How To Survive Survival

Grief, Healing and the Co-existence of Loss and Beauty with Morgan Cheek

Ally Morgan, MSW,  is a writer and Trauma-informed Women's Embodiment Coach who guides women back into a felt sense of safety, aliveness and trust within their own bodies. Her work lives at the intersection of grief, healing and the both/and reality of life- where she believes deep loss and deep beauty can co-exist. After the loss of her two daughters (Bailey Grace, 6 and Ally, 7) Morgan's understanding of healing shifted from something to think through into something that begged to be lived and embodied. Her writing- shared across books, social platforms and her newsletter- has resonated with thousands of women navigating grief, faith, identity, and the process of coming back to life in an honest way.  Through her coaching, Morgan supports women who feel disconnected, overwhelmed, or stuck to gently rebuild a relationship with their bodies, their emotions, and themselves. Her approach integrates nervous system work, emotional processing, and a deeply human, non-performative lens of healing. Morgan lives in Georgia with her incredible partner, Rob and is also a mother to her son, James (as well as their dog, Fenway, and cat, Tily, who most definitely believe they are humans at times). Her life and work are rooted in the belief that healing is not about becoming someone new, but about returning to who you were always meant to be- holding both the grief you carry and the life still in front of you. This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, [https://www.jessbuchanan.com/] a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder. Her latest book, How to Survive Survival: A Guide for Turning Life’s Hardest Moments Into Meaningful Contribution for the World [https://a.co/d/0bOjQWR8] was released in 2025.  Jessica is also the author of Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six [https://a.co/d/8CmYex8], published in 2014, which became a New York Times Bestseller.  Jessica is the founder of Soul Speak Press [https://www.soulspeakpress.com/], a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on stories from women who have been through something, now they know something and can teach us something. When she’s not writing or speaking, Jessica is traveling the world with her Swedish husband and two “half Vikings.” She aims to lead a life shaped by curiosity, culture, and a deep appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit.

Shattering Silence and Finding Justice with Darlene Lekowski

Darlene Lekowski is an Amazon #1 best-selling author, speaker, and business leader who transformed decades of silence into a powerful platform for truth, healing, and advocacy. After fifty years of silence surrounding the Sibling Sexual Trauma and Abuse (SSTA) she endured as a child, Darlene found her voice and chose to stand in her truth—ultimately prevailing in a civil lawsuit brought against her by her own brother. Her Amazon #1 best-selling memoir, Shattering Silence: A Story of Survival, Justice and the Power of Telling the Truth, is available in all formats, including audiobook in her own voice. Today, Darlene delivers powerful keynotes to corporate, leadership, and survivor audiences, inspiring individuals to reclaim their voice, let go, and live forward with courage, resilience, and agency. Lekowski lives in the Charlotte, North Carolina area with her husband, Tom, and is the proud mother of three adult children. ---------------------------------------------------- Website: darlene-lekowski.com [https://darlene-lekowski.com] Instagram: @darlenelekowski Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575781889793]: Darlene Lekowski  LinkedIn, Darlene Lekowski – Speaker-Author: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlene-lekowski-0ba1962/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlene-lekowski-0ba1962/] “Shattering Silence” Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acMzTHqwUyc [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acMzTHqwUyc] This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, [https://www.jessbuchanan.com/] a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder. Her latest book, How to Survive Survival: A Guide for Turning Life’s Hardest Moments Into Meaningful Contribution for the World [https://a.co/d/0bOjQWR8] was released in 2025.  Jessica is also the author of Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six [https://a.co/d/8CmYex8], published in 2014, which became a New York Times Bestseller.  Jessica is the founder of Soul Speak Press [https://www.soulspeakpress.com/], a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on stories from women who have been through something, now they know something and can teach us something. When she’s not writing or speaking, Jessica is traveling the world with her Swedish husband and two “half Vikings.” She aims to lead a life shaped by curiosity, culture, and a deep appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit.

From CPA to Green Beret to Harvard MBA with Stephen Buchanan

Stephen Buchanan is a CPA, Green Beret, and Harvard MBA. After letting go of his dream to become a professional basketball player, Stephen began his career as a CPA in Chattanooga, TN. Seeking a greater sense of mission, he  joined the U.S. Army. Stephen spent two years as a paratrooper stationed in Italy before earning a place among the U.S. Army Special Forces. As a Green Beret, he spent time throughout the Middle East, working closely and developing relationships with partner nation special operations forces. Following his military service, Stephen began his MBA at Harvard Business School and will graduate in May 2026. Building on a family legacy of entrepreneurship, Stephen is the founder and the CEO of Bandelier Technologies.  Stephen currently lives in Boston with his wife and their two daughters, and they are making plans to move to northern New Mexico in the near future. Together, they share a love for the outdoors and active adventures. This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, [https://www.jessbuchanan.com/] a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder. Her latest book, How to Survive Survival: A Guide for Turning Life’s Hardest Moments Into Meaningful Contribution for the World [https://a.co/d/0bOjQWR8] was released in 2025.  Jessica is also the author of Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six [https://a.co/d/8CmYex8], published in 2014, which became a New York Times Bestseller.  Jessica is the founder of Soul Speak Press [https://www.soulspeakpress.com/], a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on stories from women who have been through something, now they know something and can teach us something. When she’s not writing or speaking, Jessica is traveling the world with her Swedish husband and two “half Vikings.” She aims to lead a life shaped by curiosity, culture, and a deep appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit.

Seeking Truth and Navigating Unfair Systems with Private Investigator Sally Tierney

Sally Tierney is a truth seeker and empowerment advocate for anyone who is having trouble navigating an unfair system. Her experience has taught her that there are times when a private investigator is necessary to bring truth to light. Sally uses the law to expose facts and force transparency when needed to support and strengthen her clients' cases. This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, [https://www.jessbuchanan.com/] a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder. Her latest book, How to Survive Survival: A Guide for Turning Life’s Hardest Moments Into Meaningful Contribution for the World [https://a.co/d/0bOjQWR8] was released in 2025.  Jessica is also the author of Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six [https://a.co/d/8CmYex8], published in 2014, which became a New York Times Bestseller.  Jessica is the founder of Soul Speak Press [https://www.soulspeakpress.com/], a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on stories from women who have been through something, now they know something and can teach us something. When she’s not writing or speaking, Jessica is traveling the world with her Swedish husband and two “half Vikings.” She aims to lead a life shaped by curiosity, culture, and a deep appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit.

Lessons in Psychological Stability with Kidnapping Survivor Dr. Simon Lee Maryan

Simon Lee Maryan is a former Royal Marines Commando who went on to serve as a specialist Human Intelligence Officer, operating globally in hostile and high-stress environments. Drawing on these experiences, alongside many years of formal training in psychology and psychotherapy, he now works internationally as a speaker, coach, trainer helping individuals and organisations prepare for, manage, and recover from stress, trauma, and extreme pressure. Simon is a survivor of three separate kidnappings. These experiences profoundly shaped his understanding of psychological resilience and informed the development of practical, evidence-informed approaches to self-regulation and recovery, which he now shares through training programmes and speaking engagements worldwide. He delivers keynote, motivational, and specialist talks internationally to a wide range of clients, including the UK Military, FBI New York Counter Terrorism Team, New York Police Department and NYPD Hostage Negotiation Team, energy sector organisations, global financial institutions, and UK Government departments. In 2017, Simon co-founded the mental health charity Icarus, providing voluntary support to serving military personnel, veterans, and uniformed services. He stepped away in 2021 to extend his work beyond the veteran sector. Between 2007 and 2010, Simon developed the Immediate Care Process, a practical therapeutic approach to managing stress and trauma. This later evolved into the Somato-Limbic Metacognitive (SLM) Process, designed to build emotional and psychological resilience and reprocess distressing memories. A 2019 clinical record review of 100 cases conducted by Emeritus Professor David Alexander indicated an 88% improvement rate. Over the past 15 years, Simon has trained more than 5,000 individuals, with his work estimated to have positively impacted over 10 million lives. He published his book on the Immediate Care Process in 2021. This podcast is hosted by Jessica Buchanan, [https://www.jessbuchanan.com/] a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, survivor and founder. Her latest book, How to Survive Survival: A Guide for Turning Life’s Hardest Moments Into Meaningful Contribution for the World [https://a.co/d/0bOjQWR8] was released in 2025.  Jessica is also the author of Impossible Odds: The Kidnapping of Jessica Buchanan and Her Dramatic Rescue by SEAL Team Six [https://a.co/d/8CmYex8], published in 2014, which became a New York Times Bestseller.  Jessica is the founder of Soul Speak Press [https://www.soulspeakpress.com/], a boutique non-traditional publishing company focused on stories from women who have been through something, now they know something and can teach us something. When she’s not writing or speaking, Jessica is traveling the world with her Swedish husband and two “half Vikings.” She aims to lead a life shaped by curiosity, culture, and a deep appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit.