Supernaut

Supernaut
  • 5.0 (2)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY

Supernaut is a podcast about spirituality, sobriety, suicide, and the full spectrum of being human. Hosted by Beth Kelling, the show opens space for honest conversations about healing, identity, and the parts of life we often keep quiet. As the show has grown, mental health has become a defining theme. Many guests have shared deeply personal experiences with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and loss. In response, Supernaut is dedicating more space to conversations around suicide—approaching the topic with care, honesty, and compassion. The goal is not to sensationalize pain, but to reduce stigma, encourage vulnerability, and remind people that struggling does not mean failing—and that help, connection, and light are possible. Whether you’re sober-curious, spiritually inclined, or simply looking for real conversations that make you feel less alone, you’re welcome here. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available in the U.S. by calling or texting 988. If you’re outside the U.S., visit findahelpline.com.

  1. 4D AGO

    Service, Structure, And Steady Progress

    Time keeps moving whether we feel ready or not, and that truth sets the tone for a wide-ranging, surprisingly practical conversation with my nephew Nicholas. We start with the song “Time” and quickly land on the parts of life most of us avoid naming: the fear of being recorded, the cringe of hearing our own voice, and the need for at least one trusted person to tell us we’re doing better than we think. From there, we get into Nicholas’s faith journey and what he calls being a “Christian nomad” moving between Catholic tradition and non-denominational community. We talk about what he looks for in a church, why theology and history matter to him, and how faith gets tested in the daily grind through pride, envy, and the urge to be “right.” The conversation stays honest and grounded, especially around the question he’d ask God if they met today: how to help people while staying humble. Nicholas also shares how the Marine Corps shaped his mindset around suffering, discipline, and deliberate discomfort, from hard training to cold plunges. Then we shift into mission and impact: his new nonprofit, Mackie Hall, focused on preventing veteran homelessness with proactive financial advising, smarter retirement planning, and real estate support like help with VA home loan closing costs and trusted connections to VA-literate professionals. If you care about personal growth, resilience, faith, military transition, veteran homelessness solutions, or real estate and financial literacy, this one will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with someone who’s building their next chapter, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re putting into practice. 0:00 Welcome And A Song About Time 1:56 Feeling Awkward On Camera 4:15 Being A Christian Nomad 12:23 Sin, Pride, And Questions For God 15:04 Why He Chose The Marines 20:17 Training The Mind Through Discomfort 28:07 Hearing How Others Describe You 31:17 A Nonprofit To Prevent Veteran Homelessness 37:59 Goals, Humility, And Avoiding Complacency

    44 min

  2. MAR 29

    Speaking The Unspoken With Nicole

    Depression doesn’t always look like sadness. Sometimes it looks like a capable nurse, a partner, a parent, a person who “has everything” and still feels like they’re disappearing on the inside. I sit down with Nicole for a first-time conversation that starts with a song and quickly turns into a deeply honest story about mental health, isolation, and what it takes to ask for help before things get worse.  Nicole shares when she first recognized depression at 19 after a breakup and the crushing loneliness of being far from home. We talk about why therapy helped immediately, how medication fit into her path, and why it can be so confusing when your life plan is working but your brain and body are not. Then we go into the realities of postpartum depression and sleep deprivation, including a scary moment of suicidal ideation that she’s willing to name out loud so other people don’t have to suffer in silence.  From there, we connect the dots to childhood experiences with divorce, alcohol in the home, and how addiction history can shape what feels safe in adulthood. We also get practical about nursing burnout and caregiver fatigue, why switching jobs can be a mental health intervention, and the small self-soothing tools that actually help when your nervous system is overloaded. We close with spirituality as an open question, the power of being seen through others’ words, and even a money mindset angle that reframes spending, debt, and “happy money.”  If this conversation hits home, subscribe for more honest inner-life talks, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of Nicole’s story did you relate to most? 0:00 Meeting Nicole Through A Song 0:51 First Depression And College Isolation 3:46 Therapy And Medication That Helped 4:32 Postpartum Breakdown And Suicidal Thoughts 10:05 Divorce And Growing Up In Two Homes 14:03 Teen Years With Alcohol At Home 16:30 Marriage And Addiction Fears Around Drinking 20:44 Why She Chose Nursing 22:48 ER Adrenaline Then Burnout 26:10 Self Care With Music And Nature 28:41 Learning To Self Soothe And Slow Down 31:51 Spiritual Seeking And The Alpha Group 39:43 Hearing How Others Describe You 44:24 Money Habits And A Better Relationship

    48 min

  3. MAR 23

    Sober by Sunrise: The Night Everything Changed - Cody

    The scariest part of addiction isn’t the hangover, it’s the moment you realize you’ve started living a double life. Our guest, Cody Cooper, takes us straight into that reality, from hiding bottles and bargaining with “rules” to a December night that ends with cops at the door and Cody out in the freezing woods, sobering up and finally admitting he’s drowning. From there, the conversation gets wide and honest. We talk about quitting drinking when alcohol has been tied to sleep, anxiety relief, and even childhood “medicine,” and why sobriety can feel harder after the first year when the honeymoon phase ends. Cody shares what cravings actually look like in real life, how secrecy feeds relapse, and why saying the thought out loud to your partner can be the difference between a trigger and a spiral. We also dig into practical sobriety tools that helped him, including habit replacement, projects, accountability, and why he leans on NA options like LaCroix while avoiding non-alcoholic spirits that mimic gin too closely. Cody also opens up about Navy culture, masculinity, leadership, mental health, and the identity shock of leaving the military, including his refusal of the COVID vaccine mandate and what an honorable discharge can still feel like emotionally. We end with spirituality, presence, and the hard work of learning to love your life without needing to escape it. If this hits home, subscribe for more honest conversations, share this with someone navigating alcohol addiction recovery, and leave a review. What’s one moment that changed your relationship with drinking? 0:00 Welcome And Guest Setup 3:30 First Time Life Felt Like Drowning 6:20 December 11 And The Breaking Point 14:10 Arrest Morning And The Walk Back 18:20 Childhood Alcohol And Early Conditioning 23:10 Anxiety Sleep And Drinking As Medicine 27:50 Navy Drinking And Proving Masculinity 36:40 Choosing Forever Sobriety And AA 39:00 Cravings Secrets And Telling The Truth 51:40 Staying Sober In Social Situations 57:00 Practical Tools LaCroix Projects Books 1:00:40 Why He Joined The Navy 1:10:30 Marriage Trauma Mentors And Survival 1:22:30 A Mentor’s Suicide And Grief Drinking 1:34:40 Alcohol Depression And Suicidal Ideation 1:40:38 COVID Mandate Refusal And Navy Discharge 1:55:30 Identity Shock After Leaving Service 2:03:20 Leadership Failures And Veteran Advice 2:14:48 Spirituality Presence And Faith Questions 2:21:08 Hearing How Friends Describe Him 2:25:37 Backyard Wedding And Private Joy 2:32:36 Legacy Hopes And Final Reflections

    2h 34m

  4. MAR 15

    Surviving Abuse, Addiction, And Loss Became A Life Of Healing - Bethany

    A love song, a whiteboard, and a brother’s smile—that’s how Bethany learned to stay. From a childhood shaped by a violent, absent father and the shame of his arrest, to teenage depression and two suicide attempts, her story doesn’t flinch. Instead, it follows the gritty path of healing: inpatient care that planted a spark, medication that turned explosions into choices, and therapy that taught her brain a kinder way to file pain. We go deep on the day-to-day tools that hold her life together. Bethany shares a gratitude ritual that spills from her office into her community, mindful walks that count smiles and reset the nervous system, and the simple power of presence when the mind wants to time-travel. When the conversation turns to her brother Lee—his humor, his big heart, the slide into opioids, and the winter night he didn’t come back—she offers a hard-won masterclass in grief work. EMDR therapy helped transform an unseeable trauma into a memory she can love: Lee turning to smile. It didn’t erase the loss; it rewired the story. Bethany’s healing expanded outward. Nursing became a calling, not just a job—servant leadership, flexible schedules for LPNs chasing RNs, and hands-on care that respects both patients and staff. Coaching varsity softball turned into character training for young women: resilience, accountability, and the freedom to fail forward. Faith, once fractured, returned as something felt—a daily conversation with God, a family practice of trust over control, and the courage to ask direct, lifesaving questions: Are you suicidal? Do you have a plan? Come for the raw honesty about abuse, addiction, suicide, and trauma. Stay for the practical mental health tools—EMDR, medication, mindfulness, gratitude—and a lived blueprint for turning survival into shelter for others. If someone you love is hurting, or if that someone is you, this conversation is a hand to hold. Listen, subscribe, and share with a friend who needs hope today. Then tell us: which practice will you try this week? 0:00 Meet Bethany: Caregiver And Coach 1:41 Love Story And A Song That Heals 4:28 Chaotic Childhood And A Father’s Abuse 8:15 Arrest, Shame, And Growing Up Fast 12:28 Depression, Defiance, And First Attempt 16:50 Hospital, Inpatient Care, And New Tools 19:59 Medication, Therapy, And Mindset Shifts 23:12 Daily Gratitude And Mindful Presence 26:30 Gardens, Farming Roots, And Family Ties 29:12 Lee’s Light: Humor, Love, And Addiction 33:05 The Night Everything Broke 37:10 Grief, Rumors, And EMDR Healing 41:01 Working With First Responders And Closure 44:03 Faith Lost, Faith Felt, Faith Lived 48:12 Nursing As Ministry And Servant Leadership 52:53 Coaching Girls To Lead Their Lives 56:30 Assume The Best And Choose Hope

    1h 27m

  5. MAR 8

    Songs, Soul, And A Small-Town Stage - Luke

    A two-string ukulele, an eight-track buzzing with Johnny Cash, and a kid who couldn’t stop pretending the ottoman was a stage—that’s where Luke's story starts. Years later, he’s a bar and restaurant owner with a nine-song record called Based on a True Story, and a life that proves craft and community can share the same roof. We sit down to map the journey from garage bands and school pop groups to the late mentor who said, lock the door and learn to sing while you play. The advice stuck, and so did the instinct to write from life: divorce, new love, and those charged nights that blur into a lyric before they become a memory. Luke walks us through his writing process—why chords often arrive first, how a line can land whole in six minutes, and why a melody can carry more honesty than a conversation. We trade notes on Dylan, Neil Young, and Lennon’s Imagine, using them as North Stars for songs that do more than entertain; they mark us. Then the scene shifts to 125 Tavern, the space Luke and Maria built with high ceilings, sandstone walls, and a tight menu where quality wins. Thousands of flatbreads later, the place has a vibe people seek out, the kind where a stranger becomes a regular before the second slice. We also talk about the toll and the payoff: long hours, fast turns, and the quiet gratification of serving well. Luke keeps his beliefs simple—live your life, let others live theirs, be kind—and reflects on how community sees him: vibrant, devoted, relentless, expressive, a little untamed. He admits writing a song is still the hardest job he knows, which might be why the urge to get back on stage keeps tapping him on the shoulder. If you’ve ever wondered how art, work, and home can fit together without losing their edges, this conversation offers a candid, grounded blueprint. If this story hit a chord, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what lyric or meal brought you back to yourself? 0:00 Meet Luke 0:24 Bob Dylan And Early Sparks 2:04 Ukulele To Garage Band Beginnings 3:22 Finding Voice And Stage Nerves 5:55 Why Music Heals And Transports 5:55 Original Album And Honest Lyrics 7:21 Writing Process And Creativity 9:46 Songs We Wish We Wrote 10:39 Performing, Persona, And Connection 12:41 Opening 125 Tavern 14:44 Vibe, Menu, And Daily Rush 16:47 Naming, Numbers, And New Beginnings 18:24 Exhaustion, Rewards, And Routine 19:33 Getting Back On Stage 21:04 Dream Guests And Manifesting 21:42 Belief, Nonjudgment, And Purpose 22:30 How People See Luke 24:08 Food, Legacy, And Self Control 26:19 Closing Reflections

    26 min

  6. MAR 2

    Sacred Surrender: A Mother’s Fight for Her Daughter’s Life- Angie Peterson

    Some stories change the room the moment they begin. Angie Peterson joins us to share the fiercest kind of love: a mother’s decision to let her daughter fight, even when experts said there was no chance. From a song written by a NICU nurse to the sterile quiet of an ultrasound room, we travel through a surprise pregnancy, a heterotaxy diagnosis, and the pressure to decide quickly. Angie chooses a second opinion and a different path. What follows is a birth marked by a small hand against hers, a cry that reset the odds, and five months measured in surgeries, fevers, and the long commute between a hospital room and a home with a baby waiting. We talk about the parts most people never see: the language that hurts, the silence that isolates, and the strength it takes to speak up for your child when you’re drowning in acronyms. Angie explains how therapy gave her tools to scale the waves of grief, why “it’s okay to not be okay” became a lifeline, and how community at Faith Lodge offered a kind of understanding no one else could. She shares the moment a white butterfly began to show up at her door, the way faith deepened rather than cracked, and how advocacy turned pain into purpose. If you’ve ever wondered what to say to a grieving parent, you’ll learn what helps, what doesn’t, and why saying the child’s name matters. This episode holds space for impossible choices, resilient hope, and the truth that grief doesn’t shrink; we grow around it. You’ll hear how Angie found her voice, set boundaries without apology, and still chose tenderness. You’ll leave with practical insight into supporting bereaved families, a clearer picture of heterotaxy and complex congenital heart disease, and a renewed respect for the everyday courage lived in NICU halls. If this conversation moves you, share it with someone who needs company in the dark, subscribe for more human-first stories, and leave a review to help others find us.

    1h 6m

  7. FEB 23

    Second Chances, and Self-Respect - Brianne McClellan

    Ever wonder what it looks like to stop drifting and start choosing? Brianne joins us for a raw, energizing conversation about designing a life around joy, clarity, and self-trust—after nine addresses in Texas, a strategic escape from an abusive relationship, and a bold career pivot into suicide prevention. We dig into the practical side of change: how audiobooks and a relentless reading habit feed curiosity, why a calmer relationship with alcohol starts with knowing your body’s early signals, and how skepticism toward organized religion can coexist with genuine spiritual wonder. Brianne shares the red flags she ignored, the logistics of leaving safely, and the healing that followed—right down to the boundaries she now guards, including the possibility of never cohabiting again. Her story reframes “independence” not as isolation, but as a commitment to the life she refuses to outsource. On work, she walks us from test-driven classrooms to a role that blends education and mental health impact, naming what burnout feels like and the tools that helped—medication, better-fitting therapy, and honest self-inquiry. We talk pruning friendships without guilt, the post-COVID social reset, and saying no to keep your yes meaningful. And then there’s the play: a Kansas cattle drive, the Pacific Coast Highway, and travel as a video game where each new place unlocks a level in your inner world. If you’re rethinking boundaries, learning to trust your gut, or plotting your next brave move, this episode is your green light. Hit follow, share this with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review with the one boundary you’re committing to next. 0:00 Setting The Stage & A Song 0:26 Chasing Joy, Peace, And Adventure 2:55 Texas Years And Many Moves 3:21 Books, Audiobooks, And Favorites 6:10 A Calmer Relationship With Alcohol 8:21 Faith, Skepticism, And Soul Contracts 12:14 From Teaching To Suicide Prevention 15:04 Anxiety, Panic, And Finding Therapy 18:56 Naming Abuse And Planning An Exit 23:44 Healing, Boundaries, And Red Flags 27:18 Pruning Friendships And COVID Effects 30:06 Identity, Small Towns, And Self 32:30 Rethinking Marriage, Kids, And Meaning 35:02 Big Travel Plans And A Cattle Drive 38:07 How Friends See Brianne 41:20 Nash The Bar Dog And Animal Love 44:10 Nature Club Origins And Early Media 46:08 Advice To The Next Generation 48:18 Doomscrolling, Limits, And Habits 51:22 Closing Reflections

    52 min

  8. FEB 16

    Survived A War, Crossed An Ocean, And Chose Joy - Johnny

    A regiment marched past a third-grade window and changed everything. That image—nerves buzzing with music and boots—became the first chapter in Johnny Akkerman’s extraordinary journey from wartime Holland to small‑town Minnesota, where work, mentorship, and community would give shape to a long and generous life. We sit with Johnny as he recalls food scraped from gardens, nights split by bomber engines, and the odd tenderness of liberation: Canadian trucks, flares in the sky, and a slice of bread so white it felt like a miracle. At 23 he boards a Dutch ocean liner, lands in New York, and rattles west on a stop‑and‑go train crowded with strangers and kindness. Minnesota greets him with relatives, a modest house, and a factory where a patient foreman teaches welding, blueprints, and the confidence to lead. That lesson in trust becomes Johnny’s signature: encourage others until they can do it on their own. The road turns into a career installing dairy equipment across 47 states, then Spain’s Granada and the hills beyond Rio. Eventually, he trades airports for roots—marriage, kids, and decades in plant maintenance—while pouring energy into the town’s shared heartbeat: JCs, Lions, Vasaloppet. He helps build what neighbors need—an ice arena, a swimming pool, and the iconic orange Dala horse—painting its intricate design from scaffolds and later guiding its restoration like a rolling art studio under open sky. Between service and steel, there’s play: learning golf at 47, cheering every shot, and yes, stepping into a swamp up to his neck before finishing the round an hour later. Johnny talks health and longevity with disarming clarity—genes matter, movement helps, and joy is fuel. On faith, he’s secular but grateful; for him, right and wrong come from family and the daily practice of showing up. Come for war memories and immigration grit; stay for a masterclass in purpose without pretense. If you love stories about resilience, mentorship, civic pride, and the art of making a place better than you found it, this one will stick. Listen, share with a friend, and leave a review telling us which moment hit you hardest. 0:00 Meet Johnny: Roots And Music 1:08 Kindness, Work Ethic, And Leadership 4:56 Golf, Friendship, And Joy In Play 8:18 The Regiment On The Street: War Arrives 12:38 Hunger, Rations, And Night Bombers 17:45 Liberation And The Whitest Bread 21:36 Crossing The Atlantic To America 25:26 First Jobs, A Mentor, And Skills 30:08 Adventures Installing Dairy Plants 34:21 Family, Settling Down, And Community

    59 min
See All (49)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Supernaut is a podcast about spirituality, sobriety, suicide, and the full spectrum of being human. Hosted by Beth Kelling, the show opens space for honest conversations about healing, identity, and the parts of life we often keep quiet. As the show has grown, mental health has become a defining theme. Many guests have shared deeply personal experiences with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and loss. In response, Supernaut is dedicating more space to conversations around suicide—approaching the topic with care, honesty, and compassion. The goal is not to sensationalize pain, but to reduce stigma, encourage vulnerability, and remind people that struggling does not mean failing—and that help, connection, and light are possible. Whether you’re sober-curious, spiritually inclined, or simply looking for real conversations that make you feel less alone, you’re welcome here. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available in the U.S. by calling or texting 988. If you’re outside the U.S., visit findahelpline.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Supernaut
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Supernaut
  • Show Website
    Supernaut

You Might Also Like