Overcome With Travis White

Born Blind, Battling Chronic Pain, and Finding Purpose with Daniel Hodges

Born blind and living with severe chronic pain, Daniel Hodges knows what it feels like to be underestimated, isolated, and told what he would never become. In this episode of Overcome with Travis White, Travis sits down with Daniel Hodges, president and co-founder of Pieces of Me Foundation, for an honest conversation about blindness, Ehlers-Danlos, chronic pain, anxiety, suicidal ideation, disability stigma, faith, law school, advocacy, and finding purpose through service. Daniel shares what it was like to miss years of school because the system did not know how to support a blind student, how bullying and isolation affected his identity, and how mental health struggles followed him into adulthood. He also opens up about a crisis during law school, the moment that helped spark Pieces of Me Foundation, and why stigma reduction matters for people living with disabilities and mental health challenges. This conversation is about more than overcoming blindness or chronic pain. It is about what happens when a person who has been dismissed chooses to create space for others to feel seen, heard, and valued. What We Discussed * Daniel Hodges' experience being born blind and living with Ehlers-Danlos * How chronic pain shaped his daily life, identity, and limits * Missing grades 7 through 11 and the emotional cost of isolation * Bullying, exclusion, and being told what he would never become * Anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation * Why mental pain can feel impossible to explain from the outside * How a law school crisis became part of the story behind Pieces of Me Foundation * Turning pain into purpose without minimizing the pain itself * Why disability stigma and mental health stigma are connected * How organizations, schools, and workplaces can build more people-centered cultures * Why access, inclusion, and accessibility should be framed as a win-win * The danger of comparing pain and ranking disabilities * Why hope dies in isolation * How self-care, faith, and service help Daniel stay grounded Learn More About Daniel Hodges Daniel Hodges is the president and co-founder of Pieces of Me Foundation, an organization focused on reducing stigma, increasing understanding, and helping people with disabilities and mental health challenges feel seen without being reduced to a diagnosis or limitation. Pieces of Me Foundation: https://peacesofme.org [https://peacesofme.org] Daniel explains the spelling this way: people are not broken, and real peace can come from embracing who we are and the value we bring to the world. Visit Blog: https://overcomepod.com [https://overcomepod.com] Shop Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth [https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth] Follow Overcome - a Mental Health Podcast * Instagram: @overcomepod [https://www.instagram.com/overcomepod/] * Youtube: @overcomepod [https://www.youtube.com/@overcomepod] Listen to us * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7hbxEyFwwdJvCFLWBNQQiD?si=c1d9e72d21f84eaa] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcome-a-mental-health-podcast/id1788714869?itscg=30200&itsct=podcast_box&ls=1&mttnsubad=1788714869] Want to have a real conversation about your mental health? Fill out this form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiwSo1mnDFwqcKCmQNk5_d4yIpNwMku7QwXNGHIyl4-qm56g/viewform?usp=header]! Visit Blog: https://overcomepod.com [https://overcomepod.com] Shop Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth [https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth] Follow Overcome - a Mental Health Podcast * Instagram: @overcomepod [https://www.instagram.com/overcomepod/] * Youtube:  @overcomepod [https://www.youtube.com/@overcomepod] Listen to us * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7hbxEyFwwdJvCFLWBNQQiD?si=c1d9e72d21f84eaa] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcome-a-mental-health-podcast/id1788714869?itscg=30200&itsct=podcast_box&ls=1&mttnsubad=1788714869] Want to have a real conversation about your mental health? Fill out this form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiwSo1mnDFwqcKCmQNk5_d4yIpNwMku7QwXNGHIyl4-qm56g/viewform?usp=header]!

Loving Someone Through Psychosis Nearly Broke Me | Marriage & Mental Illness

Imagine marrying the person you love… only to feel like they slowly disappear right in front of you. What happens when severe mental illness, psychosis, financial pressure, and emotional exhaustion begin tearing apart a marriage only months after the wedding day? And how do you hold onto compassion when your own mental health is collapsing too? In this episode of Overcome with Travis White, Travis sits down with Austi Stenson for one of the rawest conversations ever shared on the podcast. Austi opens up about loving someone through psychosis, navigating schizoaffective disorder, caretaker burnout, medical bills, emotional trauma, and ultimately facing divorce while still caring deeply for the person she married. This episode shines a light on the hidden side of severe mental illness that people rarely talk about: the impact on spouses, families, finances, identity, and emotional survival. What We Discussed *  The subtle early signs of psychosis in marriage  *  How schizoaffective disorder changed their relationship  *  Caregiver burnout and emotional exhaustion  *  Living in constant fight-or-flight mode  *  The financial pressure of mental illness and medical bills  *  Supporting a spouse through psychosis and hospitalization  *  Alcohol, paranoia, and emotional instability  *  The emotional guilt caregivers often carry  *  The impact severe mental illness has on families and relationships  *  Divorce, grief, and still loving someone after separation  *  How trauma and chronic stress changed Austi’s mental health  *  Why mental health education and support systems matter  Learn More If this episode impacted you, please share it with someone who may need to hear they are not alone. Follow Overcome with Travis White for more conversations around mental health, trauma, resilience, addiction recovery, healing, and overcoming life’s hardest moments. Austi Stenson Website: https://www.chroniccreative.co/ [https://www.chroniccreative.co/] Visit Blog: https://overcomepod.com [https://overcomepod.com] Shop Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth [https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth] Follow Overcome - a Mental Health Podcast * Instagram: @overcomepod [https://www.instagram.com/overcomepod/] * Youtube:  @overcomepod [https://www.youtube.com/@overcomepod] Listen to us * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7hbxEyFwwdJvCFLWBNQQiD?si=c1d9e72d21f84eaa] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcome-a-mental-health-podcast/id1788714869?itscg=30200&itsct=podcast_box&ls=1&mttnsubad=1788714869] Want to have a real conversation about your mental health? Fill out this form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiwSo1mnDFwqcKCmQNk5_d4yIpNwMku7QwXNGHIyl4-qm56g/viewform?usp=header]!

The Hidden Mental Load of Parenting (And How It Affects Your Kids)

Mental load of parenting is more than schedules and discipline. It is the invisible pressure parents carry while trying to stay calm, connected, and emotionally present for their kids. In this episode of Overcome with Travis White, Travis shares a personal parenting moment and practical tools for emotional regulation, grounding, and rebuilding a stronger family foundation. What We Discussed: *  The hidden mental load of parenting and why it builds up  *  How your mental state directly affects your kids’ behavior  *  The role expectations play in parenting frustration  *  Real-life parenting stress triggers (bedtime, repeating yourself)  *  Simple techniques to reset in overwhelming moments  *  The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method  *  Why awareness matters more than perfection in parenting  *  How to build a strong foundation using the FAITH framework  *  The 3 foundation questions every parent should ask themselves  *  Two challenges to help you grow as a parent Visit Blog: https://overcomepod.com [https://overcomepod.com] Shop Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth [https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth] Follow Overcome - a Mental Health Podcast * Instagram: @overcomepod [https://www.instagram.com/overcomepod/] * Youtube:  @overcomepod [https://www.youtube.com/@overcomepod] Listen to us * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7hbxEyFwwdJvCFLWBNQQiD?si=c1d9e72d21f84eaa] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcome-a-mental-health-podcast/id1788714869?itscg=30200&itsct=podcast_box&ls=1&mttnsubad=1788714869] Want to have a real conversation about your mental health? Fill out this form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiwSo1mnDFwqcKCmQNk5_d4yIpNwMku7QwXNGHIyl4-qm56g/viewform?usp=header]!

You Can Build Trust for Years… Then Lose It in Seconds: My Dog Bit My Daughter

A dog bite can change the way a family understands trust, safety, and responsibility in a single moment. This episode explores parenting guilt, anxiety recovery, and what it takes to rebuild trust after something frightening happens at home. Travis shares the story of the day his dog bit his daughter, how it affected his family, and how the Trust pillar of the FAITH Framework helped him think through boundaries, healing, and safety. What We Discussed *  The role pets can play in improving mental health  *  How my dog helped me through anxiety and gave me purpose  *  Early warning signs and behavioral challenges we faced  *  The moment my dog bit my daughter and what happened next  *  The overwhelming guilt and responsibility as a parent  *  How quickly trust can be broken in a single moment  *  The process of rebuilding trust over time  *  Boundaries between dogs and children every parent should consider  *  Learning your dog’s behavior and preventing future incidents  *  How trust connects to healing and personal growth  *  Applying the Trust pillar of the FAITH Framework in real life  If this episode resonated with you, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Visit Blog: https://overcomepod.com [https://overcomepod.com] Shop Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth [https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth] Follow Overcome - a Mental Health Podcast * Instagram: @overcomepod [https://www.instagram.com/overcomepod/] * Youtube:  @overcomepod [https://www.youtube.com/@overcomepod] Listen to us * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7hbxEyFwwdJvCFLWBNQQiD?si=c1d9e72d21f84eaa] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcome-a-mental-health-podcast/id1788714869?itscg=30200&itsct=podcast_box&ls=1&mttnsubad=1788714869] Want to have a real conversation about your mental health? Fill out this form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiwSo1mnDFwqcKCmQNk5_d4yIpNwMku7QwXNGHIyl4-qm56g/viewform?usp=header]!

Addiction, PTSD, and Losing Everything: How He Rebuilt His Life From Rock Bottom

Addiction recovery, PTSD, and rock bottom can feel impossible to climb out of when you have lost your family, career, and sense of purpose. Ryan Reichert's story is about rebuilding life after everything falls apart. In this episode, Travis talks with Ryan about military PTSD, prescription drug abuse, sobriety, faith, daily habits, and the hard but hopeful process of turning pain into purpose. What We Discussed *  Ryan’s early struggles with identity and pressure to succeed  *  How injury led to prescription drug abuse and addiction  *  The impact of military service, PTSD, and trauma on mental health  *  Hitting rock bottom: losing his family, career, and sense of self  *  The moment he chose sobriety and walked into his first AA meeting  *  How faith and spirituality helped him rebuild his life  *  The “three daily wins” system for physical, mental, and spiritual growth  *  Letting go of control and focusing on what you can change  *  Overcoming limiting beliefs and redefining success  *  Why community and meaningful conversations are key to healing Connect with Ryan Reichert:  Website: Our Protector Development [https://ourprotectordevelopment.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.t.reichert [https://www.instagram.com/ryan.t.reichert] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanreichert78/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanreichert78/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Ryan is a speaker, coach, and founder of Our Protector Development, a platform focused on helping people turn pain into purpose through faith, reflection, and action.  Visit Blog: https://overcomepod.com [https://overcomepod.com] Shop Merch: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth [https://www.etsy.com/shop/OvercomeMentalHealth] Follow Overcome - a Mental Health Podcast * Instagram: @overcomepod [https://www.instagram.com/overcomepod/] * Youtube:  @overcomepod [https://www.youtube.com/@overcomepod] Listen to us * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7hbxEyFwwdJvCFLWBNQQiD?si=c1d9e72d21f84eaa] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overcome-a-mental-health-podcast/id1788714869?itscg=30200&itsct=podcast_box&ls=1&mttnsubad=1788714869] Want to have a real conversation about your mental health? Fill out this form [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiwSo1mnDFwqcKCmQNk5_d4yIpNwMku7QwXNGHIyl4-qm56g/viewform?usp=header]!