Big Swells Podcast

Divorce with Denise Isaacs

Denise Isaacs joins us to help those contemplating divorce and already in the midst of this tumultuous life event. Denise brings 42 years experience of helping couple navigate this unplanned upheaval and broken dreams. It doesn't have to be the never ending nightmare. There are tools to help everyone make better choices, save money, time , family relationships and your mental health. She shares questions you should ask when searching for a divorce attorney, red flags, the "Fake Intimacy" that social media is , things to consider when you're delaying marriage and having kids, why pre- ups are so important, why separate bank accounts are crucial , alimony, and so much more. Despite watching marriages fall apart the last four decades, Denise has been happily married for over 44 years and still believes there are many benefits to this sacred institution. Thank you for sharing your time with us and hope you gained something. Please share with your friends and help me grow this podcast!

Life After Prison - Kristen Johnson Graham County Reentry Coordinator

We close season 3 with a powerful story of healing from Addiction/Substance Use Disorder . Kristen Johnson had a charmed life and childhood with a stable and loving family. Youthful tendencies and curiosities tempted her to experiment with drugs and alcohol that led her down a road of self-destruction. She spent 5 years in prison from DUI and gun related charges where she eventually cleaned up, healed and now works as Prison Reentry Coordinator in Graham County Arizona. Her story of addiction, recovery, and now thriving and helping others . Her newsletter The Light is now reaching and helping prisoners around the county. Let's end the year with hope, goals, and some inspiration. There's nothing like lived experience to help others. Thank you for sharing your time with us.

Tributes to Veterans and Resilience

Dr. Sherman Gillums is a self-described Marine Mustang , father , and public policy expert. He shares his Marine journey, becoming paralyzed after a roll-over accident, becoming a father of 6 , and working several high level policy jobs in the Federal Government. He's served as Past President of The Paralyzed Veterans of America, FEMA to improve disaster preparedness for people with disabilities, National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI) to advance the 988 suicide hotline number and restructure response to emergencies such as COVID 19, VA Advisory Committees. He's currently serving as the Senior Director of Public Policy & Advocacy for The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to advocate and provide support to anybody who is paralyzed from accidents, disease, strokes. He's also an Adjunct Professor at The University of Maryland while raising his youngest son, and enjoying life as a grandfather. Thank you for stoping by to listen and we hope you leave uplifted and inspired.

Intellectual Disabilities -UC Davis SEED Scholars Program - College and Job Training

Beth Foraker joins us to discuss the groundbreaking UC Davis SEED Scholars Program for students with intellectual disabilities. This program is the first four year live on college experience in California for this demographic and flips the employment statistic for this group upside down. Less than 20% of this demographic ever live independently or gain paid employment, but after this program 80% of the students have paid employment and live independently. The goal is to improve life outcomes via the college immersion experience that includes core/foundational classes and elective classes. Students will choose and get to experience paid and unpaid internships in their areas of interest that often lead to paid employment . Did you know that Federal Law sill allows people with intellectual disabilities to be paid less than minimum wage ? It's outrageous. Thank you for stopping by to learn about this life-changing program.

Sex Addiction with Dr. Rob

Please join us for a very moving discussion with Dr. Rob discussing all things sex addiction , recovery and healing. Dr. Rob Weiss shares 30 years of experience helping those around the globe struggling with trauma induced sexual , behavioral issues. Learn about "Process" addictions, the need to "disappear" and escape, how trauma from being used by a parent leads to sexual problems. He explains how betrayal trauma affects women much differently than most men, the role of testosterone /hormonal influences on behavior, why the goal is "healthy" sex rather than differences in sexual preferences, how addicts "blame" others, triggers, trust and so much more. Come listen to this very judgment free discussion and learn about Dr. Robs many approaches, programs and resources to start your healing journey.