This Is What It Takes with special guest Daniel Ryan Cotler, Psychological Warfare In Intimate Relationships

Mediumship Without The Movie Magic

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071161/fan_mail/new] Your gut knows things before your brain can explain them, but how do you tell the difference between real intuition and a loud imagination? We sit down with Danielle Ribbon Clumber, an LCSW trauma therapist in Utah and founder of Willow Medella Wellness, and her husband Nganga Mr. Pishu, a medicine man and practitioner, to talk about mediumship as a lived reality: confusing, validating, and sometimes isolating. With Abby jumping in as our guest co-host, the questions are curious, direct, and refreshingly human. We dig into the hardest part of being “gifted”, not the spooky moments, but the pressure to hide, second-guess, and feel ashamed because of culture, stigma, or fear of being labelled. Danielle shares how discernment grows through pattern recognition, self-trust, and nervous system regulation, plus why sensing energy in a room can be both ordinary and powerful. Nganga brings vivid haunted house stories, from unexplained footsteps and toys activating on their own to strange lights and experiences that seem tied to the land itself. Then we get practical. We debate Ouija boards versus spirit boards, talk about EVP (electronic voice phenomenon), and explain why tools like tarot, pendulums, and boards don’t “do” anything without the user’s energy, boundaries, and integrity. We also explore dream interpretation through a grounded lens: snake dreams, teeth dreams, house dreams, and why nightmares may be your brain trying to solve a problem, not punish you. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re picking up something real, this conversation offers language, guardrails, and a lot of permission to trust yourself without drifting into fantasy. Subscribe for more honest conversations, share this with a friend who loves the paranormal or psychology, and leave a review with the biggest question you still have about intuition or spirit communication. Support the show [https://gofund.me/01c59071]

Surgery, Setbacks, And Self-Advocacy

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071161/fan_mail/new] One minute we’re hearing, “You can go home,” and the next we’re being warned that leaving in the wrong condition could mean paralysis. That whiplash sets the tone for a raw, honest update from Victoria and Michael after a major spinal surgery that turns into a week of complications, extreme pain, and a crash course in what patient safety really looks like when you’re the one in the bed.  We talk through the surgery and the aftermath: blood pressure dropping dangerously low, being flooded with monitoring and IVs, and the disbelief of being discharged without basic repositioning that protects skin and supports recovery. Then the plot twists again when the dressings come off and Victoria’s back is visibly, painfully raw in the exact shape of the materials used. The emergency room confirms a severe allergic reaction to medical adhesive and wound products, forcing a new plan with antibiotics, steroids, and topical treatment. If you’ve ever searched “allergic reaction to surgical tape,” “Dermabond irritation,” or “post-op rash,” you’ll recognize how fast this can escalate.  From there, we zoom out to the bigger issue: patient advocacy. We break down the surgical timeout process, why sedation like Versed can make it harder for patients to protect themselves, and what should happen when allergies are clearly documented. We also share the emotional side people do not warn you about, including who shows up, who disappears, and how to set boundaries when you’re recovering and still being asked to give more.  If this story hits home, subscribe, share it with someone facing surgery, and leave a review so more patients and caregivers can find these conversations. What’s one question you wish you’d asked before your last procedure? Support the show [https://gofund.me/01c59071]

His First Pedicure Michael's Father's Day

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071161/fan_mail/new] A Father’s Day pedicure turns into a surprisingly tender milestone when my husband walks in convinced it “isn’t for men” and walks out admitting the hot rocks, paraffin, and toe rubs were the best part of his day. We laugh about gifts that are equal parts love and necessity, like replacing a ruined recliner and an air fryer that became a health hazard, then we pivot into the real wins: cutting sugar, making diabetes-friendly choices, and watching A1C move in the right direction.  We also talk about body image in a way that isn’t polished or performative. Weight loss can feel amazing and confusing at the same time, and a simple trip to try on clothes becomes a full-body experience when you’re carrying trauma, living with scars, and navigating the physical challenge of changing outfits with one hand. We share what it meant to finally wear something that fits, why a partly unbuttoned shirt can be a huge act of courage, and how a supportive partner can help without pushing too hard.  From there, the conversation gets blunt about domestic violence and coercive control. We unpack why “just leave” is often impossible when you’re being tracked, isolated, threatened, and terrorised, and we share the lasting impact of psychological abuse on self-worth and safety. With major spine surgery ahead, we also talk about the difficult choice to revisit the memoir “Who Kicked First” together, and why telling the truth still matters years later.  If you connect with honest stories about trauma healing, body dysmorphia recovery, diabetes progress, and rebuilding a life with real support, subscribe to A Contagious Smile Unstoppable, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. Support the show [https://gofund.me/01c59071]

How The Guardian Model Rebuilds Mental Health Care

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071161/fan_mail/new] The fastest way to break a person isn’t always the illness; it’s the system that treats them like a number and calls it “care.” We sit down with veteran attorney and nonprofit leader Michael Mackniak, a nationally recognized mental health advocate and the founder behind the Guardian Model and the Care Coalition, to talk about what actually changes outcomes for people who are stuck in high-need, high-risk cycles. We get specific about care coordination: why the client has to be the captain, how a “bicycle wheel” team falls apart when communication is optional, and why a single, well-built timeline of hospitalizations, medications, crises, and what worked can become the key that unlocks better decisions. Michael also shares the hard math behind the cost of neglect, comparing proactive community-based support with the staggering price of repeated emergency room visits and inpatient psychiatric stays. Along the way, we name the everyday failures listeners recognize: two-minute chart reviews, long waits for appointments, electronic medical records that don’t connect across networks, insurance barriers that crush hope, and families who get treated like a burden for speaking up. We end with practical ways to advocate without burning out, plus where to find Michael’s resources at carecoalition.org and his books on Amazon, including “Saving Melissa” and “The Seven C’s to Cure the Mental Health System.” If you care about mental health reform, patient-centered care, and real-world healthcare navigation, hit subscribe, share this with someone who needs an ally, and leave a review so more families can find these tools. What’s one moment the system made you feel unheard? Support the show [https://gofund.me/01c59071]

We Cannot Keep Pouring Into People Who Never Pour Back

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2071161/fan_mail/new] Some people call you a friend, then disappear the second you stop being convenient. We get blunt about that kind of fake loyalty and what it does to your trust, your energy, and your peace. From old work “friends” who vanish to the constant drain of being the dependable one, we talk about how to spot the pattern early and set boundaries without turning cold. Then we shift to what real love looks like when it’s lived out, not posted. We tell the story of our daughter Faith saving her change, going to the mall, and spending her money on a gift for her mom with layers of meaning, memories, and care. The Build-A-Bear details, the scents, the symbols, the voice message, all of it becomes a reminder that time and thought matter more than status, cars, or the number in a bank account. We also reflect on family traditions like movie nights and why presence is the thing you can never buy back. We also go raw on trauma recovery, PTSD, scars, and body dysphoria after abuse. Trying on clothes can feel like a fight with a mirror, especially when old cruelty still echoes years later. Along the way, we share what’s going on at home too: chronic pain, an upcoming surgery, the everyday humor that keeps us grounded, and why we’re building Stronger Than a Mountain while continuing the work behind Contagious Smiles. If any part of this hit home, listen, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one boundary you wish you’d set sooner? Support the show [https://gofund.me/01c59071]