Ioana Bazavan | When Your "Best" is a Moving Target

Bryan White | Breaking the Stigma of Addiction

In this episode of "Through the Sh#t," Jen McDowell and Bryan White explore the complexities of addiction, recovery, and the stigma surrounding mental health. Bryan shares his personal journey through addiction, the challenges he faced as an HR professional, and the importance of spirituality and community in his recovery process. For Bryan, the phrase "going through the shit" represents a journey of introspection and truth. He emphasizes the importance of disrupting the narratives we've been told, and those we tell ourselves. Following one's truth serves as a pathway toward healing and clarity. As a gay man in the 80s and 90s, Bryan navigated a world that often felt isolating. His desire to fit into the gay community led him to clubs where he unwittingly began experimenting with drugs. What started as a quest for connection quickly spiraled into a struggle with addiction that would define a significant part of his life. He reveals the shame that accompanied his hidden addiction, especially as an HR professional who preached against substance use. Jen and Bryan discuss the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use. Brian shares his fears about revealing his struggles, expressing a hope that by sharing his story, he can help others understand the complexities of addiction. He urges leaders in the workplace to recognize that addiction can touch anyone, regardless of their professional success, and that compassion is key to addressing these challenges. Bryan also reflects on his suicide attempt as his darkest hour that ultimately forced him to confront the reality of his situation. After this harrowing experience, he began to explore spirituality and seek a deeper meaning in life, demonstrating his resilience and the human capacity for growth amidst adversity. Bryan's journey through the shit serves as a powerful reminder that vulnerability is a strength, and sharing our stories can lead to healing. By breaking the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health, we can create a more compassionate world where individuals feel empowered to seek help, embrace their truth, and refrain from imposing expectations on themselves and others. The key takeaways from Brian's story are clear: introspection, authenticity, and the courage to confront our struggles are vital in the journey of self-discovery. https://na.org/ [https://na.org/] https://www.calm.com/blog/the-feelings-wheel [https://www.calm.com/blog/the-feelings-wheel] https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanlwhitehr/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanlwhitehr/]

Sue Eyres | Life and Death Sh#t

In this episode of 'Through the Shit', host Jen McDowell speaks with Susan Eyres about her harrowing journey through a life-threatening health crisis. Susan shares her experience of battling a mysterious illness that left her unable to breathe, the emotional toll it took on her and her family, and the eventual diagnosis of a rare liver condition that required a transplant. Susan's story begins at the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic when she woke up on her couch, disoriented and unable to recognize her surroundings. After being rushed to the emergency room and treated for the flu, she is discharged from the hospital, only to have her health continue to deteoriate over the course of several months, leaving her in a state of fear and confusion. She faced the harsh reality of being isolated from loved ones and missing significant family events, while doctors all across the country were unable to find a cause for her illness. For months, Susan navigated the labyrinth of medical opinions and tests, seeking explanations for her declining health, yet answers eluded her. Finally a breakthrough: doctors diagnosed her with a rare liver condition that hindered oxygenation to her lungs and required a transplant. This revelation brought both relief and uncertainty about her future because diagnosis was merely the first step. Susan then faced the daunting task of getting on the transplant list and preparing for surgery, which involved numerous medical procedures while managing the emotional toll of waiting for a donor. With a story that highlights resilience, connection, and the beauty of human spirit, Susan takes us through her challenging experiences and the lessons learned along the way. Throughout her journey, Susan emphasizes the importance of community support, resilience, and finding joy in small moments, even in the face of adversity. She offers valuable insights and advice for others going through similar struggles, highlighting the power of connection and the necessity of asking for help.

Lessons Learned So Far...

In this episode of "Through the Sh#t," host Jen McDowell reflects on the stories shared by recent guests and distills their experiences into ten key lessons that can help others navigate their own difficult times. Topics include: * The inescapable truth that everyone will go through sh#t. * The cumulative effect of multiple sh#tty circumstances. * The paradox of both loneliness and connection that can occur when going through the sh#t. * The importance of finding support and comforting resources. * The benefits of getting clarity after going through the sh#t. * Ways to feel more empowered. * The blessing of impermanence. To conclude the episode, Jen reflects on her own growth and offers a teaser for upcoming episodes.

Sh#t in Three Acts | Kimberly Zimmerman-Rand

In the latest episode of "Through the Shit," host Jen McDowell welcomes Kimberly Zimmerman-Rand, financial counselor, consultant and coach, who shares her experience of professional growth after experiencing the same setback on three separate occasions. From rejection letters to unexpected firings, Kimberly's story is a testament to resilience and the strength of the human spirit. Kimberly relays her story of being forced to make a hard career pivot in her early 20’s, only to face the all-too-common experience of working for a micromanager who undermines her abilities. Her enthusiasm for her role was met with hostility that escalated to intimidation and eventually culminated in a shocking confrontation where he chased her across a parking lot and fired her on the spot. While the experience was disorienting, Kimberly quickly moved on to other roles only to have the same experience occur again and again over the course of decade. Through these experiences, Kimberly learned the importance of resilience in overcoming workplace challenges. She urges listeners to recognize their own strength and to understand that overcoming adversity is part of the professional journey. Her experiences serve as a reminder that setbacks can often lead to new opportunities and personal growth, emphasizing that we can indeed rise from the ashes of our trials. Discussion highlights include: - Making sense of the misalignment between your self-image and how others see you (and having the self-compassion not to let others shape your perspective) - Looking beyond our jobs as a source of identity - The consequences of ignoring your intuition - The importance of building both subject matter expertise and relational skills like self-regulation, seeing the big picture and getting yourself out of bad situations. - The importance of managing your own career trajectory and maintaining strong professional networks - How to navigate age/gender dynamics and have candid workplace conversations about expectations - How to identify red flags during the interview process - Finding clients who are values aligned and setting boundaries along the way Website: https://www.dragonflyfinancialsolutions.com/ [https://www.dragonflyfinancialsolutions.com/] LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyzrand/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyzrand/]

When Sh#t Strikes Twice | Monika Demel and Matthew Sommerfeldt

In this episode of Through the Sh#t, host Jen McDowell sits down with award-winning photographer Monika Demel and her husband, Matthew Sommerfeldt, as they reflect on Monika's two-time experience with breast cancer. Monika relays the ups and downs of her experience: receiving her first diagnosis right before Christmas, the difficult decisions regarding her treatment plan, and the parts of cancer recovery that no one talks about. Just as Monika thinks she's in the clear, she learns she needs to have additional surgery to remove the marker placed during her biopsy, followed by the discovery of new, fast-growing tumors and an extensive second surgery and grueling radiation protocol. Monika and Matthew reflect on the ways that people react to and process difficult news, comparing Monika's preference to work through her diagnosis privately with Matthew's preference to be surrounded by supportive people during his own cancer journey several decades prior. Given their differences in preference, they share tips for how they navigated the experience together, ensuring that they both had outlets to process what was happening. Monika also reflects on the impact of her diagnosis on her life and work, and the creation of the Brave Pink Warrior project to empower other women facing similar challenges. https://www.demelportraits.com/ [https://www.demelportraits.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/monikademel/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/monikademel/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sommerfeldt-858ab315/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-sommerfeldt-858ab315/]