Amy Scalia: Making Connection By Sharing Struggle & Choosing Hope

Matt McManus: Sobriety & Wellness, Building a Purposeful Business While Talking Back to Self-Doubt

We realize a need for change, but how do we get started? How do we tackle self-doubt? In this conversation, Matt shares his story as he navigates growth through sobriety, wellness pursuits, and building a business that fulfills a purpose. Matt McManus was born and raised in Cincinnati. He went away briefly to attend Mississippi State University and majored in marketing.  After he graduated, he worked as a golf professional for 4 years before turning to the financial services industry.  Eventually he helped co-found and is currently one of the partners at Triplecrown Wealth Management.  His focus is on working with first responders and delivering actionable financial advice viewed from a lens of wellness.  He lives on the west side of the city with his wife Sarah and their 4 kids.  Matthew McManus RICP Friend to 1st Responders | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mcmanus-friend-to-first-responders/] Triplecrown Wealth Management [https://www.triplecrownwm.com/] Veronica's Interview on Pension Protectors Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pension-protectors-s3e10-life-lessons-from-hospice/id1731409954?i=1000754833552 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pension-protectors-s3e10-life-lessons-from-hospice/id1731409954?i=1000754833552] MAIN TOPICS COVERED: * Matt’s story of addiction and recovery * The relationship between mental, physical, and financial wellness * Techniques for overcoming self-doubt and cravings * The importance of setting clear goals with a "start ugly" mindset * Building resilience through faith, purpose, and community

Travel Diary: Bandelier National Monument, NM. Activating Hope

Veronica shares her reflections on hope, disruption, and the journey of healing during her travels through New Mexico. She explores how hope acts as a guiding lantern in difficult times and offers practical ways to activate hope in our lives. Keywords hope, healing, disruption, personal growth, motivation, mental health, journey, inspiration Key topics The role of hope in navigating disruption Practical ways to activate hope The paradox of pain and hope in healing guest name Sound bites "Hope is like holding up a lantern in the dark" "Hope is a decision to activate" "I am moving forward anyway" Chapters 00:00 Exploring Bandelier National Monument 10:12 MASTER OUTRO.mp4 10:40 Valles Cauldera Forest Hike_ Birds_Wind_Footsteps 05.19.26.mp3 Resources Bandelier National Monument - https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm [https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm] Los Alamos National Laboratory Museum - https://www.lanl.gov/about/visiting/index.php [https://www.lanl.gov/about/visiting/index.php] Valles Caldera National Preserve - https://www.vallescaldera.gov/ [https://www.vallescaldera.gov/]

Amy Scalia: Making Connection By Sharing Struggle & Choosing Hope

I am talking to Amy Scalia. She is a Cincinnati-based entrepreneur, founder of Local Creator Studio, and co-founder of PS Never Give Up. She’s built her work around storytelling - not just as a creative tool, but to help people feel seen, connected, and less alone in the messy middle of their experiences. In this conversation, Amy shares what it feels like to live through heartache without losing hope – and she shows us how hope can help build our life into something bigger than we ever expected. KEYWORDS   storytelling, entrepreneurship, fertility, chronic illness, hope, community, vulnerability, personal growth   KEY TOPICS   * Amy's journey from media to entrepreneurship * The importance of vulnerability and sharing the messy middle * How hope sustains us through challenges * The intersection of chronic illness and fertility * Building community and support through storytelling   SOUND BITES   "Always choose hope because until it's over, it's not over." "I didn't think I could be this much of a family person." "Finding purpose through pain helps you move forward."   CHAPTERS   00:00 The Birth of a Podcast Dream 02:01 Amy's Journey into Media and Entrepreneurship 04:30 The Power of Storytelling in the Digital Age 07:03 Embracing the Messy Middle 09:04 Navigating Fertility Challenges 16:34 Choosing Hope in Difficult Times 19:31 Self-Care and Expanding Capacity 33:01 Embracing Health and Longevity 36:01 The Journey of Motherhood 42:00 Finding Purpose Through Pain   RESOURCES   Amy's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amy_scalia/ [https://www.instagram.com/amy_scalia/] Local Creator Studio - https://localcreatorstudio.com/ [https://localcreatorstudio.com/] PS Never Give Up Foundation - https://psnevergiveup.org/ [https://psnevergiveup.org/]

Travel Diary: I-40 West; Embraacing Uncertainty & Opening To Possibility

Vega, Texas I-40 West bound to our next destination. We’ve been driving for two full days and have covered over 1100 miles. I’m sharing my reflections from my travel diary on uncertainty, exploring how it influences our perceptions of safety, control, and growth. I hope you feel encouraged to reconsider the role uncertainty plays in our life and embrace it as a landscape of possibility and curiosity.   KEY TOPICS   The nature of uncertainty and how our brains react to it The illusion of control and its impact on our lives Turning uncertainty into a landscape of possibility The role of curiosity in personal growth Practical ways to embrace uncertainty in daily life   KEYWORDS   uncertainty, growth, curiosity, travel, life lessons, control, predictability, adventure, mindset, resilience   TAKEAWAYS   Uncertainty is the space between what we know and what we cannot see. Our brains are wired to predict and protect, but life is rarely predictable. Control is an illusion we cling to for safety. Embracing uncertainty can open up new possibilities and growth. Curiosity is a powerful tool for navigating the unknown.   SOUND BITES   "Will this risk become regret?" "Control is an illusion we cling to." "Let curiosity be your guide in the unknown."   RESOURCES www.veronicasterling.com [http://www.veronicasterling.com] IG: @veronicasterlingspeaks FB: https://www.facebook.com/VeronicaSterlingSpeaks [https://www.facebook.com/VeronicaSterlingSpeaks] LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicasterlingspeaks/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicasterlingspeaks/]

Kenny Schroeder: Reaching a Breaking Point and the Courage to Find a Path Forward

Today I am talking to Kenny Schroeder. He has 30 years in fire service and is currently a Lieutenant with the Fort Mitchell, Kentucky Fire Department. Kenny is also a dedicated advocate for first responder wellness and peer support, working to make sure others have access to resources and don’t have to face their hardest moments alone. In this conversation, Kenny shares what happened after he stepped away from the career that had shaped so much of his identity – and how that transition and the stress form the job led him into a deeply personal struggle with his mental health. He speaks candidly about what it means to reach a breaking point and the courage it takes to keep going and choose a different path forward. This is a meaningful conversation. I learned so much from Kenny. I’m really glad you’re here for it. Kenny Schroeder | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-schroeder-5919b3189/] First Responder Health and Wellness Services | KYFRPST [https://kyfrpst.org/] Tri-State First Responder Peer Support Team - Home [https://tsfirstresponderpst.org/] SAVE A WARRIOR™ – We Came Back For You [https://saveawarrior.org/] Details about adding stellate ganglion block (SGB) to standard trauma treatment: Who Doesn’t Want to Feel Better Faster? - JAMES LYNCH, MD [https://drjameslynch.com/who-doesnt-want-to-feel-better-faster/] KEYWORDS   firefighter mental health, trauma recovery, Save a Warrior, peer support, resilience, mental wellness, first responder culture   KEY TOPICS   Kenny's journey into firefighting and mental health The impact of trauma and burnout on first responders The role of Save a Warrior in recovery Importance of vulnerability and peer support Strategies for ongoing mental wellness and resilience   SOUND BITES   "It's okay to not be okay." "We can just be ourselves." "You're not alone."   CHAPTERS   00:00 Introduction to Firefighting Dreams 05:13 The Journey to Becoming a Firefighter 08:01 Retirement and Identity Crisis 10:42 Struggles with Mental Health 13:36 Seeking Help and Finding Resources 16:51 The Impact of Save a Warrior Program 19:29 Transformation and Personal Growth 22:47 Present and Future Aspirations 29:58 Transformative Journeys: From Brokenness to Healing 37:31 Daily Practices: Building a New Life 45:40 Resources and Support: Finding Help 50:51 The Human Experience: Embracing Vulnerability