Rob Rudewicz retired at the rank of Captain from the Hartford Police Department after a successful 20 year career. He held a variety of traditional and non traditional positions including acting chief of police. His early experiences growing up in the city combined with his police career contributed to a long term battle with addiction to alcohol, depression and anxiety. He shares his struggles over the years as well as his ultimate success in finding true recovery, honestly and openly in this podcast. 

Chris Moore is a Captain with the Chesapeake Virginia Fire Department with over 30 years as a first responder and he is also a national touring speaker. Chris Moore is the son of a Norfolk, Virginia Police Officer and began his own public safety career in Virginia Beach, Virginia as a Volunteer Firefighter/EMT in 1993. As a volunteer, he put in as many hours as possible, picking the brains of the career members and soaking it all in, in hope of one day becoming a career firefighter. In 2000 Chris' dream became a reality as he was offered a job with the Chesapeake Virginia Fire Department as a firefighter paramedic. Chris has served in a variety of assignments including Firefighter Paramedic, Field Training Officer, Recruit School Instructor, MDA Fill the Boot coordinator, Foam Team, PPE Team, Fire Lieutenant and he currently serves as a Captain and a key member of his Departments Behavioral Health and Peer Support Team. Chris has served all over the diverse city of Chesapeake, by providing responsive and caring service to protect and improve the quality of life of others. He has also deployed on various task forces for aid in his home state of Virginia and deployed to Louisiana after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Chris has received numerous awards and commendations for his selflessness, bravery, commitment and dedication to the fire service. He most recently received the Fire Chiefs Medal of Commendation for his personal work and vulnerability in the field of first responder mental health and wellness. Chris was formally diagnosed with post-traumatic stress related to his years of service in 2018. In 2020 he decided that helping other first responders by sharing his journey in a completely open, honest and transparent format was another way of giving back and he started speaking at conferences and symposiums across the country. This let other first responders know that there is help out there as well as hope. He received his PTSD service dog, Lewis, in the summer of 2020. He is also a published writer in Fire Engineering Magazine, has been on numerous podcasts and news stories and is in the renowned documentary PTSD 911. Chris is also an alumnus of Save a Warrior. Chris is a dedicated advocate for awareness, prevention, education, training on Post Traumatic Stress and First Responder Suicide Prevention. Chris continues to candidly share his journey with PTS and speak to, not just fire but all public safety agencies across the United States, with the hope of ending the stigma behind mental health in the public safety community.

Since the opening of Advanced Health of Naperville (AHN) in 1999, Dr. Cathy has helped patients of all ages and types of symptoms reach their optimal health. She is a graduate of the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa and one of the first doctors in the U.S. trained in cranio fascial dynamics and cranial treatment.

Her appreciation for and interest in chiropractic care came from being a patient herself. Following a springboard diving injury at age 17, she struggled to do daily activities without pain and sometimes couldn’t get out of bed. Traditional treatments were ineffective and by chance, someone asked if she had ever seen a chiropractor. After a few adjustments, her back issues were 95% better and her daily headaches, which she had since she was 13, were gone. Making chiropractic care a career choice was an easy decision.

After 24 years as a practitioner, Dr. Cathy transitioned to overseeing the practice in spring of 2022. Her focus is on ensuring AHN’s team of doctors, therapists and staff maintain the practice’s reputation of being a welcoming and happy place where patients receive the care they need to heal.

She’ll also be devoting more time to running The Branch and Socket. The Branch is a moms’ community with more than 55,000 members. It offers online connections, local events, networking groups, information sharing, opportunities to volunteer, and a place to call home. Socket is a weekly podcast hosted by Dr. Cathy on which she and her guests cover a variety of life and self-care topics that invite listeners to plug into gratitude, confidence, and happiness and unplug from the people and things that no longer serve them.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary A. Mitchell was born Mary A. Duncan on May 23, 1949, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Mitchell’s mother, Carrie Williams Duncan, and father, Joseph Duncan, struggled to raise ten children in Chicago Public Housing’s Dearborn Homes and Clarence Darrow Homes. Mitchell, the eldest and a twin loved to read as she helped raise her siblings. Mitchell attended Einstein Elementary School and Wendell Phillips Upper Grade Center. At Dunbar Vocational High School, Mitchell joined a girls group called the Exquisite Ladies Club, which put emphasis on good grades, not having babies and service. Graduating from Dunbar in 1967, Mitchell was hired by Peoples Gas as a mailroom clerk. Starting at Wilson Junior College in 1968, Mitchell transferred to Chicago Teacher’s College (Chicago State University) that same year. 

Mitchell became the first African American legal secretary at a major Chicago law firm, Seyfarth Shaw, LLP; she eventually quit her job as a secretary after twenty years of service. Taking writing courses at Columbia College and encouraged by Carol Holtz and P.J. Bednarski, Mitchell landed a successful internship with the Chicago Sun-Times in 1990. Graduating with her B.A. degree in journalism from Columbia College in 1991, Mitchell was hired full time by the Chicago Sun-Times. Covering educational issues, Mitchell’s five part series on Chicago Vocational High School earned her an award from the National Association of Black Journalists. From 1993 to 1995, Mitchell covered City Hall reporting on Operation Silver Shovel. Since the start of her column in 1996, Mitchell, like Carl Rowan and Vernon Jarrett before her, has attracted a large and diverse readership. Mitchell also cultivated a substantial national following via the Internet, receiving an average of 900 e-mails per week from readers. 

Mitchell was the recipient of numerous journalism awards, including the Award of Excellence from the National Association of Black Journalists, the Studs Terkel Award from the Chicago Media Workshop, and the Peter Lisagor Award from the Chicago Headliner Club. Mitchell was a frequent guest panelist on television and radio programs; a president of the Chicago Association of Black Journalists; and a member of the Association of Women Journalists.

John is a M&A Advisor, strategy consultant and entrepreneur. He previously worked in strategic business development, marketing and management at several companies. Notable are his 15 years of selling businesses and his 11 years as Executive Leadership roles in multiple companies. He has consulted and successfully started businesses of his own and for clients. John’s success has been in developing exponential growth of the companies he works with.

Hilary Arnow Burns grew up in Westport, Connecticut. She graduated from the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania and was a Division Vice President on Wall Street. She spent over 30 years as a business consultant to companies all over the world. Her best accomplishment is having raised two remarkable children.

12 years ago, a comment from her daughter woke Hilary up.  She realized she had been numbing herself with food and alcohol and decided to take a  REAL look at her life.  She didn’t like what she saw:  she was overweight, unhappy in her marriage, drowning in debt, and had no life of her own. 

She got real.  She was tired of feeling bad.  She discovered tools and techniques for getting over to the right side of life and spending less time on the sad, disempowered side. 

She wrote a memoir, the Second Piece of French Toast, to inspire other people to get unstuck and regain their power and happiness.  Her show The Getting Real with Hilary Show, is committed to people saying what isn't talked about, getting what's great about themselves, and inspiring others who may also be struggling.  It's about Ordinary Heroes telling Extraordinary Stories.  

Her second book, Real Talk:  How to Say the Things You've Never Said So You Can Have the Things You've Always Wanted is a bestseller and has inspired many people to "start talking."

Hilary’s commitment is to inspire people to create lives they love and to have us all elevate the conversation and consciousness of the planet together.  We are all on this planet as one community.  By discovering our personal gifts, we can all contribute to making the world a wonderful place to live.

Listen to all podcast episodes on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0WKao0g... 
Listen to all podcast episodes on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast... 
All The Episodes:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtpX7GrEcbgGeLP69G2y0tzF_b2s7nHCX
Book: The Second Piece of French Toast: https://a.co/d/3YOoJFy 
Book: Real Talk: https://a.co/d/iZp1eM
 -------------------------------- 
Follow Hilary Burns at: 
Website: realtalkwithhilary.com
Facebook: facebook.com/hilaryarnowb... 
Twitter: twitter.com/ArnowHIlary 
Instagram: instagram.com/gettingreal... 
Youtube: youtube.com/gettingrealwithhilary

Jessica Hebert - Bio
 

Rev. Jessica Hebert is known and regarded for her gentleness, delicate way with words, and humor.

Through intuitive and spiritual services, she provides support, tools, and resources to harmonize your sacred wholeness, instilling calm, clarity, and hope.

A core aspect of her work is training and empowering Light workers, shamans, and healers. She teaches a variety of classes and courses about the workings of the Universe, understanding our mystical experiences, 5th dimensional approaches to life’s challenges, and tapping into the healer within.

Soon she will also release her first book, A Guide for the Budding Shaman, in which she draws on her decade of wisdom as a shaman and interfaith minister, as well as her two decades as a practicing pagan. 

Speaking of Jessica’s shamanic experience … 

Jessica walks through life consistently connected with the Divine, and the physical dimensions of Earth. She strives to serve the Divine with balanced tolerance, generosity, charity, mercy, compassion, and an appreciation for humor. 

She sees the spiritual in all of life, from doing dishes to lighting prayer candles. 

Rev. Jessica didn’t grow up seeing dead people, like a lot of her contemporaries. But that didn’t stop her from trying!

She draws on two decades of pagan practice, and self-healing initiations. In the past 10+ years, she has trained and practiced in shamanism, Reiki, dream interpretation, interfaith ministry, and priestesshood.

Jessica serves clients all over the world, offering remote sessions, including: 

• Reiki healing

• Intuitive phone readings

• Remote energy clearings

• Dream interpretation

Her virtual classes include a healer course and an “Explore Shamanism” course.

Jessica also offers rites of passage ceremonies, including:

• Baptisms/wiccanings

• Coming of age ceremonies

• Custom weddings

• End of life ceremonies

See her website at https://bluestargaia.com/services/ for more information.

Email: rev.jessica@bluestargaia.com

Website: https://BlueStarGaia.com

Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/u8jffbrk

Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/bluestargaia

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bluestargaia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blue.star.gaia

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bluestargaia

Ko-Fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/bluestargaia

Insight Timer: http://insig.ht/bluestargaia

Product Link: https://www.ko-fi.com/bluestargaia/shop 

Hadiya Ayodele, a 22-year-old recording artist, music producer, mental health advocate, CEO of Dollhouse Entertainment Media and Publishing, and versatile professional from Baltimore City, has carved her path as a freelance digital marketer, influencer, and content creator. With a passion for music and a flair for digital innovation, she seamlessly navigates the dynamic intersection of artistry and marketing in her day-to-day. A former student of Prairie View A&M University studying classical voice and political science, she further honed her expertise through Georgia Tech’s One Ten Blacks in Technology Scholarship Program with Udacity, earning a degree in digital marketing. This unique blend of education and talent positions her at the forefront of the dynamic music and digital landscape.

Brooke oversees the Prevention Education Team, working primarily with School Districts, Businesses, and Community Organizations. She attained her Bachelor's in Community Health from Texas A&M University and got certified as a Health Education Specialist (CHES) which forged the way for her passion with preventative efforts and initiatives. She believes prevention work is a hidden treasure because you never truly know who you’re talking to. It could be a survivor hearing people speak about something they don’t have the courage to share yet, a victim waiting to say something, or a trafficker being confronted with the truth. When it comes to prevention education, the sky is the limit!  Brooke was previously a Program Coordinator/Health Educator aiming to reduce teen and unplanned pregnancy on community college campuses with Healthy Futures of Texas and has trained at a National, State, and Local Level. 

Sarassa is currently serving as the Interim Executive Director. She has most recently served as the Director of Operations for Ransomed Life, overseeing the procedures and processes for staff, after-care programs, and more. She became passionate about the victims and survivors of human trafficking in college. She has served as a mentor with Ransomed Life for over 5 years and she desires to see the victims find a place of restoration and healing. Sarassa holds a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham Southern College with a major in Psychology and minor in Religion.

In 1986, five neurologists told Sandi Gold that she had 6 months to a year to live. Years later, she was told she had to get a mastectomy, but she declined. Just five months later, using only a natural treatment she was cancer-free. Sandi’s book, “I Chose Love: How to Thrive After a Life-Threatening Illness Using Love to Guide You,” was published in January.

It’s been described by her readers “as a powerful and inspirational guide, offering a transformative journey that transcends the realms of self-help and motivational literature”, as giving “inspiration and wisdom on every page, opening new perspectives on how to react to the slings and arrows we encounter in life”. Dr. Bernie Siegel, a retired pediatric surgeon from

Yale University and best-selling author, wrote the foreword to Sandi’s book. It has already received ten 5-star reviews.

Ms. Gold earned her BFA at Boston University and upon graduation, received a full scholarship to study at the Leo Marchutz School of Art in Aix-en-Provence, France. She’s been featured in The New York Times, People Magazine, and ABC Television’s 20/20, where her show was among the top three programs the year it aired. She has also been interviewed on National Public Radio and its Connecticut affiliate. She was the keynote speaker for the Calgary Cancer Center in Canada and has spoken at Brown University, and the Brain Tumor

My guest  Shivananda Swamiji is a beacon of hope and healing in the cosmic realm, offering a new multidimensional approach to healing the body, mind, and soul. This is an amazing opportunity to experience a true modern-day living Avatar, Shivananda Swamiji, who is a light in these times of great global change. Shivananda is the author of "La Mia Storia" (plus the English version: “My Story”), and "The Infinite Embrace: In Search of Divine Love," and leads workshops, retreats, and sessions globally. Meeting Shivananda during a Satsang is a powerful and heart-opening experience, one that initiates inner change. Unconditional Divine Love flows through him and touches your heart. Shivananda's purpose is to bring love and transformation worldwide, especially during this historic transition from the Kali Yuga to the Golden Age. Born in Puglia, Italy, Shivananda's extraordinary divine experiences shaped his mission on Earth. Shivananda Swamiji devotes his life to the service of humanity and stands in the lineage of the great Indian Masters such as Shirdi Sai Baba, Babaji, Yogananda, Satya Sai Baba and is completely devoted to Jesus and Mother Mary. Collaborating with master celestial healers, Shivananda co-created a method based on the understanding that life's challenges are lessons for soul evolution. Addressing healing on four levels—physical-energetic, emotional, mental, and soul—Shivananda's essence is to assist individuals in recognizing and resolving challenges from a multidimensional perspective. Through his Avatar's presence, he facilitates restoration, revealing the lessons in each challenge and guiding the healing journey with divine energy, accelerating a sacred process that awakens and integrates the soul's essence. As part of his mission, Shivananda heads up the New Light Collective to build 27 ashram locations worldwide.

Jeffery Katz is a lifelong student and teacher of rationalist religious philosophy. He became fascinated in his youth by his discovery of the ancient wisdom of Maimonides and received rabbinic ordination while focusing on disseminating the ancient, life-changing wisdom he had uncovered. He is a practicing attorney, has appeared on national television, lectured widely on a broad range of issues, and is the author of The Secret Life: A Book of Wisdom from the Great Teacher. Jeffrey Katz is a graduate of Columbia College, Columbia Law School, and Manhattan Talmudic Academy, has rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Pirchei Shoshanim and has taught about Maimonides for over 25 years in numerous public and private settings.

Alider Pratts is a veteran of the US Marine Corps, has served North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue (NJ) since 2004, and has quickly risen through the ranks by scoring at the top of each of his promotional lists. Pratts became a Captain in 2010, where he worked in the department’s busiest companies including Squad 1 and Ladder Tower 3 in West New York, NJ. He became a Battalion Chief in 2017, where he covered all three battalions as the Third Platoon’s rotating BC, before being promoted to Deputy Chief in 2022. He is North Hudson’s Chief of Special Operations Command, as well as the department’s Training Division Chief. DC Pratts serves as a member of the UASI-Metro USAR Command Staff and is the NJDFS Subject Matter Expert in Fire Service Active Shooter Response. As an Active Shooter Response SME, he maintains leadership roles in local, county, and state interdisciplinary committees. DC Pratts is a NJ Certified Level 2 Fire Instructor, teaches at the Monmouth County Fire Academy and Kean University’s Fire Safety Program, and has written articles published in “Fire Engineering Magazine”.

As far back as she can remember, Emily has been interested in human behavior and understanding people’s actions, hearts, and inner worlds. As a teen, her interest in the human experience grew; her boyfriend’s mother was diagnosed with lung cancer and, within three months, died. This personal experience with illness, loss, grief, and finally, death hugely impacted her and propelled her to embrace life and ask questions; Why are we here? What is our purpose? How can we make a more meaningful contribution in our lifetime? What happens when we die? Emily’s exploration started young and continues.

Emily focused her Master’s in Social Work education on transformative education. As a therapist she believes wholeheartedly that you can’t give away something you don’t have and comes from the perspective that if she hasn’t tried something, she wouldn’t ask or guide her clients to do so. She believes you must understand practices by having gone through them yourself.

In her free time, Emily enjoys learning new things. She spends most of her free time on creative outlets, specifically songwriting and anything related to art. She also loves the outdoors, traveling, art, music, fashion, her family, her friends, and her 2 cats.

Based in Los Angeles, Nick Kennerly is a violinist & singer/songwriter.  Nick has performed alongside many renowned artists including Elton John, David Crosby, Glenn Frey, John Fogerty, Machine Gun Kelly, blackbear and Bollywood legend Sonu Nigam.  Nick has played on many major recordings for artists such as Justin Bieber, Big Sean, Kaskade, Jhené Aiko, Metro Boomin, Future, Lil Uzi Vert & Swae Lee.

Kennerly writes, performs, and produces his own music including his original pieces “Crazy Train” and “Arrival Jig” which he performed on ABC’s “Modern Family”(Ep. 721 & 922). He has also appeared as an onscreen musician on HBO’s “VEEP” and Netflix’s “The Politician”.

Nick is now focused primarily on his own music,  having released 4 songs since 2022 and performing his own shows in Los Angeles, Chicago and Vancouver Island.  His next song ‘Embrace You’ will be released on March 14, 2024.  

Cam Amen, a resilient individual, gained widespread recognition on American Idol in 2023.

Before his appearance on the show, Cam embraced responsibility at the age of 19 by adopting his younger brother and sister after aging out of the foster care system. After sharing his story on American Idol, Cam’s fans have shown immense support for his charitable work, inspiring children in foster care with his example of perseverance and compassion.

Despite being a new father, Cam continues to work on his original music and is writing a book, “I am, I can, I will,” about his life story. He plans to release more singles by the end of 2024, further inspiring others with his journey.

Cam Amen, a resilient individual, gained widespread recognition on American Idol in 2023.

Before his appearance on the show, Cam embraced responsibility at the age of 19 by adopting his younger brother and sister after aging out of the foster care system. After sharing his story on American Idol, Cam’s fans have shown immense support for his charitable work, inspiring children in foster care with his example of perseverance and compassion.

Despite being a new father, Cam continues to work on his original music and is writing a book, “I am, I can, I will,” about his life story. He plans to release more singles by the end of 2024, further inspiring others with his journey.