40,000 Steps Radio

Derek Brown is a world-renowned mixologist who's now leading the charge in the booming market of non-alcoholic cocktails. He graciously shares the story of the hellish addiction he was living in, how he got clean, and - just in time for holiday parties! - he shares some of the go-to recipes in his book Mindful Mixology: A Comprehensive Guide to No- and Low-Alcohol Cocktails.

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This episode was presented by bambu werx, a Boulder-based company that creates sustainably sourced athletic apparel. Not only are product materials sources in an eco-friendly manner, bambu werx limits waste, practices Earth-friendly production, and uses recyclable materials in all its packaging. Check out 40000steps.com/gear to shop bambu werx's line of 40,000 Steps gear, and visit bambuwerx.com to learn more about all the amazing products they create - and how they create them.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

This episode was presented by MKE Overdose Prevention, which provides free tools and education on harm reduction, fosters conversations on recovery, and hosts free NARCAN training. Email MKE Overdose Prevention for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

When deciding whether to take on a project, do something challenging, or try something new altogether, Katie Mack chooses the adventure. Nearly 3 years sober and someone who has been in and out of the rooms for a long time, Mack is a storyteller who is an actor, writer, podcast creator, and producer. She created the brilliant, Webby Award-winning podcast “Fucking Sober”, and she’s a former This Is My Brave cast member - apropos given that we’re putting on a show Oct. 13 in DeKalb, Illinois.

TRIGGER WARNING: This conversation includes discussions of substance abuse and mental illness.

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This episode was presented by bambu werx, a Boulder-based company that creates sustainably sourced athletic apparel. Not only are product materials sources in an eco-friendly manner, bambu werx limits waste, practices Earth-friendly production, and uses recyclable materials in all its packaging. Check out 40000steps.com/gear to shop bambu werx's line of 40,000 Steps gear, and visit bambuwerx.com to learn more about all the amazing products they create - and how they create them.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Chelsea England, founder of MKE Overdose Prevention and a social worker assisting Milwaukee’s homeless population, isn’t sober. But she hasn’t used opioids in many years. In August 2021, she founded MKE OP, which provides resources and education on harm reduction, while fostering discussion on recovery - including that abstinence is not required for people to get free of the grips of destructive drugs like heroin.

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This episode was presented by MKE Overdose Prevention, which provides free tools and education on harm reduction, fosters conversations on recovery, and hosts free NARCAN training. Email MKE Overdose Prevention for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Dan Zwart is the owner of The Daily Bird, a coffee shop in the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee known for its great coffee, delicious Scratch ice cream, and the countless positive messages in its bright-yellow setting. Dan has spent most of his life in the throes of addiction and lost both of his brothers to overdose. He works with MKE Overdose Prevention to provide free life-saving NARCAN training at the shop, which celebrates its one-year anniversary this November.

TRIGGER WARNING: Substance abuse, overdose, suicidal ideations.

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This episode was presented by MKE Overdose Prevention, which provides free tools and education on harm reduction, fosters conversations on recovery, and hosts free NARCAN training. Email MKE Overdose Prevention for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Dr. Charlotte Markey is a psychologist and the author of two brilliant books geared toward children (but they also taught me a lot): "The Body Image Book for Girls" and "Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys". She hopped on the pod to talk about the books, and was also gracious enough to share her personal story - of what it was like to be told as a child that she didn't have a "dancer's body", and what it's like as a parent raising a boy and a girl.

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This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Greg Studzinski is backpacking 123 miles from Lambeau Field to his alma mater, Cudahy High School in the south Milwaukee suburbs. It’s a far cry from the 8 years he spent in the throes of fentanyl addiction. He failed to stay clean after his first few times through rehab, but finally made it stick when he fully addressed his mental health woes. Studzinski is raising money for Street Angels, a Milwaukee nonprofit assisting the unhoused. Check out his Packer 2 Packer GoFundMe page and make a contribution: https://bit.ly/3wIeGtY

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This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Mindfulness and meditation coach Josephine Atluri has seven children, including three sets of twins. She has experienced all the highs, the lows, and tangled messes of complicated emotions that come with having children. Because of fertility issues and a miscarriage, she and her husband adopted. Then they were pregnant with twins, and rather than enjoying the miracle of being able to carry children, she lived in constant fear of miscarrying again. Faced with the decision of what to do with their extra embryos, they went the surrogate route. Twice. And in both instances, those surrogates had twins.

Well into her family's journey, she discovered mindfulness and meditation. Now she shares the insights she wishes she had.

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This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Ondrew is a brilliant composer, who also records under the names Sangfroids and Joculatrix. They are a data scientist. They are a self-described change-maker fighting socioeconomic and environmental injustice. They are also a wide-open book about their diagnoses, which include bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder.

But rather than saying mentally ill, Ondrew uses the term neuro-divergent. And rather than overcoming mental illness, they’re focused on overcoming society and its barriers.

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This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Dr. Robb Kelly has lived many lives. He was a bassist at Abbey Road studio who played - and partied - with the likes of Queen, Bowie, and Sir Elton John. He fled England for Spain after stabbing his wife for trying to take away his vodka. He went from millionaire to homeless, living on the streets of Manchester for nearly a year.

He remembers his moment of clarity, at a convenience store before sunrise. His hands trembled as he reached for a bottle of vodka. When he touched it, his hands stopped shaking. He realized then he had a thinking problem, not a drinking problem.

He's ridden that realization to a career as an addiction specialist with the Robb Kelly Recovery Group, through which he creates individualized recovery programs using somatic experience and neuro linguistic programming. Robb has appeared on all the major networks, HBO and more.

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This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

As a magnetic, talented 13-year-old member of the MWAH troupe, Landon Ballard danced, acted and sang songs about the importance of staying away from drugs and asking for help. Yet he was already headed down the spiral of drug addiction - a plummet that would land him in jail and rehab multiple times.

Now he bravely shares his recovery story in middle and high schools, and he’s directing a show called This Is My Brave, in which locals take the stage and share their stories of triumph over mental illness and addiction.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions of substance abuse, mental illness and self-harm.

************************************

This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Agota shares her journey in her book "Forever on Pointe", which just went on sale on Amazon.

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This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Joe Barksdale is a former NFL player who won a National Championship with the LSU Tigers in 2008. But he'd rather talk about his second career as a musician - and his third as a comedian. Joe dropped five albums in 2021 alone, and he has another on the way. 

When Joe does talk sport, it generally centers on advocacy for athletes struggling with mental illness. After all, Joe is on the autism spectrum, and he bravely shares in our conversation that every morning, he wakes up thinking about taking his own life.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions about suicide, sexual abuse, and mental illness.

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This episode was presented by Lyn Health, human-centric healthcare for people with multiple chronic conditions. Lyn delivers clinical, advocacy and care coordination services, combining the best parts of virtual and in-person care. Lyn can help you find a doctor or specialist, schedule appointments, manage medicines, and talk to your insurance company. If you are an employer or health plan, Lyn is a benefit your employees and members deserve, and can also provide a cost savings for you. Lyn is on your side, at your side, as a friend. Visit lynhealth.io to learn more.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Danielle Lewis, at the time this episode was recorded, was 40th in the Ironman World Rankings. Ironman is the ultimate test of mental toughness, so it was inspiring to learn that Danielle, like the rest of us mortals, has dealt with severe depression.

Danielle talked about illness, injuries and devastation that once led to her putting on 50 pounds and temporarily giving up on her goals. Ultimately, though, she made the decision that depression wasn’t going to rob her of her dream of being a world-class athlete.

Danielle and I found lots of commonality, including that we have both struggled to learn to swim. The difference here being that she's about twice as fast as I am, and given her recent breakthrough in the water, don’t be shocked if her Ironman world ranking rises fast in 2022.

TRIGGER WARNING: This conversation includes discussions of mental illness and disordered eating.

************************************

This episode was presented by bambu werx, a Boulder-based company that creates sustainably sourced athletic apparel. Not only are product materials sources in an eco-friendly manner, bambu werx limits waste, practices Earth-friendly production, and uses recyclable materials in all its packaging. Check out 40000steps.com/gear to shop bambu werx's line of 40,000 Steps gear, and visit bambuwerx.com to learn more about all the amazing products they create - and how they create them.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Triathlete Steph Williams has taken the leap into the deep end - figuratively and literally. She recently got sober and resumed sharing her mental health journey as a Still I Run ambassador, years after a nastygram from a friend led her to go silent.

Steph also taught herself to swim and has her eyes on her first Ironman in 2023. She opened up about losing multiple loved ones to suicide, and what it's like to truly live, not just try to survive.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions about substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide.

************************************

This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Ashley Perkins is a mental health advocate and founder of We Matter Too with a background as a pharmacist and educator. She's also a TEDx speaker, and in one of her talks, she bangs one of my favorite drums: Mental health professionals can empower their clients by sharing their own struggles with, and triumphs over, mental illness.

We Matter Too amplifies voices of people in recovery, no matter where they are in their recovery journey. Five years, or five days, Ashley empowers everyone in recovery to share their story. In this episode, she shared her extraordinary journey through severe trauma, numerous mental illness diagnoses, and multiple suicide attempts.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions about substance abuse, mental illness, and suicide.

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This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Sylvie Mae Baldwin performed her one-woman show, Skinny Crazy Small six days a week, first in Seattle and then in New York City. Then she sporadically performed for healthcare professionals. Each time, she had to go back to sixth grade, when her eating disorder took over her life. She couldn't just perform. It had to be authentic. She had to go back there and relive it, to make the audience feel her pain, her struggles, and her triumph.

Name a role in producing a show, and Sylvie has filled it. Her CV reads like a scroll. But while she loves acting, her greatest achievement is creating a show that has helped countless people and swung the needle on the stigma surrounding mental health and eating disorders. After last performing Skinny Crazy Small about 5 years ago, she's now resurrecting it and looking forward to directing a new incarnation with a new cast.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions of mental illness and eating disorders.

************************************

This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

It took former heroin addict Morgan Godvin going to prison for her to realize her purpose. She did 5 years for selling the drugs that killed her close friend. Now she’s shaking up the criminal justice system and leading substance abuse treatment reform. Morgan founded Beats Overdose, a collaboration with hip-hop icons like Cypress Hill and Atmosphere, through which she and her crew provide harm reduction education and resources at concerts.

Among Morgan's many accomplishments: Through her work as a commissioner on Oregon’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, she helped pass a measure that decriminalized drug possession.

************************************

This episode was presented by Lyn Health, human-centric healthcare for people with multiple chronic conditions. Lyn delivers clinical, advocacy and care coordination services, combining the best parts of virtual and in-person care. Lyn can help you find a doctor or specialist, schedule appointments, manage medicines, and talk to your insurance company. If you are an employer or health plan, Lyn is a benefit your employees and members deserve, and can also provide a cost savings for you. Lyn is on your side, at your side, as a friend. Visit lynhealth.io to learn more.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Clint Malarchuk nearly bled out on national television when an opponent's skate came up and slit his jugular. Years later, he pointed a rifle to his chin and pulled the trigger. If the skate or the bullet had traveled another centimeter, he would not be here today.

Clint made an NHL All-Star team. He coached some of the greatest goaltenders of our generation. Yet he considers his book, "A Matter of Inches: How I Survived in the Crease and Beyond", his crowning achievement. In it, he tells all: about the abuse he endured as a child, his battles with OCD, depression and addiction, and how he became a pioneer for mental health awareness in hockey.

************************************

This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Elaine spent 30-plus years in corporate America before she bet on herself and dived into a career in advocacy. Now she's published her book "My Crazy Summer", she has another on the way, and she's working to open a recovery retreat. She also educates students on how to become mental health ambassadors. 

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions about mental illness and suicide attempts.

************************************

This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Megan Hammis is a registered dietitian and a runner who recently finished her 100th race. She's also an advocate for recovering addicts. After all, she's been sober since Oct. 10, 2020. And her mother would have celebrated 24 years of sobriety this month - if she hadn't died unexpectedly in April 2021.

Megan's running resume includes six marathons, nine half-marathons and 85 races of other various distances. She's also an Ambassador of Still I Run, a group of runners stomping out the stigma surrounding mental illness.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions on substance abuse, mental illness, eating disorders and suicidal ideations.

************************************

This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Steve is Chief Commercial Officer of Lyn Health, a healthcare start-up that's working to address patients with multiple chronic conditions. The company places an emphasis on behavioral health which, as Steve knows all too well, contributes to many other chronic conditions.

If you or someone you love is under duress, call the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

If you're grieving and want to talk to someone who's going through the same things, email Steve: srandrzejewski@me.com

************************************

This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Nita Sweeney is the award-winning author of "Depression Hates a Moving Target". As the title suggests, she uses running (with her amazing doggo) to overcome mental illness.

Getting started with running and making it stick at age 49 was not easy for Nita. Now, she's run three full marathons and dozens of half-marathons since 2010. She even ran her first 50K last year. Her stories from the ongoing journey will make you laugh, cry, and go out for a run, of course.

Nita's new book, "How to Make Every Move a Meditation", comes out this summer. And it's already been mentioned in a list of anticipated workout books in the Wall Street Journal.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions about mental illness, substance abuse, and suicidal ideations.

************************************

This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Dave Scarpello has endured enough trauma for multiple lifetimes. He was abused as a child. He was caught in crossfire in Germantown, a poverty-riddled neighborhood in Philadelphia. He was hit by a car driven by a drunk driver who had no insurance, and was told he'd never walk again. He lost his job. His home.

But he never lost his hope, or his belief in himself.

Now, Dave has run about 10 marathons and completed his first ultra, a 12-hour endurance run, last summer. He's been named a Still I Run Ambassador for the third year running, and bravely speaks up about his PTSD.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions about mental illness and suicidal ideations.

************************************

This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for the free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Just in time for the holidays, Dr. Dan Hochman joins us to offer oodles of great advice when it comes to the "messy" areas of sobriety. I'm looking at you, holiday stress.

Dan has worked extensively in treatment centers, and in his private practice he focuses on treating addiction cases in which other programs, fellowships and interventions simply haven't worked. Frustrated by the number of people who felt let down, even hopeless, he created his own online program called Self Recovery, through which participants take ownership of their recovery and design the program that works specifically for them.

In the podcast, he gave some terrific broad advice, but things got really interesting (and helpful!) when he was given some specific details from listeners' dilemmas.

Follow Self Recovery on ...

Facebook: facebook.com/Selfrecoveryhealth

Instagram: @selfrecoveryhealth

************************************

This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Jason Wood is an author and a mental health advocate who suffers from orthorexia - a little-known eating disorder defined by obsession with eating healthy foods. Back when he was a self-described "fat kid," he discovered the surefire way to gain praise and to achieve what he then considered successes was to adhere to a strict, albeit downright dangerously restrictive diet.

Jason's first book, "Starving for Survival" comes out Jan. 11, 2022, and you can preorder it now. He's taken on the mission of sharing his personal experiences with not just orthorexia, but dealing with an eating disorder as a man. He's also only recently come to terms with being gay, despite having been married his husband back in 2019.

Does this all sound intimidating? To Jason, it sounds exhilarating. Yes, he still has a lot of growing to do. But he's come a long way, and he's thrilled by the opportunity to keep getting better.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions on eating disorders, trauma, mental illness, and alcohol abuse.

Follow Jason on Instagram.

************************************

This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Brian James is on a mission to tap out the stigma surrounding addiction and mental illness. While he and I share a number of passions - running, music, and off-beat humor, to name a few - he's way into something that's unfamiliar to me: jiu-jitsu. He leaned hard on the discipline during 2020, when he lost his father and, shortly thereafter, a close friend.

Brian got sober from meth in the early 2000s, but it was first March 3, 2014, when he put down the drink for good. He boldly shares his story to inspire others, and to dispel myths surrounding masculinity.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions on substance abuse and suicide.

************************************

This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Reba Buhr, actor, author and mental health advocate, has nearly 100 credits on IMDB. She’s probably voiced a character in one of your favorite animated shows or video games - including one of my daughters’ favorite joints, Miraculous.

But Reba’s dream is to take her show on the road and speak to students at universities about her mental health journey. She’s written a book titled “Get Thee to a Therapist”, in which she shares her struggles with anxiety and panic attacks that came on during college, while educating readers how to navigate the mental healthcare system. Her Instagram account that goes by the same name is packed with her unique brand of humor and invaluable insights.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions on anxiety and panic attacks.

************************************

This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Kim Sundling is a behavioral health pharmacist. As someone who prescribes medicine, one can only imagine the hell she was living through over the course of 11 months, as she, along with her psychiatrist and therapist, tried to figure out the right medication cocktail to treat her bipolar disorder. At last, in August, they hit the jackpot, and she's finally fully living her life.

Kim, a Boston Marathon qualifier who plans to conquer her first ultramarathon next year, puts her entire story out there as an ambassador for Still I Run, a running community determined to break the stigma surrounding mental illness. On the podcast, she shares the story of how she nearly died about 6 years ago, and how her husband saved her by ripping out a toilet. Can't make this stuff up, folks.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions about suicidal ideations and eating disorders.

************************************

This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Charlie Engle has seen some things, man. He's run across the Sahara Desert and summited ice-covered volcanoes, and his next goal is to run from the Dead Sea to the top of Mount Everest. He's also spent a year and a half behind bars in federal prison.

Charlie is coming up on 30 years sober, and as a public speaker, author, and relentless advocate, he's made a significant impact on treatment for substance abuse, and the stigma surrounding addiction and recovery.

Whether it's training for another near-impossible physical feat or simply becoming a better human, Charlie has a universal credo: "Comfort is overrated."

We obviously couldn't get to everything Charlie's done and hopes to accomplish in a 1-hour interview. For his entire incredible story (up until now), check out his memoir, "Running Man."

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions on substance abuse.

************************************

This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Ed Latimore knows how to take a punch and roll with it. And he knows how to counter with the best of them. That's why he's 13-1-1 as a professional boxer, a chess enthusiast, and most germane to this podcast, the owner of nearly 8 years of sobriety from alcohol and pornography.

Ed also has a physics degree, and as he describes, looking to hit rock bottom isn't just a fool's errand. It's dangerous. Because when you hit the floor, or a wall, at full speed, the equal and opposite reaction force is not something to mess with.

While I'm sentimental to a fault, Ed fully admits he's not. But we've both come to the same conclusion: To get everything we want out of life, we need to get rid of the things that are standing in our way. So he made a very practical decision to get clean - that alcohol wasn't serving him, and it was limiting his opportunities. Now he's written several books, is a sought-after speaker, and he's amassed a huge social media following. Check him out on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions on substance abuse and pornography addiction.

************************************

This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Mireya Lopez is a mother of one and the celebrated host of the podcast Mothering Anxiety. She's built a devoted following by opening up about her battles with anxiety, and by interviewing guests about their struggles.

She's also the wife of a recovering alcoholic. Her husband gave up the drink a little more than a year ago.

We discuss what it's like being the partner of a substance abuser, the many faces of anxiety, and what it was like for Mireya to learn she was having a girl after being treated like her mother's biggest f***-up as a child.

TRIGGER WARNING: We discuss alcohol abuse and suicidal ideations.

************************************

This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Emily Saldana, an eight-time marathoner and mother of four, has gone through an ugly divorce. She's survived cancer, a traumatizing childhood, and resulting anxiety that saw her putting herself to sleep with panic attacks.

Emily recently shattered her marathon PR, but her next race, the Chicago Marathon, was her true breakthrough performance.

************************************

This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read Christopher's regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio

Travis Eastman knows his addiction recovery program, 12 Weeks to Freedom, works - because it continues to work for him. Travis is a chef, a meditation guide, and an ultramarathoner who officially launched the program in October.

TRIGGER WARNING: Travis opens up about his lows - from burying booze in parks near his home to multiple suicide attempts.

But as always, we focus most of our conversation on how incredible life is on this side of addiction.

************************************

This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Ally Garber is relentless with her love, and her work. She’s a half-marathoner, a public speaker, and a fervent advocate for those of us recovering from addiction, and everyone living with mental illness.

On Oct. 1, Ally’s tracker app told her she was 3 years sober, and it broke down all the money and time she’s saved. But the biggest reason she got clean was to be fully present with her mother after she got sick in the final year of her life.

************************************

This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at christopher@40000steps.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

As Denise Williams points out, there's a dearth of queer women of color in social work. Thank Sweet Baby Jesus she's here, and that after working extensively with children at the elementary level, her true passion is to work with adolescents. Show of hands: Who could have used a social worker like Denise Williams when they were a teenager?

Denise joined the podcast to talk about life as a suicide survivor and mental health champion, social justice issues, and the art of picking our battles when fighting for what's right. We also discussed the vast gender identity spectrum and the benefits of addressing our biases.

Oh, and we talked about running. She's run multiple marathons and serves as an ambassador for Still I Run, a community of runners promoting the benefits of running for mental health and laying waste to the stigma around mental illness.

************************************

This episode was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Kimmey Hill earned the nickname “Bulldozer” as a kid, and the name still fits. When she sets her mind to something, nothing is going to stop her.

Two years ago, she committed to saving her own life by getting sober. Despite a debilitating knee injury, she’s committed to running a half-marathon in every state. And she’s dedicated her life to bulldozing the patriarchy, bigots, and anyone who gets in the way of equal opportunities for EVERYone.

No matter what battles lie ahead, every day starts the same for Kimmey. She’s grateful to still be here, to be able to run, and to live to fight another day.

************************************

Our conversation with Kimmey was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Robyn Symon is an award-winning director and producer whose recent documentary, "Do No Harm: Exposing the Hippocratic Hoax", sheds light on the epidemic of burnout and suicide among physicians.

Robyn has more that 20 years of experience with network TV series, documentary films and web content including PBS, Discovery Health, and HGTV. She began her career as a TV reporter, so we'll certainly delve into another epidemic: the mental health challenges and trauma that journalists face.

Robyn has won two Emmys for her writing and covered topics from self-help giant Werner Erhard to the war on terror in West Africa. Her latest work was particularly personal, as she comes from a line of physicians.

************************************

Our conversation with Robyn was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Pam Rickard has tackled more than 100 marathons and ultra-marathons. She's run across the Gobi Desert, and she was on a six-member Icebreaker Run team that ran across the United States to increase awareness of the importance of mental health.

Pam exudes gratitude and joy, and calls herself "obnoxiously optimistic." But who wouldn't be after racking up 15 years of sobriety and tens of thousands of miles? She's made it her life's goal of helping others not only survive addiction, but thrive in sobriety. Through her work with Herren Project, she's raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to increase access to treatment and counseling for those who are suffering.

In this complicated world, Pam keeps her mantras simple: Grow some good today. Do the next right thing. And even when the road ahead looks rocky, be grateful that you get to run on it.

************************************

This episode was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Christina Kimbrough has overcome addiction, mental illness, religious trauma, domestic violence, eating disorders, and more. And as a fervent advocate for others in recovery, she’s here to talk all about it via her social media presence, her blog and more.

No matter how much she’s survived and experienced, there’s always more to learn. That’s why she’s chasing her dream of becoming a therapist.

************************************

This episode was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Our conversation with Dustin was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

As a coach, teacher and political strategist, words are very important to Matt Kadow. He can rally the troops and turn a phrase with the best of them.

So imagine his shock when he reviewed his virtual teaching lessons and noticed he was dropping words and losing his train of thought altogether.

So he got his brain examined, and was relieved that he wasn’t suffering from the fallout of multiple traumatic brain injuries he suffered as an athlete over the years.

But he came away with a number of tools to manage his anxiety and keep his brain as healthy as possible. And he passes those tools along to the athletes he coaches, by placing an emphasis on concussion protocols, and by creating a culture where athletes are encouraged to communicate when they’re suffering mentally. That focus on mind-body connection is yielding brilliant results.

This episode also marks the debut of Allison Grady. Allison starred in Episode 27 of the podcast, and as a clinical psychology student and a college track sprinter who's battled mental illness and an eating disorder, she brings an invaluable perspective to the show.

************************************

Our conversation with Matt was presented by DUI & Behavioral Health Counseling Centers, which has offices here in northern Illinois – in Sycamore, Plano, and Crystal Lake. If you suspect you or someone you love has a problem with drinking, drugs, mental illness or anger, call 815-895-9000 today and set up an evaluation. Visit duisycamore.com for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Our conversation with Martin was presented by Mindful Marathon. Exercise is medicine, and pediatrician/running coach Michelle Quirk is ready to write a prescription. Whether you’re training for your first 5K or looking to tackle an ultramarathon, she will build an individualized plan and be at your side from start to finish. Schedule a free consultation today at mindful-marathon.com.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.

Our conversation with Jim was presented by Gateway Foundation. If drugs and alcohol are starting to take over your life, or the life of someone you love, it’s time to be honest and enlist some help. Gateway offers life-saving inpatient services, as well as virtual treatment. Call 877-505-HOPE to schedule a consultation, or visit gatewayfoundation.org for more information.

************************************

Catch me on IGTV (@40000_Steps) and Facebook Live at 11 a.m. CST every Tuesday and Thursday. Join the discussion. Bring your own snacks.

************************************

If you or someone you know would like to star on the podcast, or be interviewed on IGTV, email us at 40000steps@gmail.com.

************************************

Sign up for our free newsletter and read my regular musings in The Big Blog at 40000steps.com, where you can also read about and listen to every episode of 40,000 Steps Radio.