Judging Meghan

The Hosts of The Good Mourning Grief Podcast, Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn are todays guests. Both ladies lost their Mothers suddenly and tragically in 2019.  Thrown into the unbearable losses in their early thirties was too much to bear. Imogen was also a new mother and felt she was all alone. 

We discuss why they started their podcast, how they met and became the best of friends in  a grief support group. 

Both ladies taught me so much. I was especially touched by the fact that they have turned their pain into purpose. Sal and Im, as they prefer to be called, are on a mission to break the stigma on discussing mental health. I love that their close bond and friendship was started during the most difficult of  times. They have now become the best of friends and share their weekly podcast to help others in the midst of loss.

Want to go check out their podcast? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-mourning-grief-podcast/id1529978129

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This is my most heartfelt episode to date. Today you are going to hear a conversation between myself and my Mom.  We discuss her attack as a young girl and how it forever impacted her life. She lost both a child and a husband, and has had to learn how to live again after these traumatic losses. 

While I had my own trauma from the many losses in my life. My relationship with my Mom has had ups and downs. The love is always there. I wanted to share for those people who are going through hard things as encouragement and hope that our story may help someone out there. I realize how very lucky I am to have my Mom and will always treasure this conversation.

Listen, cry, and be inspired to love your family even harder and stronger. 

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Today's guest is Antoinette Logan. She is an international author of "It Starts with I", a life coach, media professional, CEO, and all around amazingly strong. She talks to me about her childhood experiences with trauma, feeling unwanted, abused, and how she used those experiences to make her into the woman she is today. 

ABOUT ANTOINETTE:
Antoinette Logan is a multi-faceted media professional and international author, based out of Atlanta and Chicago. She has worked her way up in the branding and marketing field, as a personal assistant and brand ambassador to being the CEO of the full service creative company, The Altered Image Agency (A.I.M.) and the founder of the non-profit, Bonded By Birth. 

She has found a way to make it happen, whatever "it" maybe in the moment. From pain to positivity and a dream of sharing her love with everyone she encounters, this woman has set out on a mission to serve. She is not one whom does a thing, she just does "her" thing which can be a number of "things."

She is a life coach who teaches from experience and personal connections, to business consultant who can help you hit the ground running. With Ms.Logan, you can really HAVE IT ALL. 

Ms. Logan has had many accomplishments in branding, public relations, producing of digital media, events and much more. It's easy to see why anyone can ask Ms.Logan anything.

She is your Information Highway to Destination Elevation. 

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**Trigger Warning: In this episode, we talk a great deal about childhood abuse, rape, and domestic violence**

In this episode, I talk to Marie Neill. She is an amazingly strong woman who has been through some intense trauma. From being abused during childhood to being raped to being sold to a man 24 years older than her in a foreign country, she has gone  through just about every trauma you can imagine. 

We talk about her story and how she managed to find the good in the hard times. We discuss where she is now and how she is giving back to the world to help others, including by becoming a Mental Health Advocate, determined to help others with her strength and passion.  

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My guest today, Judy Van Niekerk, is an entrepreneur, a human behavioral specialist, and an iconic life mentor. She has learned through her own experiences that there is no challenge that we cannot thrive from. No challenge we are not greater than.

Her story, which may be triggering, is one of bravery and hope.  She stresses that  what happened to it her as a young girl did not define her, but it did inspire her to thrive in the way she is living her life today. Being locked up during childhood and being abused in ways we cannot even imagine forced her to look deep inside to find the transcendent love she shares with others today.  I am beyond honored to speak to Judy. As she tells me there is nothing we can not beat or manifest for ourselves. 

Judy's Bio
Judy van Niekerk is a serial entrepreneur in the real sense having established businesses in many different industries from environmental agency and training, pioneering agricultural projects, high tech companies, marketing and advertising agency in which she has achieved international acclaim in many of them including International Woman Winemaker of the world, Bravest Woman UK to name a few. She has also been an international sports woman representing her adopted country South Africa at world championships scuba diving as well as a best selling author and international speaker.

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Stroke survivor, Marcia Moran, is my guest today.  I have wanted to do an episode about this subject for a while, especially after I read her book, Stroke Forward.

We talk about what a stroke is
The warning signs of a stroke
Even healthy people can have a stroke
The importance of getting to the hospital as soon as possible and why BEFAST is so important. 
How to be your own healthcare advocate

From her website, Stroke Forward...

The morning my stroke occurred caught me off guard. I woke up and knew something was "off." I tried to text a friend to tell her that I wouldn't make coffee that morning. The text was gibberish. "Oh well," I thought. "I will text her later." I rolled over. Excruciating pain struck! Despite my throbbing headache, I drifted off to sleep. That was a mistake.

​

Later that day, I awoke to right-sided paralysis. I had a choice to make. Try to make it down the hall so my husband could find me… or give up right there. I fell to the floor and started dragging my way toward the door, using my left hand and the carpet pile to leverage me. 

I am Marcia Moran. This is my story...



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Victoria Cuore has endured more pain than one can even imagine in one lifetime. She was raised  by narcissistic parents that sent her off to her grandmother at a young age.  After a horrible break up with what she was her true love. She met a man that on paper was everything a girl could ask for. Her boyfriend began Love Bombing her early on in the relationship. He insisted on a quick marriage and quickly after they were married and pregnant, the relentless abuse began.  Victoria was beaten so badly that she has had over 100 surgeries.

Thankfully, she  got away, and rescued her young daughter.  Victoria has  used this pain and trauma to help others. Her book, Who Kicked First: A Memoir, tells some of her story of being abused and the later affects upon her special needs daughter. Her website has some amazing resources for people living in an abusive relationship. There is always a way out. 

https://www.acontagioussmile.com/

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Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Tim Braun. He is an internationally renowned medium, lecturer, author. I wanted  to have him on to talk about his career as a medium with over 17,000 sittings under his belt.

I have personally sat with Tim numerous times. The information he has shared with me brought me peace and healing. Tim is currently practicing in Newport California. He does readings all over the world. You can follow him @timbraunmedium on Instagram and his website, https://www.timbraunmedium.com/

Enjoy!

Check out his  book at https://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Mediums-Messages-Overcome/dp/B09TZM844V/

Check out Barkbox for your favorite furry friend at https://barkbox.com/judgingmeghan. 

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Todays episode is one I will never forget. Will Jimeno recounts his story of 911. If you were old enough you will never forget where you were on that horrific day.  Will tells the story of walking into the towers knowing that a plane had hit the building.  He says he and his fellow Port Authority Officers knew what they needed to do. It is nothing but a miracle that Will is still alive. He lives his life in service to others.

It was an honor to talk to Will a true hero.


ABOUT WILL:
At the time of the attacks, Will Jimeno was a rookie cop assigned to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. He saw the shadow of American Airlines Flight 11, the airplane that seconds later hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. He rode to the WTC site with 20 other Port Authority police officers in a commandeered bus.

The collapse of the South Tower trapped Jimeno and two other Port Authority officers, led by Sgt. McLoughlin, under the Concourse between the twin towers. Only Jimeno and McLoughlin survived. Dominick Pezzulo survived the initial collapse but was killed by the collapse of the North Tower while he was trying to free Jimeno.

A USA Today account observed:
Sometimes they yelled for help. But mostly the 48-year-old sergeant, a 21-year veteran, and the 33-year-old rookie talked intimately, sometimes revealing personal things — about kids, families, feelings — that they had never shared with anyone. Jimeno asked the Sergeant to deliver a message over the radio to his wife, Allison, who was seven months pregnant. They had received no response earlier, but he thought maybe their radio call would be picked up on a police tape recording. "Attention," Sgt. McLoughlin announced, "Officer Jimeno requests that his baby girl be named Olivia." His wife had liked the name. He hadn't been so sure. Now, as he prepared to die, he wanted to think of his baby girl, Olivia.[

The two men were located and extricated after former U.S. Marines Sergeant Jason Thomas and Staff Sergeant Dave Karnes heard their cries for help. Both survivors, especially McLoughlin, were severely injured. They required several surgeries and months of hospitalization for recovery and rehabilitation. On June 11, 2002, McLoughlin (with a walker) and Jimeno (with a limp) walked across a stage at Madison Square Garden to receive the Port Authority's Medal of Honor.

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I am honored today to have Dr. Kevin Payne on the podcast. He is a social psychologist, a speaker, a podcaster, author,  and skydiver - currently with under 600 jumps under his belt.

Kevin talks about his misdiagnosis living with chronic pain. After years of struggling he was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which is what truly spurred his mission. You can find Kevin under his podcast, “Your Life Lived Well”and at yourlifelivedwell.co. Kevin is in a mission to help others and never defined by what he can’t do in life due to his diagnosis. 

ABOUT KEVIN:
Kevin is a social psychologist, entrepreneur, author, podcast host, speaker, teacher, and frequent guest interview or panelist. He shares the results of his extensive research concerning how to live a quality life with chronic distress, pain, and illness. He also shares his personal exploits as a collector of experiences — even while battling Multiple Sclerosis for decades. Life is too remarkable to sit on the sidelines, even when we’ve got to get more creative about how we get in the game!

He was born and raised in the Kansas City Metro area. He can’t have too many books, is a lifelong tech geek, devoted to his animals, pretty fond of his kids, and sometimes appears as a pirate.

He also never misses a chance to jump from a perfectly good airplane.

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Today is probably the most important episode I have ever recorded. Michelle Leopold was mom living her normal life until the most horrifying thing happened to her family - the death of her son, Trevor. 

She tells the story of this handsome, outgoing, loved teenager who started out by smoking pot. This didn't alarm her until she realized that the pot we smoked when we were younger is much different than what is sold today.  This was his gateway drug to what ultimately killed him. 

We learn about how fentanyl is added to street pills to get a bigger high. The CDC estimates that 2 out of 5 street pills include fentanyl that the user doesn't even realize is there. 

Michelle shares the story of Trevor’s passing at just 19. She is determined to educate every parent of the dangers of how easily these pills can be accessed. One pill taken and his life was over. Michelle says that she keeps going determined to live in Trevor’s memory and help others. 

To connect with Michelle: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleLeopold.NorCal

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Today's episode is with the founder of the National Single Parent Resource Center, Judy Romanoff, also known as Coach Judy. Her personal experiences with her own daughter and a prolonged custody battle inspired her to change the whole direction of her life and career. The knowledge she took from her own pain and the pain she heard from other women helped her turn this time into a positive thing where she could give back to parents who needed help and guide them through a family court situation. 

About Coach Judy:
Judy Romanoff or “Coach Judy” is the M-POWERMENT Coach to CEO’s, corporations, celebrities, and families. Coach Judy is an exclusive motivational expert who provides high powered coaching information and resources from A to Z with quality, simplicity and fabulous positive energy. She is the host of the Coach Judy Talk Show and founder of About FYI for anyone seeking important guidance on how to handle divorce and custody issues.

In 1995, former Boca Raton City Mayer Carol Hansen presented Coach Judy with a “Key to the City” for sponsoring Single Parents Family Day. Coach Judy is a National Phoenix Award Recipient, Founder of National Single Parents Resource Center, President of FYI 101 Inc. & Wrote, Hosted and co-produced a unique M-POWERMENT training kit for learning the inside scoop to divorce and single parenting who now offers M-Powerment Fashions for single parent families.

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This week I sat down with Danielle Cobo.  We discussed her battle with Postpartum depression after the birth of her twin boys.  I learned 1 and 7 women experience postpartum depression. 

We have been taught as a culture to keep it quiet. I also experienced postpartum with my first born, and I remember feeling guilty because we went through so much to have her.  

This episode is just a reminder to be real with others. Talk about your feelings and get help if you need it. There should be no shame! 

Women have so much pressure to be perfect, perfect looking, perfect mom, perfect wife. It doesn’t exist! Keep Going!

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From living with parents who had a toxic marriage to being bullied and scared of trusting anyone. My guest today, Gill Tietz has been through so much pain. The pain left her angry and looking for happiness, which she found through her coping mechanism of drinking alcohol. 
 
Today we talk about her journey to finding her power in being sober and how she combatted the anger she was left with due to her childhood. Gill is a biochemist and podcaster. Her weekly podcast, “Sober Powered,” helps others each week who struggle with addiction. 

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Today, I am talking again to the most amazing therapist on the planet. Dr. Nadine Macaluso has put up with me for many years and all of my issues, and I credit her for helping save me.

 In this episode,  we  talk about several topics including. the tragic passing of Chelsea Christ. Chelsea took her own life at just 30 years of age. She was Miss USA 2019, an Attorney and Reporter with “Extra.” We discuss how many people suffer from depression and suffer silently. We also discuss the new A&E docu series, “The Secrets of Playboy.” Many women were lured into this flashy life, only to find themselves victims of the alleged monster, Hugh Hefner.   

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I met Chloe through my sister, who was her teacher. When my sister read her book, Perf: The Unspoken Flaws in a “Perfect” Culture, she said I had to interview her. Chloe is an author, as well as an assistant for a talent agency for a scripted comedy series. 

Chloe wrote the book for those who keep comparing themselves to others and beating themselves up with the “You Should Be”s. This can be paralyzing to moving forward and Chloe wanted to break free from the perfectionism that was holding her back. 

Enjoy this conversation with Chloe Cullen! 

Buy her book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1636764819/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_5VTW9P1MKRXT66WXAX6K 

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My guest, Fred Rutman, started intermittent fasting after several health scares to heal his body. The research he had found dealt with metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance, which is when you have too much insulin floating in your system. Once that gets out of whack, so many of your other hormones get out of whack, including your leptin and your ghrelin, which is your satiety and hunger signals, your estrogen, your testosterone, your adrenaline,  your growth hormones, and more. It's a domino effect. 

When you begin fasting, you give your digestive system a chance to calm down and get rid of some inflammation, which leads to a lot of your other hormones falling into place. He has seen people who IF get rid of their thyroid problems, get rid of their type two diabetes, get rid of sleep apnea, get rid of asthma, and the list goes on and on and on. 

We discuss the basics of intermittent fasting and how it can be implemented in most anyone's life. 

You can follow Fred here: https://www.instagram.com/repeatedlydf/

Don't forget to use the coupon code MEGHAN15 for 15% off their wellness shots. https://dosedaily.co/

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Do you believe in gut feelings? In this episode, I talk to licensed clinical social worker, BZ (Elizabeth) Tebo. 

**Trigger Warning - We talk about many things, including suicide, so if this is a trigger for you, you will want to skip this episode. 

- We learn all about BZ Tebo and how she came to the point she is at now
- We discuss whether you should listen to your gut
- How life experiences can inspire your calling and profession
- All about her new children's book, The Elephant on Aaron's Chest
- The importance of helping kids express their feelings and emotions

BZ Tebo didn't always dream of becoming an author. When she was younger she wanted to be an astronaut, a lawyer and a choreographer. After earning a Master of Social Work degree at The University of Michigan, she traded the Midwest winters for the California sunshine. She works as a licensed clinical social worker in San Diego, California.

Buy her book here: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/The-Elephant-on-Aarons-Chest1

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In this episode, Meghan interviews author, Mark Schutter. He is the author of Cowboys Are Not Supposed to Cry, a memoir. He tells his story of living a life with grief that began in his midtwenties. The death of his young wife left him alone, and although life was tough, he vowed to show the world that he was tougher.

Remarrying and having a daughter, to onlookers, from the outside, life seemed happy again, until in an anguished night of prayer, Mark heard the words that to be the husband and father he wanted to be, he must:

• reconcile the past
• embrace the present
• redeem the future

We talk about:

• How men have a hard time talking about mental health
• His story of grief and loss
• His impetus to share his story

About Mark:
As a much younger man, Mark stood helplessly at the edge of the dark abyss of pain, death and grief. The experience of watching his first wife die at age 26 from breast cancer forced him to question the meaning of life in his search for answers that impact his writings to this day.

He has lived his entire life in the Pacific Northwest where the land, nature and people both inspire and fuel his writing. His poetry has been featured in several print and online publications as he works on his first full-length book of his poetry that explores the pain that we all face during our lives and the hope that can rise.

He is happily remarried to a wonderful woman who he claims is the most beautiful and strongest woman he has ever known. He has been blessed with a beautiful daughter who keeps him young in this second chapter of life that he has been granted. He enjoys horses and mountain biking when not writing. He believes in the ‘ripple effect,’ touch one life and you may touch the world, for to share the journey, however brief, is a wonderful gift. His wish is to share the joys, the sorrows, the hope and healing to inspire others to live despite the grief we all carry because there is “life after…”

https://markschutter.com/

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In this episode, Meghan talks to Denise Klein, Addiction Specialist  and Executive Director of Milestones Ranch Malibu, one of the nation’s premiere dual diagnosis treatment centers. Denise discusses her new upcoming book in which she co wrote, “Truth about Rehab.”

The two discuss everything related to addiction, including the prevalence of dishonest treatment centers.

Some of the questions they cover are:
- What are some red flags for a bad treatment center?
- How to choose a treatment center that is right for you or your family member?
- What questions should you ask a treatment center before enrolling?
- What are the factors that lead to relapse?
- What’s the biggest difference between 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day in-patient treatment?
- What are the underlying issues that lead to addiction?

About Denise
Denise E. Klein, MSW, is the Executive Director of Milestones Ranch Malibu, one of the nation’s premier dual diagnosis treatment centers. Denise has been committed to helping families for over 30 years and is very passionate about helping families find the right treatment center.

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In this week's episode, Meghan speaks from her heart, sharing her own story without sparing any details, starting with the story of why her new year has started rougher than expected.

For the audience of Judging Meghan, this week's episode is a must-listen and gives context for so many other moments from past episodes. We hope you listen and that this episode inspires you to tell your truth and your own story to someone you know.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
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In this episode of Judging Meghan, Meghan talks to motivational speak Wayne Forrest, who became paralyzed from the chest down at the age of 25.

"I made a terrible mistake and put myself in a position which caused me to dislocate my neck." While Wayne had to relearn how to live after this terrible accident, he shares his story about how he moved on. "One step at a time," Wayne says, "you have to go through the motions."

Wayne tells Meghan the story of how he became a life coach and motivational speaker. When doing extreme sports for disabled people, he found a new reality he had never considered before.

"I was doing these activities, and what happened was really strange. I was the one with the disability, but there were people without physical disabilities on these courses who were scared of heights or being underwater, and it really leveled the playing field." Wayne has lived his life helping others and never letting his condition deter him from living his life to the fullest.

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In this episode, Meghan speaks to fellow podcaster Melissa Bright. The two discuss their life experiences and how those experiences led up to them both becoming podcasters in the Mental Health space. 

Melissa's journey to find her purpose began with one simple question: "What makes your heart hurt?" After having a daughter at a young age, and losing her mother, she knew  what she had to do, and decided to live a life learning and speaking about others' journeys.

Her story is touching and familiar to Meghan, who understands firsthand  what it's like to want to help bring positive messaging about mental health into the world of podcasting.

About Melissa Bright
Melissa Bright is on a mission to help people not feel alone in their struggles. She is the host and creator of The Bright Side of Life Podcast, a mental health podcast that navigates and discusses successful journeys to happiness. She can be found at thebrightsideoflifepodcast.com.

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In this episode, Meghan speaks with Maeve McGrath about bringing awareness to mental health laws in the United States, inspired by her brother Ryan. 

Maeve’s brother struggles with bipolar disorder, which resulted in him becoming homeless and living on the streets of Venice, California. Maeve fights everyday to save his life.  She  speaks on how the families of those who are mentally ill and homeless feel hopeless and betrayed  because it is so much harder to get them help if they refuse to take their lifesaving medication. 

Her brother suffers from a condition called Anosognosia, also called “lack of insight”. Maeve explains that those who have this condition do not have the ability to recognize their illness.  Maeve and Meghan discuss several options such as, “The Three Strikes Option” and that this is no longer a situation or sad but, a “Humanitarian Crisis” and extremely dangerous for everyone. 

About Maeve: 

Maeve McGrath has been a working illustrator and animator in Los Angeles since 2002. She has lived on the westside for over 20 years, currently living in Playa del Rey. Maeve has juggled raising her daughter and work while taking care of her brother who suffers from severe Bipolar illness and is committed to raising awareness of the need for reform in this nation's mental health laws.

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Dr. Tracy Bennet graces this week's episode discussing a heavily debated topic within the parenting community on children and their screens. 

Most kids spend an average of 10 hours a day on their screens, and 56% of parents worry their kids are screen addicted. The average age of first exposure to online pornography is 11 years old and 4 out of 5 tweens are on social media before age 12. Being distracted by the loss of her parents, Dr. Tracy needed answers for her own kids that had started to suffer from digital injuries and needed shame-free, actionable strategies that worked. Unfortunately they were not out there, so she committed to the GetKidsInternetSafe mission. Dr. Tracy has seen the effects of unrestricted digital access which has lead to higher cases of panic disorder, depression and video gaming addiction in children, but throughout her 25+ years as a clinical psychologist she has found the treatment and the preventative,  ADD tools to help modern families. 

About Dr. Tracy Bennet:

Dr. Tracy Bennett is a screen safety expert who teaches families how to strengthen relationships AND achieve screen sanity. She is founder and CEO of GetKidsInternetSafe (GKIS) and author of Screen Time in the Mean Time: A Parenting Guide to Get Kids and Teens Internet Safe and the GKIS Home Starter Workbook. In her work as a clinical psychologist over twenty-five years, she sees the impacts of digital injury and how to treat and prevent it. 

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Joel Correa, a TikTok phenomenon at more than half a million followers, is featured on today's show speaking on growing up trying to hide his sexuality. 

Joel's formative years were shaped by the bullying and teasing they endured all throughout school due to being Afro-Latino and Gay. Beyond school, they also faced traditional family values that did not align with who they were becoming. Joel continued to persevere through the unforeseen challenges that life threw at them as they grew up, from the untimely death of their father to the mending of the relationship with their mother. 

Their path was not on the same beaten route their traditional family expected, but they forged a new one after dropping out of college and eventually finding and cultivating their makeup skills in 2020, and becoming the amazing artist we see today.

About Joel: 

Joel Correa is a person of many talents, but the most notable is their skill with a makeup brush, that has gotten them among other things to TikTok stardom, but there is always more than meets the eye. Joel  is an Afro-Latino  first-generation immigrant, whose parents fought to take them back to the island but they had a love for American music that could not be beat, but being able to integrate both cultures into their life now has and will continue to shape their future. 

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After a short week off from the podcast, Meghan is back this week with Erin Walker to speak about her journey to becoming an expert in female aging issues, especially during perimenopause and menopause. 

Erin's journey began five years ago, but her hormone-related issues likely started during her first menstrual cycle when she was 11. Unfortunately, Erin suffered years of painful and debilitating symptoms before getting to the root of her troubles.

Through this journey, she became an advocate for her health and went back to school to help herself, but found her mission, to empower women in understanding how their bodies work and how to care for them. 

About Erin:

Erin Walker is a wife and mom of 4 boys. She is a board-certified integrative health coach and bioenergetics practitioner. She graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in Community Health Education.

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On this week's episode, Nikki DeLoach speaks about her time spent in the entertainment industry and the unforeseen struggles growing up. Though she experienced many challenges, nothing could have prepared Nikki for the day she received the news of her father’s diagnosis.

Nikki was pregnant with her youngest, Bennett, within the same month she found out  her baby had 4 heart defects, her father was diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer’s: Pick’s disease. A decision had to be made between saving her baby and seeing her father, the decision was easy but the feelings that came along with them were not.

Being heavily imbued in the entertainment industry cost Nikki time with her father as his days were coming to a close. On his last day, Nikki said her goodbyes, he might not have known her name but knew his daughter.

About Nikki
Born in a small town in South Georgia, Nikki DeLoach always knew she wanted to be an entertainer. She started dancing at the age of three, eventually adding singing, modeling, and acting to her repertoire. Outside of her many talents, DeLoach is dedicated to sharing her passions and ideas with others. She is a passionate supporter and spokesperson for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where she serves on the Foundation Board of Trustees, and The Alzheimer’s Association in honor of her father who recently lost his battle with a rare form of dementia called Pick’s Disease.

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Meghan talks to her friend, Jennifer Caras  on today's episode.  The loss of her sister at a young age and the journey she has been through since her tragic passing.  Julie  passed away in her late 20's from a brain tumor, after being misdiagnosed for years.

Jen speaks on the struggles many have with doctors, and finding the right diagnoses that could save your life if its caught early.  Jen struggled seeing her sister not able to do the same things she was doing, like buying her first apartment or getting married. After her passing, Jen lives her life in Julie’s memory.

We have all had loss in our lives, some more than others.  Jen has not only gone through loss, but also has been taught many lessons throughout  her journey. The signs our loved ones send us after they pass is a gift, which Meghan and Jen also speak about.

About Jennifer:
Jen is a mom of three, having her first born son diagnosed with Downs Syndrome. She went on to have twins, honoring their names after her sister, Julie. Jen is a very successful top real estate agent in the South Bay of Los Angeles.  She is a beacon of light in a sometime very dark world.

https://www.jennifercaras.com

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Instagram: @judgingmeghan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judgingmeghan/

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Diane Foley, mother of American freelance journalist James Foley, speaks with Meghan on today's podcast about her journey of recovery after her son was taken hostage for over two years before eventually dying at the hands of his captors.

It's hard to imagine a more heartbreaking tragedy than the loss of one's child, but Diane Foley epitomizes strength and resilience in the face of unthinkable grief. Having endured unimaginable emotional trauma, she has emerged as an advocate for others who suffer similar losses.

As someone living far away from the front lines of war, I've often wondered how ordinary people find the courage to carry on after losing a child to violence—never realizing that I might someday be asking that very question. If you're curious about the answer to this question, I strongly urge you to listen to Diane's interview.

About the James Foley Foundation
If you are interested in supporting the James H. J. Foley Legacy Fund, please visit https://jamesfoleyfoundation.org/take-action. Their Instagram can be found at @jamesfoleyfoundation. You can join the James Foley Freedom Run here. 

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*** TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual abuse, Sex trafficking, Labor trafficking, Cult, Suicide ***

Amanda shares her story, starting when she was just a little girl being raised in what she described as an ultraconservative Christian cult. She was groomed from the beginning to not say no to a man and to be a homemaker. She was molested and sexually assaulted, with no idea how to deal with it at such an early age that it turned into rage. 

After a variety of events in her life, including sex trafficking, and a terrible car accident, Amanda became extremely suicidal, and still felt like her abuser was the only option for survival. Amanda bought a plane ticket and a puppy and flew back home, telling him where she was and waiting for him to come to find her. He never did, that's when she realized she needed more change.

Amanda read books, listened to podcasts, and she started healing. She got involved with Selah Freedom, an organization for sex trafficking, working with them for several years. Then, she fully understood that she had been involved in sex trafficking as well. She started going to therapy and has been going ever since. Amanda is now in a healthy relationship, happily married, and trying for children. She has also suffered from fertility issues due to all the abuse she encountered, yet still having a positive outlook on it all. She has helped many get out of abuse and trafficking with her own experiences.
 
About Amanda:
Amanda Catarzi is a survivor. In her past she has worked for Selah Freedom, helping others find their voice and use it effectively, allowing them to heal. She is inspiring to many, using her trauma and experiences as a learning tool for others. She now is a marketing strategist and runs a successful content agency, Inkery Co., is happily married, and trying for a baby. After experiencing such trauma in her life, she still has a positive outlook on life.

Connect with Amanda on Instagram: @amandacatarzi
https://www.selahfreedom.com/getinvolved

Sexual Abuse Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
Sexual Abuse Website: https://www.rainn.org/

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It took Clara years to fully understand and accept just what she went through as a child. She would wake up every day and be expected to behave like an average kid. But she wasn't average in her parents' eyes, being labeled the Blacksheep at a very early age.
 
In this episode, Clara shares the intimate details of exactly what it's like to experience abuse as a child, as well as her journey to finding self-acceptance despite the events she experienced.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255

About Meghan
Before starting her podcast, Meghan struggled for years with Complex PTSD and now shares stories of people's personal journey of healing. Learn more about the show at judgingmeghan.com |  You can also follow Meghan on Instagram at the links below:
Instagram: @judingmeghan | Facebook: facebook.com/judgingmeghan

Support the Show
If you enjoyed today's episode, please consider supporting the show at https://judgingmeghan.com/support/

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Kelsey Chittick was in a great place. Her husband, the love of her life since college at the University of North Carolina, had finished a grueling six years in the NFL and had successfully transitioned into a new, fulfilling career in finance. They lived in a charming town in California with their children Jack and Addison, and everyone was flourishing.

Then one day, tragedy struck. On November 11, 2017, her husband Nate—a huge, happy, intense, and passionate man— dropped dead at 42 in front of their kids. Kelsey’s biggest fear had come true, and she had to decide how to move forward.

In Second Half, Kelsey Chittick pays a heartfelt and hilarious tribute to Nate Hobgood-Chittick’s tremendous spirit, muses about marital life and co-parenting, and shares her own dark and inspiring journey through heartbreak and loss. Second Half is Kelsey’s story of turning his death into an affirmation of life as well as the power of love and the pursuit of peace and gratitude.

About Kelsey
Kelsey Chittick is a writer, comedian, and inspirational speaker. Over the past 14 years, she has performed stand-up comedy all over Los Angeles and speaks at events around the country. She is the co-creator of KeepON, an inspiring and humorous podcast that explores how our greatest obstacles turn out to be our greatest gifts.
Growing up in Florida, Kelsey was an accomplished student and athlete—an NCAA Championship individual qualifier and captain of the UNC women’s swimming team. She was married to Super Bowl champion Nate Hobgood-Chittick.

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How do our childhood experiences affect our everyday lives? In this episode, Meghan speaks with Dr. Glenn Schiraldi, Richard-Gear-Lookalike, and one of the foremost experts on childhood trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Meghan opens up to Dr. Glenn about her childhood experiences and why she started this podcast, and the two discuss how trauma can best be healed, including through workbooks, and new forms of therapy.

The two also discuss various topics such as the impact of social media on our mental health and whether drugs are overprescribed.

 
About Dr. Glen Schiraldi
Glenn Schiraldi, Ph.D., Lt. Colonel U.S. Army Reserve (retired), has served on the stress management faculties at the Pentagon, the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and the University of Maryland, where he received the Outstanding Teaching Award. 

He has written 14 books on stress-related topics such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, anger, and self-esteem, which have been translated into 17 foreign languages. 

His latest book is The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Workbook. Through his Resilience Training International, he trains police, firefighters, the military, families, mental health professionals, and other interested individuals on preventing and recovering from overwhelming stress.

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In today's episode, Meghan brings back her good friend Josh Rosebrook, a renowned skincare entrepreneur. Before Josh became an expert in the skincare world, he struggled with self-esteem issues. He openly shares his story on what procedures he has had, how he balances self-love with self-improvement, and how his skincare routine helped him love himself again.

Josh is an inspiring individual who often speaks about finding your confidence in yourself, focusing on your health, and making the best out of every day.

About Josh
Have questions for Josh? Reach out to him on Instagram: @joshrosebrook.

About Meghan
Before starting her podcast, Meghan struggled for years with Complex PTSD and now shares stories of people's personal journey of healing. Learn more about the show at judgingmeghan.com |  You can also follow Meghan on Instagram at the links below:
Instagram: @judingmeghan | Facebook: facebook.com/judgingmeghan

Support the Show
If you enjoyed today's episode, please consider supporting the show at https://judgingmeghan.com/support/

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In this episode, Meghan speaks with Caryn Rich, a Fertility Coach who helps women stuck in secondary infertility, miscarriage, and IVF failure. They discuss their personal experiences on the issue and the all-too-common feelings of failure that women experience.

"Her name is Olive, and she's a Miracle," Caryn says of her daughter, who she struggled to conceive for years. 

Caryn knows firsthand the pain that women experience when it comes to fertility issues. When she finally got pregnant, Caryn lost one of the two twins she was carrying.

"It's the pain of never knowing, and it sticks with you forever," Meghan says of their experiences. 

About Caryn
Caryn Rich is a fertility coach who specializes in secondary infertility, miscarriage and IVF failure. She can be found on Instagram at @carynrich or her website at carynrich.com

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan | Facebook: facebook.com/judgingmeghan

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As we get older, we sometimes lose ourselves. Learning about who we are without our  looks is extremely important. Both Dr. Nae and Meghan share their experiences. They discuss being open  to discuss female sexuality, fertility, menopause and support one another. 

Self-love is a different journey for each person. Dr. Nae expresses that we are both a mind and a body, and it is empowering to work on both your mental and physical health, whether it is getting help, going to the doctor, or talking to your friends. Meghan and Dr. Nae are very passionate about authenticity and expressing yourself for who you actually are.

About Dr. Nae:
Dr. Nadine Macaluso is a marriage and family therapist with a Ph.D. in counseling and somatic psychotherapy. Her mission is to honor the mind-body connection and assists people in finding their true self.  More about Dr. Nae: https://www.nadinemacaluso.com/

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan | Facebook: facebook.com/judgingmeghan

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In this week's episode, Meghan talks to John Stenzel about his journey to becoming a mental health professional. John suffered multiple traumas in his life, starting in his youth while in school and continuing on to witnessing first-hand the devasting losses inflicted during warfare.

As a result of these traumas, John spiraled out of control, fueling an addiction to work with drugs before almost losing his life to his unhealthy coping habits.

John talks about what it took to build his second career, leading to him treating sufferers of "The Invisible War," in which more than one million military personnel suffered sexual assault abuse.

About John
John has over 30 years of in-depth experience in the field of behavioral health and human services. As a Business Entrepreneur and Behavioral Health Consultant, John has spent much of his professional career focused on operating or assisting treatment programs along the full continuum.

National Sexual Abuse Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan | Facebook: facebook.com/judgingmeghan

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This week, Meghan speaks with Amy Papnikolas, a personal stylist, fashion influencer, and entrepreneur in Los Angeles.
 
Amy's courage in this episode is sure to inspire all who have suffered greatly and those who may find themselves in similar circumstances. She shares some of her most deeply personal experiences, including her cry for help, her divorce, and the impact her miscarriage had on her life. Her honesty  and forgiveness speak volumes.

Amy Papnikolas is an entrepreneur, mother, wife, and truly inspiring survivor. She resides in the South Bay of the  Los Angeles area with her husband and their two children. She can be found at https://theandersedit.com or @theandersedit.

Warning: This episode discusses some deeply distressing situations, including suicidal ideation. If you need help, contact the  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan | Facebook: facebook.com/judgingmeghan

If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a Glass of Chardonnay
Find a Therapist

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The last few weeks have been tumultuous for the world, with mounting panic over devastating outbreaks of new COVID-19 strains. As cases continue to rise, Meghan sits with Dr. Mary Hannon to get advice on avoiding catching the virus. Using her considerable experience as a practicing emergency room physician, Dr. Hannon shares some of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of this pandemic and the vaccines.

This podcast often addresses the effects of loss and how to address those feelings, and the best way to prevent those effects is to prevent loss in the first place. This is why it's so important that we address the latest approach of denial that will only result in more pain and suffering for ourselves and others.

Dr. Mary Hannon is a graduate of the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York City and an ER-trained physician.

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan | Facebook: facebook.com/judgingmeghan

If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a Glass of Chardonnay
Find a Therapist

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In this episode, Meghan talks to her friend, Tara Hackley. They discuss  her journey, how she found peace in a world of chaos and uncertainty, amid  the ongoing battle to save her son's life against all odds.

Tara Hackley is a mother who has had to face the unimaginable tragedy of having her son diagnosed with a  brain tumor at just 3 years of age. Tara shares what led up to his diagnosis, when she felt most hopeless, and the ups and downs that followed as she fought for him.

This episode is a reminder that doing everything in our power for our children is important, especially when they are facing more than any one person can stand up against.


Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan
If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a Glass of Chardonnay
Find a Therapist

Support the show (https://judgingmeghan.com/support/)

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Danielle Jernigan experienced emotional and psychological damage since her early childhood. Dani and Meghan talk about her early life suffering abuse from a very young age.  Dani also had extreme birth trauma after her baby girl was born blue and limp. She was tormented by nightmares and panic attacks.  Dani lives her life trying to spread the message of getting help with Postpartum depression within the black community.

Dani and Meghan also talk about their childhoods and both being diagnosed with Complex PTSD. This is a very important episode for women to listen to whether you are expecting or suffered with Postpartum in the past.

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan
If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a Glass of Chardonnay
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Diane Neal — best known for her roles as Casey Novak in Law & Order: SVU and Abigail Borin on NCIS: New Orleans — joins Meghan for a lively conversation with some seriously funny moments and a lot of insight into some seriously important topics. The two take on the stigma of the average American woman's body in the entertainment industry, and the damaging effects of judging our self-worth on our body image.

They also discuss what it was like for Diane to be on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and why she left.

If you've never heard Diane speak before, you'll love her boring and lifeless (read: charming and hilarious) personality. She's no ordinary actress and this interview showcases her prowess when it comes to comedy and wit.

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan
If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a Glass of Chardonnay
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In this episode, Elisa and Meghan take deep dive into the traumatic and profound experiences that inspired Elisa's book, including the experiences of learning of her Dad's cancer diagnosis, breaking up with her boyfriend, and losing her job — all in the span of a day.

Elisa says these experiences made her who she is. Elisa recalls how it felt learning about her Dad's cancer diagnosis, "I am a successful human being. I’m an adult. Why am I so broken by this?" Meghan and Elisa agree that everything happens for a reason. 

About Elisa Donovan
Elisa Donovan is an actress and author from Los Angeles. She's appeared on productions such as Clueless, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Her book is Wake Me When You Leave: Love and Encouragement via Dreams from the Other Side.

More about Elisa: https://elisa-donovan.com

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan
If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a Glass of Chardonnay
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It's not often that you get an intimate view of marriage in the way that this episode allows. Meghan and her husband talk about their lives before and after meeting, the challenges they've dealt with in their marriage, and where they see themselves in the future.

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan
If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a Glass of Chardonnay
Find a Therapist

Support the show (https://judgingmeghan.com/support/)

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In this episode, Lori talks about being with her husband, sister, and both parents when they transitioned. She prefers the term “transition” over “passed away” or “died” because in her experience when the body no longer functions, the person’s soul transitions to a different dimension and remains connected and accessible to those on earth.

She shares with Meghan that she still feels their presence in her life. Lori tells Meghan that she can feel their energy in her home, and hear them speaking to her.

This episode is quiet, emotional, surreal, and very special.

About Lori Veres
Lori grew up in British Columbia, Canada and is the youngest of 6 kids. She has a degree in Human Kinetics and is working towards a diploma in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology. The human condition has always fascinated Lori, and she shares her thoughts and beliefs on Instagram @collective.human.experience.

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan
If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a Glass of Chardonnay
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In this episode, Meghan interviews one of her closest friends, Josh Rosebrook, a skincare entrepreneur whose products have been recognized in nearly 20 international publications, including Vogue, Forbes, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, and Wall Street Journal.

As Pride Month comes to a close, Josh shares his story of unacceptance as a child, when he was bullied and ostracized by his peers for being gay.

"I wouldn't take it back for the world," Josh tells Meghan as he talks about the bullying and hardships he endured. "It's the most tragic thing ever, but it makes you care about life more, so there's a silver lining."

Learn more about Josh Rosebrook
joshrosebrook.com | TikTok | Instagram
Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan
If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a Glass of Chardonnay
Use Meghan's Instacart referral link and get free delivery on the first order of $35+
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This episode stars Dr. Nadine Macaluso (A.k.a. "Dr. Nae", ex-wife of the Wolf of Wallstreet). After being married to the Wolf of Wallstreet, as well as receiving her PhD and Marriage and Family Therapy license, Dr. Nae knows how to spot a narcissist when she sees one. 

Dr. Nae also shares her personal experience of being married to the wolf-of-Wall-Street and what it was like to be married to him.

More About Dr. Nae
Get Dr. Macaluso's new Book "No More Trauma Bonding, A Therapists Guide for Healing From Traumatic Love" here: https://www.nadinemacaluso.com/trauma-bonding-e-book/

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan
If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a Glass of Chardonnay
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What did you think of this episode?

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In this episode, Meghan talks with former member of the USA Gymnastics team, Emmy-winning television news anchor, former executive at a high-growth tech company during its IPO, and best-selling author Nina Sossamon-Pogue. 

When your dreams are taken away from you, it's hard to figure out what comes next. Nina talks about helping people come out of their darkness to live the life they want to live. How can you move on from "this"? This question spurned into a powerful episode of Judging Meghan that will steer anyone through the mess of uncertainty.

Where to Find Nina Sossamon-Pogue
You can learn more about Nina Sossamon-Pogue at https://ninasossamonpogue.com/

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan
If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
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Like most children, Cristina always looked to her mother for advice and guidance, but Cristina was only 15 years old when her family's life was turned upside down by a grim diagnosis. Her mother was a fighter, and Cristina's family was lucky enough to have her for another 25 years. Cristina talks about the dark and bright points during the next 25 years of her mom's life.


About Cristina
Find Christina Wolf at https://www.bridgeshortfilm.com

Contact Meghan
judgingmeghan.com |  Instagram: @judingmeghan
If you enjoyed this episode, please support the show.

Support the Show
Buy Meghan a coffee (or a glass of Chardonnay)
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