This episode features a conversation about spiritual wisdom on Spirit Animals.  My guest is Dr. Steven Farmer is a licensed psychotherapist, soul healer, and author of several best-selling books and oracle cards, including Animal Spirit Guides, Earth Magic, Earth Magic Oracle Cards, Children’s Spirit Animal Cards, Healing Ancestral Karma and the recently released book Animals: Personal Tales of Encounters with Spirit Animals and the oracle cards Shaman’s Path.

For over 25 years Melissa, a well-respected, former world champion athlete, hall of fame inductee, exercise physiologist, and single digit handicap golfer has built her practice around helping athletes improve their game, health and sense of well being.  



In her private practice she coaches a select group of elite athletes (players from the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls and Cubs) and seven touring golf professionals.  Power Break Fitness Edge is a program that incorporates key elements of her training and brings it to facilities in the chicagoland area. 



Melissa holds the following certifications:

• TPI Fitness Certified (levels 1,2 and 3)
• TPI Junior Certified (levels 2 and 3)
• TPI certified golf coach (level 2)
• TPI Speaker (level 2)
• TRX Certified
• Power Plate Certified ( Levels 1 and 2)
• Spin Certified
• K-Vest Certified
• Russian Kettle Certified (RKC)
• Has held certifications in (Zumba,  and Wellness Coaching)

In 1978, Melissa Orth was in the process of training to make the Olympic gymnastics team when a knee injury side-lined her. To strengthen that knee she began weight training with the former Mr. Universe (Mr. Olympia and Mr. America!), Bob Gadja. Under his guidance, Melissa discovered she had talent and in 1980, at the age of 17, Melissa became the World Champion Power Lifter in her division!



In 1982, she earned the body building title "Miss Collegiate America."Along with her athletic accomplishments, Melissa graduated from George Williams college in 1985 with her Bachelor in Science. She went on to achieve her MBA in 1987 from Aurora University proving that not all MBAs wear a 3 piece suit! After graduation, Melissa decided to try something new and different and for two years worked in sales for a large software company becoming their #1 sales person in her division.

California native and owner of Sanddune Stepper, Matt Dahl, currently resides off the beautiful Colorado River in Parker, Az. For the last 53 years, Matt has dedicated himself to training (training for what?). Everyday Matt proves wrong the myth old men can’t reclaim their movement and MANHOOD. Today at 67, Matt still throws on the skates, hops on the Harley or jet ski and rides. 

Stephanie Samuels is a psychotherapist who works exclusively with first responders, mostly law enforcement in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma. Ms. Samuels has lectured all over the country on PTSD and vicarious trauma, including undiagnosed PTSD and the fallout from departmental silence after officers are involved in critical incidents.

Ms. Samuels began her career as one of the founding teens of Teen Line Cares, a mental health help line for teens. Ms. Samuels recognized that teens only trusted and confided in other teens. With this same concept in mind, Ms. Samuels went on to create two law enforcement officer hotlines. She is currently the Founder and President of COPLINE, Inc., the first Confidential National Law Enforcement Officers' Hotline in the country manned by retired officers.

She is the general partner of The Counseling and Critical Incident Debriefing Center, LLC, which specializes in debriefing and long term counseling of first responders and their families. She taught at the Monmouth County Police Academy for 16 years and has been a guest lecturer at The FBI Academy in Quantico. Ms. Samuels was hired after the Boston Bombing as the Clinical Director of the Boston Police Department Peer Support Unit and co-founded the LEADER (Law Enforcement Active Duty Emergency Responder) Program at Harvard's McLean Hospital and continues to work with the Boston Police Department in a different capacity.

Ms. Samuels has co-authored Under the Blue Shadow: Clinical and Behavioral Perspectives on Police Suicide with Dr. John Violanti and a chapter entitled "Police Trauma: Past Exposures and Present Consequences" in the book Managing Traumatic Stress Risk: A Proactive Approach.

Maurice Emmer was the first person to declare his candidacy for Aspen mayor in the May 2015 election.