From Survivor to Thriver Erik DaRosa & Marc Fernandes

What does it take to overcome adversity, depression, and PTSD while empowering others to do the same? 


In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we had the privilege of sitting down with Jevon Wooden to talk about how he struggled with depression and PTSD as a vet and how he now uses that experience to help others create a life they don’t need a vacation from. 


We dove deep into the importance of resilience, vulnerability, and sharing our stories to help others.


Jevon Wooden is an Army Veteran, certified mindset and perception coach, author, speaker, and founder of Live Not Loathe, LLC. He has overcome adversity, depression, and PTSD to earn multiple certifications recognized throughout the coaching community, as well as an MBA from the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith Business School and an M.S. in Cybersecurity from Fordham University. 


His mission is to empower others to increase their self-confidence, improve their self-perception, and design a life they don't need a vacation from through a mindset shift from scarcity to abundance.  


In today’s episode we cover: 
The cultural shift needed to support vets coming homeThe strength in vulnerability The family dynamic challenges that Jevon faced growing upThe power of resilienceThe moment Jevon found his voice and his own powerJevon’s mental health struggles and the person that helped him through itWhy the strongest thing you can do is get help when you’re struggling and talk about itHow vulnerability helps you and other people that you may not even realizeThe beauty of changeThe importance of authenticity and accountabilityHow Jevon works with his clients and how he helps themMoving from reacting to situations to respondingThe art of communication and how it has changed in our societyThe gap in the accessibility of affordable healthcare in different communitiesWe hope you enjoyed our conversation with Jevon! If you want to learn more from him, visit his website and follow him on Instagram. 


Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 



Links: 
Follow Jevon on LinkedIn 
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Visit Jevon’s website
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Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com



Quotes: 


“The scars you can’t see are the hardest to heal.” -Jevon


“You have the power to change, and change is a beautiful thing.” -Jevon


“Often, vulnerability doesn’t come out when you need to save yourself. It’s when you put someone you love on the line.” -Marc


“Vulnerability for me is a superpower. Every time I get vulnerable, I feel a bit better. And every time I feel better I feel stronger.” -Erik

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with special guest Elizabeth Knittel who bravely shared her remarkable journey of overcoming an eating disorder and alcohol addiction. 
Elizabeth opens up about her 10-year struggle with bulimia and the journey to find healing, as well as the power of peer support in healing from mental health issues, finding our way through dietary restrictions and sobriety, the importance of separating the person from their illness, and so much more. 


Elizabeth Knittel struggled through eating disorder recovery, battling her demons with alcohol addiction, and trying to find herself. It took 18 years to tackle her addiction and find a solution that truly impacted her life. 


Today she’s living multiple dreams, following her calling to lead, and celebrating the joys along the journey! Elizabeth has been called to guide intuitive lightworkers and entrepreneurs through miracles and quantum leaps daily through healing modalities such as Reiki, Sacred Geometry, Energetic Design, Theta Healing, Alchemy, Astral Projection. and Clairtangency.  
In today’s episode we cover: 
The energies of the full moon and how it affects usThe different types of clairvoyanceHow Elizabeth works with her clients on a spiritual levelElizabeth’s struggles with bulimia and the life-changing experience that helped her healThe work that she had to do to overcome her eating disorder and addictionsThe importance of not letting your disease define youHow caregivers can best support anyone struggling with mental health issues  Elizabeth's relationship with food now and the healing she has experiencedAlcoholism and the negative connotations that come with itWe hope you enjoyed our conversation with Elizabeth! If you want to learn more from her, we highly recommend you follow her on Instagram and visit her website. 
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 


Links: 
Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn 
Visit Elizabeth’s website
Follow Elizabeth on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com
Quotes: 


“When you’re struggling with eating disorders, addiction, or depression, love is what you need the most. Love is everything.” 


“The distinction between whether you have depression or depression is what you are  is where the healing begins.” -Marc 


“We’re all about shattering these stigmas and having these conversations.” -Erik

What if you could change your life by embracing trauma therapy? 
In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Karen Robinson to delve into trauma recovery and resilience.  We explore the complexities of dissociation, grounding techniques, and the power of validation.
Karen also shares her insights on retraining the brain, self-care, and the unexpected benefits of whispering to de-escalate arguments.
Karen Robinson is a service-driven social worker, therapist, and coach with 24 years of clinical experience. Karen received both her BSW and MSW from the University of Maine, where she is originally from. She is a genuine, authentic, compassionate provider. Her specialties are trauma recovery, anxiety, and depression. 
Heal Thrive Dream, her mother-daughter company, that includes a wide range of services and products for women recovering from trauma. 
They offer holistic therapy, coaching, virtual group coaching memberships, community service, courses, planners, journals, books, inspirational products, and workbooks. They are a one-stop shop for women who are ready to fire their boss as we offer touchless e-commerce agencies and a full-service digital agency to assist with websites, logos, social media management, SEO, etc.
Lastly, they teach survivors how to explore relationships and affiliate marketing as several streams of revenue will set them up for the best chance of success in every aspect of their lives.  
In today’s episode we cover: 
The reason Karen decided to work with trauma survivors Karen’s holistic approach to teaching and practicing resiliencyThe right time for trauma therapy The connection between substance abuse and traumaThe different things that can cause trauma in your life What dissociation is and grounding techniques that help What a self-care kit is and what can be put in itWhy the word “relax” is so triggering and de-escalating words to use insteadWe hope you enjoyed our conversation with Karen! If you want to learn more from her, make sure to check out the Heal Thrive Dream website and check out the podcast.
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 
Links: 
Visit the Heal Thrive Dream website 
Follow Karen on Instagram
Follow Karen on LinkedIn 
Check out the Heal Thrive Dream podcast
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com
“I want to help others find that support, that compassion, and that community so that they also can heal and thrive.” -Karen
“What could be a small trauma for one person could be a large trauma for another person.” -Erik
“If you’re looking for something and you haven’t found something that works yet, it doesn’t mean that nothing will. There are so many ways to unpack these things and heal.” -Marc

For people grappling with mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, there may be a belief that offering support to others who are facing similar struggles is not possible until they have completely overcome these issues themselves. 
However, in this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we had a conversation with Sue Bowles, who revealed why this perception is flawed. As a matter of fact, it only takes being one step ahead of someone to assist and encourage them in navigating their mental health journeys. 
You don’t need to be fully cured to make a significant positive impact in someone else’s life. 
Sue Bowles is a survivor turned thriver as an author, speaker, and Master Certified Life Coach. Having done the hard work of healing from a childhood rape, an eating disorder, other sexual assaults, and considering suicide, Sue now defines the effect the life-altering events have on her. 
The events no longer define Sue; she defines them. “You only have to be a step ahead to help the person behind you” is the bedrock to the value Sue brings. She founded My Step Ahead and is the “Chief Instigator” behind the new Dare to Believe Movement, whose purpose is to nurture others to ‘dare to believe that you matter,’ knowing that nothing changes until that bedrock belief is solidified. 
Whether speaking on a podcast, a stage, or one-on-one, Sue's enthusiasm is contagious, shining the light of hope wherever the listener needs. 
In today’s episode we cover: 
The first step to breaking the stigma around mental health struggles How helping others keeps you encouragedThe healing power of owning your storyThe coping mechanisms Sue used to cope with traumaWhat to do when you’re having a dark dayHow Sue’s faith helped her through her mental health strugglesThe impact therapy can have on your mental healthThe importance of honoring yourself The difference between ownership and stewardship We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Sue! If you want to learn more from her, make sure to grab a copy of her book. You can also check out her website and check out the Dare To Believe Movement website. 
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 
Links: 
Get a copy of Sue’s book 
Visit Sue’s website
Visit the Dare To Believe Movement website
Follow Sue on Instagram
Connect with Sue on LinkedIn
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com
“If we were strong enough to fight it on our own, we would not be fighting it.” -Sue 
“If your coping mechanism isn’t something you’re willing to share with someone who cares about you, it’s not helping.” -Marc
“Asking for help may be the most difficult part, but it’s also the biggest part on your healing journey.” -Erik

Your mindset can change everything. 
In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Joseph Kajy. He battled drug addiction, depression, suicidal thoughts, and prison before he learned about the power of a positive mindset which changed his life for the better. 
When Joseph Kajy took opioids for the first time at the age of 15, he thought he had found his life’s calling. From there, his world altered into a grim whirlwind familiar to many a drug addict. 
He woke up every morning with either one of two questions on his mind: How will I get money for drugs? When will I do drugs? Behind him, he left a trail of destruction that included 37 felonies, two prison sentences, cut family ties, and a rock bottom where suicide seemed like the final solution. 
Today, Joseph has over 5 years of sobriety under his belt. He is a husband, father, and Founder of Top Fence, a residential and commercial fencing contractor which currently generates over 4 million dollars in sales. 
He is now on a life mission to share his story as a way to give hope and inspiration to anyone who feels they have demons in their closet and monsters still under the bed.  
In today’s episode we cover: 
The power of journalingThe pain of changing vs. the pain of staying the sameThe book that changed his life Why you can’t ignore your pain How positivity became Joseph's new drug Fear as motivation and inspiration The importance of vulnerability What to do if you know someone struggling with drug addictionWe hope you enjoyed our conversation with Joseph! If you want to learn more from him, make sure to follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. You can tune into his podcast Let’s Get Real here. 
Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 


Links: 
Tune in to Joseph’s podcast Let’s Get Real
Follow Joseph on LinkedIn 
Follow Joseph on Instagram
Follow Joseph on Facebook 
Check out  7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com


“I had pain I was still carrying, but I knew it wasn’t the end of my story.” -Joseph
“The pain of staying the same has to be more than the pain of changing because we know that there’s pain in change. It’s hard to do.” -Marc
“There is fear that leads to motivation.” -Erik 

When it comes to mental health struggles, sometimes journaling can be just what you need to start to heal. 


In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we had the privilege of sitting down with Atis Spuris to talk about his mental health journey, his incarceration, and how he has found healing with journaling. Atis took his own experiences and struggles and used it to support other people who are struggling and help them find out what works for them when it comes to their path to healing. 


Atis Spuris is a Peer Support Specialist for the Pitkin Area Co-Responder Teams known as PACT, a collaborative community program between law enforcement and mental health professionals here in the Roaring Fork Valley.  
 
At an early age Atis was diagnosed with clinical depression, then seasonal affective disorder, and eventually bi-polar disorder, along with a spontaneous sense of humor. He is now living what he feels is a well-balanced life, being symptom-free for over five years. 


Atis feels very grateful for the opportunities his path has provided; the hope to inspire more communities to increase awareness around the importance of mental health and resiliency while encouraging individuals to share their own stories. 


In today’s episode we cover: 
How Atis supports people on their mental health journeys When he realized he was a highly sensitive personThe connection between mental health issues and spiritual imbalancesThe impact of incarceration on your mental healthThe power of having a tribe that lifts you up The labels that exacerbate the mental health crisisWhat Atis does now to live his best lifeViewing your emotions as a check engine lightHow we can use language to empower ourselvesHow writing has helped Atis on his mental health journeyWe hope you enjoyed our conversation with Atis! If you want to learn more from him, make sure to connect with him on Facebook here.


Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! 

Links: 
Connect with Atis on Facebook
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com
Quotes: 


“My job is supporting people and helping them figure out what works for them.” -Atis


“A mental health issue is really a spiritual health issue.” -Atis 


“If you’re a sinner, you have a future. But that also means you have choices. And if you’re a saint, you have a past but you made different choices to get to where you are.” -Marc


“The pain is temporary, and the view from the top is stunning.” -Erik