Elevated Life Academy

68: Katrina M. Johnson & Dr. Steven J. Rippe: Building Hope from the Inside Out: How Students Are Redefining Belonging in Schools

In this powerful follow-up conversation, Katrina M. Johnson and Dr. Steven J. Rippe return to explore what happens when schools stop guessing what students need and start listening. Together, they unpack a growing movement inside schools that centers on belonging, resilience, and student-led change. This episode builds on a recent student conversation, where young people shared firsthand how initiatives like Sources of Strength and emerging group Brainspotting practices are transforming their school culture from the inside out. With limited time and resources, this school community made a bold “reset/refresh” decision: prioritizing space for students to explore what hope and belonging truly feel like. The results are already rippling outward. You’ll hear how: * Student voice is becoming a driving force behind school-wide transformation * Practices like Brainspotting are being thoughtfully introduced in group and implicit ways * Belonging is shifting from a concept to a lived, shared experience * Hope is being operationalized, not just talked about, in real time Most importantly, this episode amplifies what the students themselves are saying: “It brings the school together.” “It helps us understand ourselves and each other.” “It gives the school more hope… more unity… more energy.” This is a conversation about more than programs; it’s about creating systems where every student feels seen, valued, and connected. If you care about youth mental health, trauma-informed education, or building sustainable cultures of belonging, this episode offers both inspiration and a blueprint. Katrina M. Johnson is a licensed clinical and school social worker, Brainspotting therapist, systems strategist, mother, and dairy farmer advancing the science of hope through comprehensive school mental health systems. As the founder of Connect Strength, she leads data-driven, cross-sector work to expand equitable access to care in rural communities. She specializes in elevating youth voice as a core driver of resilience, bridging neuroscience, lived experience, and community collaboration. Her work creates sustainable pathways for belonging and well-being for youth and the systems that support them. Dr. Steven J. Rippe is a successful educator, principal, and university administrator. He partners with students and educators to create nationally recognized schools and high-performing, joyful learning communities—grounded in the transformative power of hope. Want to know how you can begin your journey to hope and healing? Visit Elevated Life Academy [https://elevatedlifeacademy.com/] for classes and free resources for personal development and healing. Resources: CherieLindberg.com [https://cherielindberg.com/] ElevatedLifeAcademy.com [https://podcast.elevatedlifeacademy.com/]cap

67: Turning Pain Into Purpose: How Jonny Imerman Built a Global Network of Hope

When life throws you its toughest challenge, how do you respond? For Jonny Imerman, the answer was connection, compassion, and action. At just 26, Jonny was living a healthy, active life when an unexpected testicular cancer diagnosis changed everything. Two years of chemotherapy and surgeries later, Jonny realized a critical gap in the cancer journey: too many patients were going through it alone. What began as a small group of survivors mentoring newly diagnosed patients became Imerman Angels, a Chicago-born nonprofit that now connects over 16,000 cancer survivors and families across 120+ countries. In this episode, Jonny shares: 1. How his personal fight with cancer inspired a movement of one-on-one peer mentorship around the world. 2. The power of community and shared experience in healing and resilience. 3. His evolution from survivor to social entrepreneur through CLOZTALK, a mission-driven B Corp helping nearly 500 nonprofits share their identity through custom apparel. Jonny’s story is a masterclass in transforming adversity into purpose-driven impact. You'll come away believing that even in our hardest seasons, connection can be the spark that creates something extraordinary. Listen now to discover how one person’s pain became a global network of hope and healing. Jonny Imerman grew up in Metro Detroit, and shortly after graduating from the University of Michigan, he was diagnosed with advanced cancer & had 2 years of chemo & surgeries. Jonny co-founded ImermanAngels.org [http://imermanangels.org/], a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides free one-on-one peer cancer support for thousands of cancer families each year in 120+ countries. Jonny also co-founded, CLOZTALK.com [http://cloztalk.com/], a B Corp that creates web stores, & designs & sells logo apparel, for nearly 500 nonprofits. Want to know how you can begin your journey to hope and healing? Visit Elevated Life Academy [https://elevatedlifeacademy.com/] for classes and free resources for personal development and healing. Resources: CherieLindberg.com [https://cherielindberg.com/] ElevatedLifeAcademy.com [https://podcast.elevatedlifeacademy.com/] Guest Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imermanangels/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/imermanangels/]

66: Less Tired, More Inspired: How Givers Can Thrive Without Burning Out with Phil Januszewski

In this episode, we sit down with Phil Januszewski, nationally known keynote speaker, tattooed joy ambassador, and former high school chemistry teacher turned professional inspirer. After 20 years of teaching and witnessing too many brilliant educators, healthcare workers, and helping professionals running on empty, Phil made it his mission to help our world’s givers flourish again. Phil’s message? Thriving isn’t luck, it’s lifestyle. He shares the pivotal moment a single book, Big Potential by Shawn Achor, flipped his perspective and sparked his journey into the science of positive psychology. With his signature blend of energy, humor, and soul, Phil unpacks his framework from his keynote, “Less Tired, More Inspired,” guiding listeners through: * How to identify the “-ers” that lift you higher (energizer, supporter, encourager). * Why scheduling joy isn’t selfish, it's strategic. * Ways to let go of the noise that drains your spark. Get ready for a conversation that mixes motivation with science, storytelling with self-discovery, and leaves you ready to show up to your life with more energy, more purpose, and more you. Tune in to learn how to rekindle your passion, sustain your purpose, and redefine what giving can feel like. Phil Januszewski is a nationally known dynamic keynote speaker that empowers our “givers” in the world to flourish more in their personal lives in order to create greater impact in their careers and community; all while avoiding burnout, boredom, and cynicism. Phil is an energetic speaker (since 2013), experienced educator (20 years), and charismatic creator. He holds a bachelor’s in chemistry, a master’s in teaching leadership, and a positive education certification. Known for his high energy, blend of entertainment and impact, and heavily tattooed skin, Phil lives out his personal mission of creating and spreading happiness through motivation, education, and entertainment. Want to know how you can begin your journey to hope and healing? Visit Elevated Life Academy [https://elevatedlifeacademy.com/] for classes and free resources for personal development and healing. Resources: CherieLindberg.com [https://cherielindberg.com/] ElevatedLifeAcademy.com [https://podcast.elevatedlifeacademy.com/] Guest Links: Website: https://philjanuszewski.com/ [https://philjanuszewski.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilJanuszewskiSpeaks [https://www.facebook.com/PhilJanuszewskiSpeaks] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philjanuszewski [https://www.instagram.com/philjanuszewski] YouTube: https://youtube.com/@philjanuszewski [https://youtube.com/@philjanuszewski?si=SUszTp7RJzc0zeAx] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philjanuszewski [https://www.linkedin.com/in/philjanuszewski] Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philjanuszewski [https://www.tiktok.com/@philjanuszewski] Twitter/X: https://x.com/philjanuszewski [https://x.com/philjanuszewski] Positive Growth Clothing Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PositiveGrowthStore [https://www.etsy.com/shop/PositiveGrowthStore] Link to Subscribe to Positive Growth Lounge Emails: https://mailchi.mp/efbb1914fa7b/join-the-positive-growth-lounge-email-list [https://mailchi.mp/efbb1914fa7b/join-the-positive-growth-lounge-email-list]

65: From Illiterate to Illuminated: The Transformational Path of John R. Spender

This episode dives deep into the remarkable journey of John R. Spender, founder of A Journey of Riches, writing coach, award-winning documentary filmmaker, and living embodiment of resilience. Once unable to read or write until age ten, John has since co-authored over 45 books, guided more than 450 authors across 50+ countries, and created an award-winning film, The Gift in Adversity, featuring thought leaders like Jack Canfield, Michael Beckwith, and Dr. John Demartini. In this intimate conversation, we explore how John transformed his early challenges, including childhood trauma and educational struggles, into fuel for purpose-driven storytelling that heals and inspires. He shares his evolution from landscaper to life coach, the pivotal moment his teacher recognized his gift, and how his time in Bali and the world of NLP shaped his coaching philosophy. Listeners will walk away with powerful insights on how to: * Turn personal adversity into creative expression and purpose. * Reframe life’s challenges through storytelling as a vehicle for healing. * Build a global legacy rooted in authenticity, service, and resilience. This episode is a masterclass in transformation and a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to rewrite its story: one chapter at a time. John R. Spender is the founder of A Journey of Riches, a writing coach, and an award-winning documentary film director whose life journey is rooted in resilience and transformation. Despite being illiterate until the age of ten, John co-wrote more than 45 books and founded Abundant Publishing, helping over 450 authors from 50+ countries share their stories and achieve bestseller success. His award-winning documentary, The Gift in Adversity, which features global thought leaders Jack Canfield, Michael Beckwith, Dr. John Demartini, continues to impact audiences worldwide. John’s work centers on helping people turn life’s challenges into purpose-driven stories that inspire healing, growth, and authentic living. Want to know how you can begin your journey to hope and healing? Visit Elevated Life Academy [https://elevatedlifeacademy.com/] for classes and free resources for personal development and healing. Resources: CherieLindberg.com [https://cherielindberg.com/] ElevatedLifeAcademy.com [https://podcast.elevatedlifeacademy.com/] Guest Links: https://www.facebook.com/john.rspender/ [https://www.facebook.com/john.rspender/] www.linkedin.com/in/john-r-spender-7a171630 [http://www.linkedin.com/in/john-r-spender-7a171630] www.ajourneyofriches.com [http://www.ajourneyofriches.com/] www.youtube.com/@ajourneyofriches3672 [http://www.youtube.com/@ajourneyofriches3672]

64: The Sacred Unknown: Grief, Play, and Becoming Who’s Next with Megan Malick

What happens when the life you’ve built no longer fits, even as you’re still living it? In this episode, we sit down with Megan Malick, grief guide, speaker, and author of A New Path: A Practical Workbook and Planner for the First Year of Grief and Settling Your Person’s Affairs. A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and certified Brainspotting Practitioner, Megan invites us into a profound conversation about loss, identity, and the courage to live within the mystery of transformation. Three weeks before her first Brainspotting training in 2022, Megan’s mother died unexpectedly. By the end of that same training, her father’s illness and dying had begun. What followed was a season of deep reckoning: self-spotting, journaling, and learning to bring soul into the most practical parts of grief. In this conversation, Megan shares how her healing journey and Brainspotting experiences reshaped not only her work but her very sense of self. We explore how grief can be a creative companion, why “play” became her compass during uncertainty, and how listening to the quiet invitations of the soul can open portals to profound healing and purpose. If you’ve ever found yourself suspended between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming, this episode is a tender and illuminating guidepost for your own unfolding path. Key themes: 1. Living with “the sacred unknown” 2. Grief as a creative and spiritual process 3. Brainspotting as a tool for self-healing 4. The power of play in personal transformation 5. Bringing soul into the practical realities of life Megan Malick is a grief guide, speaker, and author of A New Path: A Practical Workbook and Planner for the First Year of Grief and Settling Your Person’s Affairs. A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and certified Brainspotting Practitioner, Megan draws on her background in education, ministry, and psychotherapy to create soulful spaces of meaning and transformation. Megan believes the “mundane” is often a portal for healing and growth. Want to know how you can begin your journey to hope and healing? Visit Elevated Life Academy [https://elevatedlifeacademy.com/] for classes and free resources for personal development and healing. Resources: CherieLindberg.com [https://cherielindberg.com/] ElevatedLifeAcademy.com [https://podcast.elevatedlifeacademy.com/] Guest Links: https://a-new-path.com/ [https://a-new-path.com/] https://meganmalick.substack.com/ [https://meganmalick.substack.com/] https://www.facebook.com/revmeganmalick [https://www.facebook.com/revmeganmalick] https://www.instagram.com/meganmmalick/ [https://www.instagram.com/meganmmalick/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/revmeganmalick/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/revmeganmalick/] https://youtube.com/@meganmalick [https://youtube.com/@meganmalick] https://a.co/d/fsN9b6J [https://a.co/d/fsN9b6J]