Hard Corners with Tom Synan

Beyond Remission: A Story of Love in the World of Cancer

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2008541/open_sms] In this episode we speak with Gil and Meagan Guthrie. A young couple, still newlyweds and how Gil’s sudden cancer diagnoses turned their lives upside-down. It is not just the physical that can cause the most trauma but the sudden reaction that life as you know it has changed. Plans, dreams, hopes not as certain as they once were. Fear and anxiety an understandable side effect when life has pulled the rug from under you. An understanding that resilience is not just overcoming, it is a raw, brutal and vulnerable acceptance of here is where I’m at and I’m not sure which direction I go from here. This is a story of cancer.  The lasting emotional impact of cancer. The power of love. And, faith in humanity where a complete stranger would give a part of themselves to save another’s life.

The Unspoken Forgiveness

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2008541/open_sms] We continue our underlying theme of forgiveness in this powerfully emotional episode. We interview Kasey Ladd who grew up in the small town I police. Kasey lost his mother in the Who concert tragedy. He growing up in pain and anger  set my personal car on fire in the police department parking lot while I was on duty. Kasey walks us through his healing. Anger-to-pain-to-wisdom. I held no anger towards Kasey. We never talked about that day with my car or the loss of his mother until now. I didn’t know I needed this conversation. That I needed to heal. Together Kasey and I heal coming to an understanding; sometimes forgiveness is unspoken.

The Resiliency of Forgiveness.

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2008541/open_sms] This is an astonishing story of tragedy and equally an astonishing story of resilience.  Jeff shares a story of what the world saw was not what his home was. His brother punching a hole in the wall, his mother covers it up with a picture of the family smiling. A prophetic gesture that would dictate much of Jeff’s life. Some ask how much can one person take? Jeff Higgins lived that question as one-by-one his mother died after drinking and driving. Followed by his brother facing the same fate and his sister dying from alcohol illness. Jeff’s family trauma engrained in him, seemingly overcame all the odds only to have it catch up to him when he was involved in a crash after drinking that left his friend dead. His world shattered multiple times.  Jeff leaned on faith, resilience and forgiveness. A radical and complete acceptance forgiving what life, family, God and his own decisions had given him to find meaning, purpose and the wisdom suffering brings. Picking himself up to literally climb mountains, run a successful business and give back to others at home and around the world. Jeff’s story taught me that it is the uncommon acceptance of what life gives us and that we must take down the picture we show the world covering our own holes. Jeff’s incredible vulnerability. A genuine authenticity that allows him to show the world we can share our own holes, with no need to cover them up. Instead show the world it can be filled with forgiveness, love for ourselves, others and our life  This is one of the most powerful stories of suffering turned to purpose and meaning you will hear.

The Faith of Forgiveness

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2008541/open_sms] It is so hard to forgive when someone betrays you, life doesn’t meet expectations, your world unexpectedly changes or when someone takes away the very thing you cherish the most.  In a world of choices and consequences, the death of a son leads a father from picking up the shattered pieces, to his sons life being a beacon of hope and forgiveness, even for the person that sold the drugs ending his sons life.  In this episode we explore the power of faith, hope and forgiveness. This episode is dedicated to Brian.

Police Reform or Redefine Modern Policing?

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2008541/open_sms] Police reform has become a hotly debated topic in policing, public and politics. There are controversies on all sides.  Is it divert or invest in police? Should reform include our communities and society? Has the role of policing changed so much that the term law enforcement is not enough to describe the need and service provided? Are police warriors or servants? Can they be and do it all?  Our guests join us for one of the most comprehensive discussions on police reform you will hear. A conversation where all points can be valid and a middle ground found with examples and solutions.  Guest: Neil Gross-former officer, now sociologist and author of, Walk the Walk: How Three Police Chiefs Defied the Odds and Changed Cop Culture.  nlgross@colby.edu Kristin Daley-Executive Director of New Blue.  kristin@newblue.org Mike Butler- Public Safety Chief for Longmont, Colorado.  urantia101@gmail.com Eric Jones- former Police Chief of Stockton, California and current Deputy County Executive for Public Safety in Sacramento, California.  joneser@saccounty.gov