The Suffering Podcast

Kevin Donaldson

Adversity is the common thread throughout the lives of all living human beings. This human condition can either make us or break us. Nothing great comes easy and it's the overcoming of adversity that makes us who we are. Living by the ethos Suffering is THE way to sustainable success and the path to greatness. Always remember Mike Failace.

  1. Episode 285: The Suffering of Roll The Bones with Chris Stoddard

    6d ago

    Episode 285: The Suffering of Roll The Bones with Chris Stoddard

    Chris Stoddard’s story doesn’t begin with strength—it begins with survival. Raised in a financially strained household, Chris grew up watching his mother fight tirelessly to keep them afloat, while enduring the chaos of an abusive, alcoholic stepfather. On the other side, love from his biological father was complicated by manipulation and psychological pressure, leaving Chris feeling like the cause of his parents’ divorce and fundamentally broken from a young age. By third grade, he was already battling thoughts no child should carry. The only refuge came from his Uncle John and Aunt Kathy, who showed him what real family looked like—until that foundation was shaken by his uncle’s passing. As the years went on, the weight of abuse and bullying began to take its toll. Chris’s teenage years marked a turning point—not toward healing, but toward darkness. Placed in an alternative program for troubled youth, he found connection, but also a gateway into crime, drugs, and violence. The loss of his close friend Andy to a heroin overdose became a defining moment, hitting him at one of the most vulnerable times in his life. What followed was a deeper descent into a dangerous world, including ties to a 1%er motorcycle club. But everything changed when Chris met the woman who would become his wife. Faced with the reality of becoming a father, he made a choice—to walk away from the life that was consuming him and break the cycle he was born into. Chris’s journey didn’t magically resolve from there. He endured a severe nervous breakdown, time in a psych ward, and moments where he came dangerously close to ending his life. But in one of those darkest moments, something small—a video—pulled him back. From there, he began rebuilding piece by piece. He found stability in real estate, but more importantly, he found purpose in storytelling. After losing a close friend who helped spark the idea, Chris eventually launched Roll The Bones—a podcast rooted in real conversations, real struggles, and real transformation. Today, as a father of three and a committed husband, Chris is focused on one mission: turning pain into purpose, and using his voice to speak on addiction, mental health, and the silent battles many are still fighting. Find Chis Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rollthebonespodcast203/ Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@Rollthebones203   Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 3m
  2. Episode 284: The Suffering of Peace, Power, Purpose with Steve Morris

    May 24

    Episode 284: The Suffering of Peace, Power, Purpose with Steve Morris

    Steve Morris is the host of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast. He served his country as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy and later served his community as a police officer working patrol, bringing a leadership style grounded in discipline, accountability, and real-world experience. A father of two, Steve has direct, unfiltered conversations with veterans, first responders, and leaders about faith, mental health, leadership, and overcoming adversity. Now sober for over four and a half years, he shares his journey of rebuilding with honesty and intent. His mission is to spread awareness for men’s mental health, share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and help men find the courage to seek help. Through his platform, he speaks from real-world experience to encourage and challenge others to pursue a life built on peace, power, and purpose. Where to find the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@peacepowerpurposepodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78oFBZdrhuUyymvHHBobkK Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-power-and-purpose-podcast/id1874673063 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f525fff6-2b5d-4d65-a701-52cd7dd8f4e7/peace-power-and-purpose-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacepowerpurposepodcast   Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 13m
  3. Episode 281: The Suffering of A Life Unfolding with Dr. Dorothy Novitskie and Sherrie Allsup

    May 3

    Episode 281: The Suffering of A Life Unfolding with Dr. Dorothy Novitskie and Sherrie Allsup

    What does it take to tell the truth about something most people spend a lifetime trying to forget? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Suffering Podcast, Kevin Donaldson sits down with co-authors Sherrie Allsup and Dr. Dorothy Novitskie to discuss their new book, A Life Unfolding: Carrying the Secrets of Childhood Sexual Abuse. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what it really means to write from the depths of lived trauma while balancing the responsibility of telling that story with honesty, purpose, and care. Sherrie Allsup shares the emotional weight of revisiting her past—what it cost her to put those experiences into words, and what it means to finally be seen after years of silence. Alongside her, Dr. Dorothy Novitskie provides a clinical lens, breaking down the psychological impact of childhood sexual abuse, the long-term effects on identity and relationships, and the difficult but necessary process of healing. Together, they reveal the tension between raw human experience and clinical understanding—and how both are essential in telling the full story. This episode is not easy—but it is necessary. It’s for survivors who feel alone, for professionals who work in the shadows of trauma, and for anyone willing to listen, learn, and understand. Because some stories don’t just deserve to be told… they demand it. Find Sherrie Allsup Website https://sherrieallsup.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesherrieallsup/   Find Dr. Dorothy Novitskie Website https://www.novitskiepsych.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drdorothynovitskie/ Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 6m
  4. Episode 279: The Suffering of Prison With Shawn Johnson

    Apr 19

    Episode 279: The Suffering of Prison With Shawn Johnson

    Shawn Robert Johnson grew up in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where much of his childhood was shaped by poverty, instability, and his parents’ struggles with drug addiction. Basketball became his escape, but when his family could no longer afford the costs of playing, Shawn was pulled into the streets—eventually becoming involved in drug dealing and gang life. In 2006, a violent altercation led to two incidents where Shawn says he acted in self-defense. He was arrested in Pittsburgh, extradited to New Jersey, and after losing at trial was sentenced to 60 years in prison. While incarcerated at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, Shawn transformed his life. He deepened his faith, focused on rehabilitation, and wrote books on youth mentorship, financial literacy, motivation, spirituality, and men’s mental health, while also sharing motivational messages on social media. After years of denied appeals, Shawn’s case was reviewed under New Jersey’s clemency initiative. Represented by Joseph Krakora, 41 years were commuted from his sentence, recognizing both his rehabilitation and evidence supporting his self-defense claim. On December 4, 2025, Shawn was released—granted a second chance at life. Today he uses his story to mentor, motivate, and help others avoid the path he once walked. Follow Shawn: TikTok & Instagram: @shawjohn1222 YouTube Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1h 10m
5
out of 5
79 Ratings

About

Adversity is the common thread throughout the lives of all living human beings. This human condition can either make us or break us. Nothing great comes easy and it's the overcoming of adversity that makes us who we are. Living by the ethos Suffering is THE way to sustainable success and the path to greatness. Always remember Mike Failace.

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