quotes:

"My mutant superpower was being able to save my own life and change my future."

"I felt like I could, you know, flash you and moon you at the same time."

"If I could use my experience to show them that you can not only survive afterward, you know, in some ways I'm happier than I was before."


About the Guest
Eva Moon is an author, humorist, songwriter, internationally produced playwright, award winning, optioned screenwriter, and performer. She is a former blogger for the Huffington Post. Her plays and musicals have been staged across the US and UK, and her solo musical show, “The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes” is available streaming on Amazon. Her first novel, which follows the adventures of a grown-up human Pinocchio in fascist Europe between the world wars, was released in March 2023.
Connect with Eva:
Book: Pinocchio's Guide to the End of the World
Website: http://evamoon.net

Connect with Maryann
Website: https://www.maryannriveradannert.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryannriveradannert/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MRDEmpowermentSolutions
Linkedin: https://www.bit.ly/maryannriveradannert

Chapters
0:00 Turning Genetic Fate Into a Resilience Story
3:24 Resilience Through Music After Life-Altering Surgeries
7:14 A Husband's Helplessness Against Unstoppable Dragons
8:11 Humor and Creativity in Overcoming Personal Struggles
10:36 Thrills of Tandem Skydiving
12:59 Pinocchio's Human Experience and the Quest for Identity
15:38 Healing Through Support Groups and Creative Expression
19:29 Filling Life's Cup With Positivity and Fearlessness
22:22 Eva Moon Discusses Her Book and Engages with Book Clubs
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