Episodes

Finding the silver lining in life isn't always easy, but it's necessary to stay in a positive mindset. Rick Ornelas is an author and Positive Change Expert who teaches men and women to unlock their amazing potential to create an incredible future and change the world around them. Rick shares his own stories of trials and tribulations of how finding the silver lining was the thing that helped keep him moving forward. Rick believes anyone can be a positive change expert and in this episode he shar...

One day Jackie's father walked out her life and would't be found by anyone until eleven years later. This story is one of getting vulnerable about abandonment and mental illness. Jackie's journey to healing has been long, but now she is putting the pieces together as to why her Dad leaving had such an impact on her and her relationships with people. She shares some great insight on self reflection and what she had to do to start making sense of everything. __________________________________ Than...

Joyful YouTube creator & character (Grandma Goodie). Connie lives on the bright side, but with scars from battles won! She has overcome poverty, all manner of dysfunction and addiction in her family, tragedy, infidelity, and public shaming by a church, but transformed her traumas into dreams-come-true. Connie is the Author/Writer of 40+ traditionally-published books & Bible projects including The Life Recovery Bible (over 2 million sold), Dancing in the Arms of God, Holding on to Heaven While Yo...

In this episode I talk with a man named Brandon Mouw that shares his story of overcoming Type 1 Diabetes. He was just 3-years-old when he was diagnosed as a Juvenile Type 1 Diabetic. His journey with Diabetes is a survivor’s story. Growing to become a brittle diabetic, he underwent 9 surgeries, lost a kidney, told that death was imminent, and raised over $250,000 to pay out-of-pocket for a life-saving pancreas-only transplant. Connect with Brandon at: https://brandonmouw.com/ __________________...

In this episode I talk with a woman named Laura who shares her story of amicable separation and divorce that she successfully negotiated through with three young children involved. This led her to have the strength and freedom to be happy within herself and to start a new life including a brand new business. Laura shares what it was like in her relationship being married with three children and unhappy in her marriage. She talks about as parents we often feel selfish if we are unhappy, so we don...

*This episode may act as a trigger for some as it covers a topic of sensitive nature.* In this episode I talk with a woman named Megan who shares her story of losing her daughter Aria at only the age of 15 months old. She was diagnosed with PTSD and lived a terrifying year. After she dug herself out of the hole she was in, she became a grief coach, who is now supporting other grieving women through their grief experience. She helps them navigate the difficult and intense emotions of loss, so th...

In this episode I talk with a man named Mike that shares his story of overcoming depression and anxiety. From a small child, Mike knew he felt sad. But it would be a long journey to gathering all the right tools to finally be able to start overcoming them both. __________________________________ Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp - Visit https://betterhelp.com/brightsideoflife to join the over 500,000 people talking charge of their mental health with the help of an experienced professional. ...

In this episode I talk with Kelly Roman, the Co-Founder and CEO, of Fisher Wallace Laboratories. Kelly shares what the Fisher Wallace Stimulator is, what it does, and how it can help with depression, anxiety and insomnia. He also talks about how the device helps the body release dopamine, serotonin and fall into a state of deep relaxation with no drugs required. Kelly shares the fascinating results of Fisher Wallace’s bipolar study, which was conducted with both a placebo group and a crossover d...

In this week's episode I talk with a woman named Alex who shares her amazing story of how she was able to pay off all of her student loans by using credit card tricks, listening to Dave Ramsey, and rehabbing a home. When Alex started college she took out student loans totaling $30,000. By ten years later her student debt had DOUBLED from interest loans alone. Facing $60,000 worth of student loan debt, Alex found a way to completely pay off her student loans and then some. She shares the process ...

In this episode I talk with Gabrielle Stone. Besides being an actress, director, dancer, and podcaster, Gabrielle is also the author of the amazing book, Eat, Pray, #FML. The book is a story of love, heartbreak, and soul searching. She shares how and why she wrote the book, and also gives some of her best self love tips otherwise known in her book as the, Self- love cocktail. She talks about what it was like to travel solo in Europe and what she gained from doing so. She shares about how she pro...

In this episode I talk with a man named Tim who shares his story of where he came from to where he is today, and everything it took for him to get there. He talks about his struggles with his anxiety and depression and what steps he took to get his mental health back on track that completely changed his outlook on life. He also gives advice specifically to men on where they can start if they are struggling with their mental health. __________________________________ Thank you to our sponsors: Be...

In this episode I talk with a woman named Chrissy who shares her story of losing her Mom at the age of 18 from a drug overdose. She talks about why her Mom struggled so much with drugs and alcohol. She sheds lights on what happened after her Mom passed away, and what steps she took for her healing journey. __________________________________ Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp - Visit https://betterhelp.com/brightsideoflife to join the over 500,000 people talking charge of their mental health w...

In this episode I talk with Larry Roberts who was on Season 2 and 5 of History Channel's hit tv show Alone. Larry survived 64 days on Vancouver Island being the second to last participant to tap out, and 41 days in Mongolia being the third to last person to tap out. He shares his ups and downs of the experiences, and also shares some of the biggest take aways he learned on both journeys. Alone is the ultimate survivalist competition. It puts ten people up against each other completely Alone i...

In this episode I talk with a woman named Michelle who shares her story of being married to someone with a pornography addiction. She talks about how it affected her emotionally and physically. But after all of this, there is a beautiful redemption story. Connect with and follow Michelle on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/realyogamichelle/ __________________________________ Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp - Visit https://betterhelp.com/brightsideoflife to join the over 500,000 peo...

*This episode may act as a trigger for some as it covers a topic of sensitive nature.* In this episode I talk with a woman named Sara who shares her story of surviving an abusive childhood. From her mother's alcoholism and lies, to her Mom's abusive boyfriend, Sara talks about what everyday life was like living in that environment until she was 18. She also shares what life was like having divorced parents and all the healing she has had to go through because of her past. ______________________...

*This episode may act as a trigger for some as it covers a topic of sensitive nature.* In this episode I talk with a guy named Sam that shares his story of attempting suicide. On December 25th 2012, Sam had planned to take his own life, but something would happen in the very last moments he thought he was going to be here, that would keep him alive. But not only alive...."recklessly alive". For more info on Sam's book and organization, Recklessly Alive, please click here: https://linktr.ee/rec...

In this episode I talk with a women named MJ who shares her story of battling an eating disorder. At the age of twelve, MJ was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, and would continue to battle it for many more years. She shares the struggles she faced throughout her journey, and what has helped her the most to overcome anorexia. *This podcast may act as a trigger for some as it covers a topic of sensitive nature.* __________________________________ Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp - Visit http...

In this episode I talk to a women named Kayla that shares her story of suddenly losing her boyfriend at sixteen, and then only to lose her Mom eleven years later. Kayla walks us through the day she lost her boyfriend, how it was to handle that loss at such a young age, and how it still affects eighteen years later. Kayla goes on to share about losing her Mom, whom was her best friend, and how she dealt with that loss. She tells us what she's doing now to handle all the grief she has experienced ...

In this episode I talk with Joe T Baker III. His bio reads as this: "10 years in prison, cellmate was biological FATHER, in and out of Juvenile from 15 to 18 and still TMH saved me." In this episode he shares what kind of environment he grew up in, how he found himself down the same path as other family members, and what the turning point was that he gave his life to God. We also discuss what prison does to a person mentally, the need for prison reform, and what advice he has for youth today. O...

In this episode, I am sharing part two of my story. I talk about life after my Mom passed away, how it changed, and how I changed as a person. I share my struggle with anxiety and the moment I finally decided to go see a therapist. I also share the good parts of 2020. How's that for looking on the bright side? (tehe) ____________________________________ Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp - Visit https://betterhelp.com/brightsideoflife to join the over 500,000 people talking charge of their me...

In this episode I talk with a women named Randi who shares her story of taking back her power. She has been through a lot in her life, from childhood trauma, being abandoned, and domestic violence. She talks about when the most sad and hopeless moments were, to when she finally had a breakthrough to take back control of her life. *This episode may act as a trigger for some as it covers a topic of sensitive nature.* ____________________________________ Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp - Vis...

In this episode I talk to my first male guest, Fred! Fred shares his story of being married to an alcoholic, what signs he started noticing, and what finally led to divorce. He speaks out on being a single father after his ex passed away, and the hardships him and his daughter have endured. He also shares funny moments that he says he just has to laugh at because, "that's just our life now." ____________________________________ Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp - Visit https://betterhelp.com...

In this episode, I am going to be sharing my own personal story. I am breaking my story in two parts: My story before my Mom passed away, and my life after. These are the two biggest chapters of my life. The person I was then and now is quite different, so I feel it's best to break up the episodes. _____________________________ Thank you to our sponsors: BetterHelp - Visit https://betterhelp.com/brightsideoflife to join the over 500,000 people talking charge of their mental health with the help ...

In this episode I talk to a woman named Megan who shares her story of losing her father to suicide. She explains what life was like growing up being a Daddy's girl, how things changed over the years, and what changed at the end. *This episode may act as a trigger for some as it covers a topic of sensitive nature.* National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Suicide Survivors Loss & Support Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3...