DaysToHappy

Episode 19: Grief That Shapes Us: Turning Loss into Purpose with Brittany Bennion

In this episode, we visit with Brittany Bennion—a board member of The Sharing Place—whose life was forever changed by a traumatic loss in her early adulthood. After her close friend was kidnapped in a nationally covered case, Brittany was thrust into years of uncertainty, grief, and emotional turmoil without the support systems many need to heal. Her story reveals the often unseen weight of unresolved loss and the long road to processing it. What makes Brittany’s journey so powerful is not just the pain she endured, but how she transformed it into purpose. Through her work supporting grieving children, she now helps create the very space she once needed—one rooted in community, honesty, and shared experience. This conversation explores the realities of grief, the role of anger and time in healing, and why being truly seen by others can be the most powerful step toward recovery. Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel are for informational and educational purposes only. The hosts and producers are not licensed mental health professionals, and nothing shared here should be taken as medical, therapeutic, or professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about your well-being.If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please reach out for immediate help. In the U.S., you can dial 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., please contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline right away.

Episode 18: Come As You Are: Creating Belonging Through Student Wellness - with Heather Siaki

College is often portrayed as the best time of life—but for many students it can also be one of the most isolating and stressful seasons they experience. Rising levels of student loneliness, anxiety, and mental health challenges have pushed universities to rethink how they support student wellbeing. In this episode, we sit down with Heather Siaki, a Master’s student in Public Health and the SWELL Course Administrator at Brigham Young University, to explore how the BYU SWELL program is transforming the college experience for nearly 6,000 students each semester. Heather shares how wellness-focused classes—ranging from sports and fitness to meditation and skill-based activities—help students build community, resilience, confidence, and meaningful friendships while navigating the pressures of university life. We also discuss: • The growing loneliness epidemic among college students • How physical activity and social connection improve mental health • Why belonging is one of the most powerful tools for student wellbeing • The role universities can play in supporting holistic wellness—physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually If you’re a student, parent, educator, or university leader, this conversation offers a powerful look at how intentional wellness programs can help students not just survive college—but truly thrive. Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel are for informational and educational purposes only. The hosts and producers are not licensed mental health professionals, and nothing shared here should be taken as medical, therapeutic, or professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about your well-being.If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please reach out for immediate help. In the U.S., you can dial 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., please contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline right away.

Episode 17: Why Not Me? A Story of Kidney Failure and Mental Resilience - with Shelby Hansen

In this episode Maurice sits down with Shelby Hansen, a speech pathologist, mother of four, kidney transplant survivor, and life coach whose journey redefines resilience. Diagnosed with stage four kidney failure at 31, Shelby faced life-threatening complications, a high-risk pregnancy, and a “sleepy” transplanted kidney that wouldn’t function. Through faith, nervous system awareness, radical mindset shifts, and learning to receive support, she transformed survival into healing. This conversation explores the mind-body-spirit connection and what it truly means to move from fear to safety, isolation to connection, and victimhood to empowered resilience. Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel are for informational and educational purposes only. The hosts and producers are not licensed mental health professionals, and nothing shared here should be taken as medical, therapeutic, or professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about your well-being.If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please reach out for immediate help. In the U.S., you can dial 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., please contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline right away.

Episode 16: Beyond the Uniform - with Sanjay Gogate

In this episode, we sit down with Sanjay Gogate, a retired U.S. Air Force flight surgeon, to explore the powerful role of human connection in resilience, mental health, and life transitions. Drawing from more than two decades in high-stress military environments, Sanjay shares what happens when structure, identity, and routine suddenly shift—and how faith, family, friendships, and staying present help rebuild purpose. Whether you’re navigating retirement, career change, or a personal transition, this conversation offers practical perspective and meaningful reminders about what keeps us grounded when life changes. Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel are for informational and educational purposes only. The hosts and producers are not licensed mental health professionals, and nothing shared here should be taken as medical, therapeutic, or professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about your well-being.If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please reach out for immediate help. In the U.S., you can dial 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., please contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline right away.

Episode 15: My Mind-Body Breakthrough - with John Dornik

In this episode we visit with DaysToHappy’s friend John Dornik, who shares his transition from chronic physical pain to mental clarity. Raised in a culture where mental health was rarely discussed , John faced years of debilitating nerve pain and a "fight-or-flight" cycle triggered by physical injuries and internet self-diagnosis. John shares his journey and his shift from Western medicine—which left him frustrated by conflicting diagnoses —to Eastern philosophies discovered during a solo trek through Asia. He eventually embraced the concept of psychosomatic illness, realizing his brain was misinterpreting internal signals as constant threats. Today, John leverages AI tools as a "positive coach" and practices silent meditation to regulate his nervous system and help others navigate their own healing journeys. Disclaimer: This podcast and YouTube channel are for informational and educational purposes only. The hosts and producers are not licensed mental health professionals, and nothing shared here should be taken as medical, therapeutic, or professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified mental health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about your well-being.If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please reach out for immediate help. In the U.S., you can dial 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., please contact your local emergency number or crisis hotline right away.