Never Ever Give Up Hope

One of the most important questions we must ask is:  are we losing the magic of in-person social interaction due to overuse of smart technology? If we compound this issue with social distancing, how will this affect the youngest and latest generation?  Johnny Welsh has worked as a professional bartender in Frisco, Colorado, for over twenty years. After five years of university study, he earned a degree in Italian Language, Literature, and Culture which has been a great prerequisite for a lifelong career in the mixology arts. He can now recount funny bar stories in two different languages. His latest hobby is twisting these topics into books. He is the author of multiple award-winning Paper Maps, No Apps: An Unplugged Travel Adventure. His first book, Weedgalized in Colorado, about the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, won two awards from Readers’ Favorite. During his interview, I asked Johnny if he had a point in his life when he felt helpless or hopeless. His answer will shock and challenge you because it is something we do everyday and is affecting us more than we can imagine:  

After listening to her interview you will say "WOW - I didn't know this was available to protect myself and my family!"   AND.....you will get answers as to WHY the justice system does little to help. Sabrina Osso came from violence; her father beat her mother on a regular basis. When she moved out she fulfilled her dream of becoming a dancer and created a one-woman show, "Home Sweet Home."   Sabrina Osso is the Founder and CEO of OSSO SAFE.  She is a TEDx speaker, real estate agent, and consultant on promoting safety and preventing violence in the workplace, schools, and places of residence.  Osso Safe approaches the issue of violence in homes, schools, workplaces, and properties. Their vision is for the prevention of home violence through the real estate industry. This is an interesting concept you do not want to miss. In Sabrina's interview, she explains how abuse should NOT be part of anyone's residency, EVER. She also discusses the connection between violence and pornography and why the legal system often makes horrible matters even worse. She plays different women being abused but it ends with a strong, empowering message. With extensive research in the area of abuse and the alarming statistics, Osso Safe was born.

Clutter can be an enormous weight in all areas of your life. When you clear your clutter you can create the life you desire and share your gifts with the world. You have the wisdom within and Julie’s books on how to declutter your life show you how to access your wisdom and then create a plan of action.  Julie Coraccio is an award-winning life, and end of life organizer; author, certified life coach; professional declutter’er and host of the podcast Clear Your Clutter Inside & Out and the Reawaken Your Brilliance channel on Paetron. During her interview we discussed how living in clutter affects us -- physically and emotionally, and what we can do to change that: Does your clutter control you or do you control your clutter? Stop letting fear overwhelm you! Learn how you can declutter with Clear Your Clutter Inside & Out from Julie Coraccio and help find internal and external peace, reduce and overcome anxiety, and help eliminate the things (clutter) holding you down and back. Julie Coraccio’s definition of clutter is this: Clutter is anything that prevents you from creating the life you choose, deserve, and desire. When you clear your emotional clutter, you can say goodbye to the things in your life like knee-jerk emotional responses. By removing clutter you can get closer to living the life you desire!

Angela Marshall resigned from twenty years in the corporate world to pursue her purpose - to be unmasked, unchained, and untamed. She struggled through a lavish but sorely lacking lifestyle as an NFL wife. Angela is a public speaker, professional writer, columnist, bestseller author, creative consultant, ex-NFL wife, and business owner of “In Other Words, By Stone.” Through teaching and sharing motivating topics, Angela has inspired minds to stretch and evolve across the globe. Her heart and passion to liberate, illuminate and motivate others have appropriately nick-named her “wise words woman.”  Also known as “Author Stone,” Angela is a positive words powerhouse that utilizes her personal life experiences of struggle, strength, and success to captivate audiences and readers abroad. Angela resigned from twenty years in the corporate world to embrace the purpose that has pursued her throughout life - to be unmasked, unchained and untamed. She struggled through a lavish but sorely lacking lifestyle as a former NFL wife. That chapter in her life produced the transparency in her inspiring inquiring minds want to know auto-biography, Reality to Rags to Riches; The Story and Life of an Ex-NFL Wife. Angela has graced influential platforms across the globe and is also a featured author in the Women Who Lead anthology that chronicles successful women across the globe. In Angela's words: I was a false replica to everyone and an authentic nothing to myself. I had a lot of unmasking and unchaining to do in order to live as me.  In her interview, she tells the untold story as an NFL wife and how YOU can experience strength and success in your life as well. She covers these points: Converting the Downs in Life to Wins Making Positive Plays Every Day The Scores That Do Not Count       Life has taken me on a journey that took three major turns, each leading to a road of exploration and discovery; each crafting me into the person who would become skillful at using life’s compass in navigating new directions and negotiating what’s best for me: REALITY is a place that forced me to face life early on "as is."    The seeds planted during that period are directly responsible for my growth. All of my core values were established. No matter how far I strayed, the experiences throughout that time prepared me for Rags and Riches.   RAGS taught me humility, agility, and possibility. I learned to be grateful when I am served, but more importantly, to be willing to serve others. The events during this period instilled fearless faith that grounded me and prepared me for true Riches.   RICHES is not about what. It’s about who. For me, that means family, friends, and moments. They are true riches that are irreplaceable. If I can replace it, it is not a true treasure.

Before five years old, predators came into Sean Wheller's life, using him for sexual purposes until he was nine.  By the time he was seven, Sean was used in child pornography for the next two years.  By nine years old he was drinking, smoking, and addicted to pornography.  When his family moved from the small Midwestern town he grew up in, the damage was done. But....God rescued him. Based on 15 years of previous studies, EcPat USA released a study in 2016 clearly showing that boys are as vulnerable to abuse as girls - YET....when they seek help they are often met with indifference. Wretch – Haunted by Shadows, Rescued by Jesus is the story of how Sean became a victim of child trafficking and how God led him to a counselor who would change his life forever. This was the beginning of Starfish Ministries Colorado, a 501c3 non-profit working in the fight against child trafficking to provide a voice for boys who are often left out of the conversation. Sean's story has been heard by over 3.5 million people worldwide. In Sean's interview, he explains the difficulty in exposing this problem and what we can do about it. Our sons are vulnerable targets and yet, not getting the help they need. His interview is spell-binding. His closing statement says it all: It is not about what people did to you but what God has done for you, in you, and what is now happening through you. Child pornography/trafficking is a $140 billion dollar business. Sean shares what is happening and what each of us can do to bring change in our communities. His story will be released on the big screen soon. It is a message the world needs to hear:

2020 was a record year for suicides of police officers in America. There were 236 suicides and approximately 170 inline duty deaths. Officers know the risks of the job but suicide should NOT be one of them. Scott Medlin has worked as a Police Officer since 2007. Prior to that, he was in the United States Marine Corps. He was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2005. After an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, he earned his Bachelor's degree and entered law enforcement. Both as a police officer and a Marine, Scott had to face huge struggles including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction. In order to save his marriage, Scott had to resign from his job as a K9 officer which caused him deep resentment and despair - feeling like he lost his identity. Since the lockdown, there has been an upsurge of mental health challenges in general, but also among police officers. Scott faced these challenges and now teaches others how to become aware of them and overcome them.  He has helped fellow officers keep marriages together, pull through during hard financial times, overcome depression, and provide encouragement when needed. In Scott's interview, he shares the struggles and the triumphs of our law enforcement officers but also how we can use the same principles for better mental health no matter what our occupation.  

Shawn Anderson is the leading voice on the power of the 'go the extra mile' message. Shawn is a #1 ranked motivational author and international keynote speaker. He is a lifetime entrepreneur with a track record of raising performance and passion in others.  Shawn is a seven-time author and the creator of "Extra Mile Day." A day declared by 512 cities on November 1, 2020, recognizing extra mile heroes in local communities. Shawn walks the talk. He's built a million-dollar company, pedaled a bike 4,000 miles across the US (twice), run a 100-mile race, and created adventures in more than fifty countries including having walked across seven countries since 2014. In his interview, Shawn how we can change our world by going the extra mile. One. Step. At. A. Time.

When the planes hit the Twin Towers, Christina Ray Stanton’s life changed forever. As the new dawn of terrorism began, the Manhattan resident and her husband fearfully witnessed the impact just six blocks away from Ground Zero. As toxic dust spread into the air, the Stantons boarded a boat off the island and into the unknown. 9/11 totally reset the course of our lives. In the years since the attacks, interest in 9/11 has waned and education about it has been lacking. The 20-year anniversary of the worst attack on US soil is this year. Christina wants to re-engage the public with information about 9/11 via a new, unique voice and from a different perspective than typically offered. Christina is a 9/11 historian, and Financial District resident who lived six blocks from the attacks, and an NYC licensed tour guide who has been giving tours of the World Trade Center complex since 1995. Christina Ray Stanton is an award-winning author of two books and several articles and is a professional speaker who has appeared on TBN, Fox, CBN, and others. She is a licensed NYC tour guide of 25 years who specializes in 9/11 history. She and her husband founded Loving All Nations, a nonprofit organization that helps the world's poor and marginalized.  In March 2020, Christina caught a near-fatal case of COVID-19. This could be from a compromised immune system stemming from the 9/11 fallout. These two calamities have left Christina with long-term health issues and were mentally challenging to overcome. But her faith provided strength and sustained her. Christina wants to re-engage the public with information about 9/11 via a new, unique voice and from a different perspective than typically offered. Listen to Christina's amazing story here:  

Paul Merritt was born with cystic fibrosis. He has not lived his life as a victim of disease but, rather, someone who has a passion for science, faith, and helping others to succeed - especially in the face of adversity. Paul has had to overcome many challenges and much hardship just to survive. His motto in life is “Never let your obstacles become boundaries.” Paul is an author of two books, The Best of Disease and Simple Ways to Improve, and his memoir Lifelong Turbulence: Calming the Storms of Life with God, Faith, Scripture, and Medicine. Paul is a small business owner/operator and has a certificate in infectious disease and infection control. In his interview, Paul shares the keys to getting over adversity in our lives - no matter what it may be. "The size of the fight in the dog is what gets you there."   Living beyond expectations, Lifelong Turbulence is a story of adversity - thirty plus years of living with a chronic illness called Cystic Fibrosis – a genetic disease caused by inheriting mutated genes from parents, which affects 30,000 children and adults in the United States alone, along with numerous issues in those thirty years. A struggle against living in poverty and even molestation. A powerful story that can motivate and show how to overcome the struggles of life by calming those storms with God, faith, scripture, and medicine. 

Kim "Kid" Curry was a high school junior when his father, the radio newsman, asked him to babysit for his boss at the radio station. Kim assumed it was to babysit the boss' kids but it was to 'run' the actual news show. The radio station played the local church services from the previous week and no one wanted the job.   From that moment, Kim knew what he wanted to do as a career and has been a broadcaster for 33 years. Then a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis changed his life. After eight years of failing health, modern science gave him hope by halting the progression of the disease. At the height of popularity for radio stations and DJs in the 70s and 80s, Curry blazed a trail for himself as “Kid” Curry. His iconic, “Bed Check” segment, helped propel him to star status in Miami and it followed him during his over the 20-year path to the dream job of Major Market Program Director. The perks of the job, including hanging out with music legends, being invited to the White House, meeting Johnny U and a Watergate burglar, traveling around the world to find the next “Number One” song and, the best part, helping listeners in need. Life was on track, but, Multiple Sclerosis had other plans. Curry dismissed the early signs of the disease and continued with his optimistic outlook until a fateful round of golf led to the diagnosis that halted a lifelong career and extinguished his dreams. But attitude is everything. With the love and support of his incredible (Cuban) wife and her assurance of, “We Got This Papi,” Curry embraced this new challenge and shows us that life can be good even in the face of adversity.   This is his story. One that will encourage and inspire you to Never Ever Give Up Hope: