93 episodes

"We all have two lives. The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

Stories of people who have faced darkness and how those moments transformed them.

2 Lives is hosted and written by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Pod art and website designed by Christian Arnder, music from Blue Dot Sessions.

2 LIVES - Stories Of Transformation Laurel Morales

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.2 • 184 Ratings

"We all have two lives. The second begins the moment we realize we have only one."

Stories of people who have faced darkness and how those moments transformed them.

2 Lives is hosted and written by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Pod art and website designed by Christian Arnder, music from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Blind Surfer Embraces Challenges To Recover From PTSD

    Blind Surfer Embraces Challenges To Recover From PTSD

    2 LIVES - STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION
    Joshua "The Jedi" Loya lost his eyesight at 15, but that didn’t stop him from skydiving, surfing, Ju-Jitsu, and stand up comedy. Joshua says choosing sometimes the scary thing makes him feel authentically himself and helps him to live well with PTSD. 
    2 Lives “The second begins the moment we realize we have only one.”
    2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.
    Become a 2 Lives patron at https://www.patreon.com/2lives
    Or give a donation at paypal.me/2LivesPodcast
    Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or X. You can learn how to support the show here. Or order merch here. Episode transcripts are posted on our  website.
    Find out more about Joshua Loya on our website.
     

    • 24 min
    Severe Burnout Pushes West Point Grad To Find Worthiness Beyond Career

    Severe Burnout Pushes West Point Grad To Find Worthiness Beyond Career

    2 LIVES - STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION
    It took a life threatening situation to give Kafi Joseph permission to make her own rules about what she needs.  She learned that burnout was a symptom of a deeper worry that she wasn’t valuable unless she was driving hard.  Now this West Point grad uses her can-do attitude to take care of herself.
    2 Lives “The second begins the moment we realize we have only one.”
    2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.
    Become a 2 Lives patron at https://www.patreon.com/2lives
    Or give a donation at paypal.me/2LivesPodcast
    Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. You can learn how to support the show here. Or order merch here. Episode transcripts are posted on our  website.
    Find out more about Kafi Joseph on our website.
     

    • 25 min
    Adrenaline Junkie Finds Peace, Recovery In Nature

    Adrenaline Junkie Finds Peace, Recovery In Nature

    2 LIVES - STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION
    Morgan O’Kane spent much of his young life searching for meaning and a high. It wasn’t until he sacrificed alcohol for the love of his child that he reconnected with his true nature. Through train-hopping, mountaineering, music, fatherhood and two very special dogs, Morgan O’Kane found his way home.
    2 Lives “The second begins the moment we realize we have only one.”
    2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.
    Become a 2 Lives patron at https://www.patreon.com/2lives
    Or give a donation at paypal.me/2LivesPodcast
    Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. You can learn how to support the show here. Or order merch here. Episode transcripts are posted on our  website.
    Find out more about Morgan O'Kane and his music on our website.
     

    • 29 min
    Podcast Host Changes Dialogue Around Mental Illness Recovery

    Podcast Host Changes Dialogue Around Mental Illness Recovery

    2 LIVES - STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION
    Content Warning: We mention suicide in this episode.
    After decades of telling people what she believed they wanted to hear, Helen Sneed shares openly her struggles with mental illness because it provides hope and ultimately saves lives, but it took many agonizing years of therapy, hospitalizations, and finally finding community to get here.
    2 Lives “The second begins the moment we realize we have only one.”
    2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.
    Become a 2 Lives patron at https://www.patreon.com/2lives
    Or give a donation at paypal.me/2LivesPodcast
    Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. You can learn more how to support the show here. Or order merch here. Episode transcripts are posted on our  website.
    Find out more about Helen Sneed and her podcast on our website.
     

    • 27 min
    Perfectionist Cures Chronic Illness And Burnout

    Perfectionist Cures Chronic Illness And Burnout

    2 LIVES - STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION
    Wenche Fredriksen is on a mission to help people accept they are enough after perfectionism took its toll on her. She suffered from years of chronic illness and back pain before a doctor told her she needed to recover from burnout.
    2 Lives “The second begins the moment we realize we have only one.”
    2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.
    Become a 2 Lives patron at https://www.patreon.com/2lives
    Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. You can learn how to support the show here. Or order merch here. Episode transcripts are posted on our  website.
    Find out more about Wenche Fredriksen on our website.
     

    • 28 min
    How One Chicago Man Turned His Life Around In Prison

    How One Chicago Man Turned His Life Around In Prison

    2 LIVES - STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION
    Yohance Lacour creates luxury hiphop sneakers because they represent both his humble beginnings on Chicago's south side as well as the high fashion person he became, but it took a decade’s long prison sentence to learn how to make the shoes and to work toward the greater good.
    2 Lives “The second begins the moment we realize we have only one.”
    2 Lives is created by Laurel Morales. Valerie Shively is the assistant producer. Christian Arnder is our illustrator and website designer. Music from Blue Dot Sessions.
    Become a 2 Lives patron at https://www.patreon.com/2lives
    Drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. You can learn how to support the show here. Or order merch here. Episode transcripts are posted on our  website.
    Find out more about Yohance Lacour, his leather label, and his podcast on our website.
     

    • 27 min

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5
184 Ratings

184 Ratings

June0409Bugg ,

Great Podcast

Truly inspiring

The Retired Sociologist ,

Interesting and local!

I enjoy this podcast for the interesting and local stories!

vshive ,

The Best Kind of Therapy

Listening to this podcast lifts me up in a way that is inaccessible most of the time. Other people sharing their stories of pain and their subsequent ladder through and above it is some kind of metaphysical tether that works as a ladder for us all. The narration is grounded and calm amidst stories of incredible tumult. This is one of the best podcasts out there and I believe it is truly medicine. So grateful it exists! Go listen!

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