Friends from Wild Places

People love to ask the million-dollar question: what causes someone to commit a crime? We go deeper than a single motive and talk through the messy truth that criminal behavior is multifactorial. Greed, jealousy, revenge, ideology, and plain old stress can all play a role, but the most useful framework is what protects people when temptation or pressure hits. We break down self-control alongside protective factors like family, community, faith, and work and what happens when those anchors disappear and risk factors take over.

Nancy Alleyne

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A CEO is killed on a New York sidewalk, a suspect is arrested after a multi-day manhunt, and the public reaction splits in a way that should worry anyone who cares about justice. Some people see a cold-blooded murder. Others see payback for a broken, for-profit healthcare system. We sit with that discomfort and ask the question that would hang over any courtroom: if you were on the jury, could you separate your own insurance anger from the facts of a violent crime?

Nancy Alleyne

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Albania isn’t just a place on a map, it’s a feeling, and once you hear how Albanians treat guests, you understand why travelers come back changed. We sit down with Anila Nicklos to unpack Albanian culture in a way that’s practical and vivid: what hospitality looks like in real life, why the food matters so much, what makes the Albanian language unique, and how a small country can hold mountains, rivers, lakes, and sea views within minutes of each other. If you’ve been searching for Albania travel tips, Albanian culture facts, or a fresh perspective on ident...

Checkbox diversity is easy. Building a culture where people feel seen, trusted, and excited to do great work is the real challenge, and it starts with something surprisingly simple: getting to know each other as humans. We sit down with Anila, a diversity strategist and community advocate, to unpack what leaders can do right now to create high-performance teams rooted in shared purpose. We talk about the practical habits that make inclusion real, from curiosity about other cultures to small relationship-building moves that turn “team” into something people can feel.

Anila Nicklos

If you had no witnesses and only your word to offer, what would convince a jury you’re telling the truth? We start with that uncomfortable question while unpacking a high profile attempted murder trial in Hawaii, then follow the thread where it really leads: integrity, consistency, and what your life says about you when the stakes are high.

Anila Nicklos

Then we welcome our special guest, Anila Nicklos, originally from Tirana, Albania. Anila brings the kind of insight th...

The hardest part of growth is not moving countries, changing careers, or chasing bigger goals. It’s learning how to be yourself without letting comparison steal your confidence. Franklin joins us to talk candidly about that inner fight, what it feels like to live between cultures, and how self-belief becomes a daily practice rather than a personality trait you either have or don’t. 

Franklin Moya

We also spotlight Toastmasters International, a worldwide nonpr...

COVID didn’t just disrupt Franklin’s career, it cracked his life open and forced a choice: sink into the loss or finally write the book he’d been carrying since he was 19. He chose the page. What follows is a candid, human story about reinvention, rejection, and how creative work can become a lifeline when your “stable plan” disappears overnight.

Franklin Moya

Then the conversation turns personal development and a question that reshaped e...

Then we shift from crime to courage. Our guest, Franklin Moyle, known artistically as Jay Franklin, joins us for his first-ever podcast and does it in his second language. He opens up about the quote that shaped his life: “Feel the fear and do it anyway” from Susan Jeffers. We talk about self-confidence, imposter syndrome, and the uncomfortable truth that many people who look fearless are simply better at hiding their fear. If you’re building a business, changing careers, or trying to speak up in public, this conversation is a grounded reminder that bravery is a practice, not a pers...

What if the closed doors in your life are actually signposts? We sit down with Michael Perie—mortuary educator, industry pro, and calming presence—to unpack how faith, timing, and real rest can shape a career that serves people at their most tender moments. Michael shares why he waits for clarity before moving, how doing “nothing” on purpose refills his tank, and why a steady voice can change the temperature of a room, a graveside, or a classroom.

Michael Perie

What if the fastest way to lead better is to talk less and listen more? Michael of MP Educates joins us to share how intentional listening, humble feedback, and clear boundaries helped him grow as a father, pastor, mortuary professional, and educator—without burning out. His story begins with a hard truth: answering before someone finishes speaking isn’t leadership, it’s fear. By slowing down and watching for nonverbal cues, he built trust, learned what actually works, and made smarter choices under pressure.

Michael Perie

A brutal New Jersey murder case, a debate over DNA and motive, and a pastor–mortician who walked away from an NBA dream—this conversation brings heat and heart in equal measure. We open by pulling apart the Colts Neck mansion murders, asking how juries should weigh physical evidence when media narratives muddy the water. Do life insurance policies and business disputes make greed a credible motive, or does the sheer cruelty toward family strain belief? We explore reasonable doubt, tunnel vision, and the limits of what jurors actually hear.

Michael Perie

What if the most powerful credential in grief care isn’t a license, but a life? We sit down with Terri, a grief companion and community builder, to unpack how showing up—consistently, vulnerably, and without polish—became the engine of a mission-driven practice. From the early days of obscurity to becoming “that grief lady” people recognize in restaurants, Terri shares the slow, human work of building trust online, the courage to speak about failure in death care, and the reason lived experience can change how a room breathes.

Terri Chaplin

What if grief wasn’t a problem to fix but a love you learn to carry? We sit down with Terri, a certified grief companion and founder of Living in Gratitude with TLC and the Healing Hearts community, to trace how personal tragedy became a blueprint for accessible, human-centered support. From the private magic of one-to-one sessions to the brave choice to show up daily online as a mother who lost a child and a widow who rebuilt, Terri shows how visibility invites others to speak, be seen, and find steadier ground.

Terri Chaplin

A shocking grave robbery case collides with a tender, transformative conversation about grief and the ways we honor the dead and protect the living. We open with hard questions about the oddities market, consent, and the law, then move into the steady ground of compassion as grief companion and educator Terri Chaplin joins us to share how devastating loss reshaped her life’s work.

Terri Chaplin

Terri’s st...

Jennifer Muldowney shares her entrepreneurial journey from Ireland to America, building a business with no local resources, and finding success through resilience and community. She offers candid insights about the reality behind social media success stories and emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with people who lift you up.

Jennifer Muldowney

• Finding mentors can be challenging but valuable for entrepreneurs facing uncertainty
• Creating your own networking opportunities when existing ones don't meet...

Jennifer Muldowney shares her fascinating journey from party planner in Ireland to funeral celebrant and author dividing her time between New York and Florida. Her innovative approach bridges celebration and mourning, helping families create meaningful memorials while acknowledging grief.

Jennifer Muldowney

• Born and raised in Ireland before moving to Washington DC then returning home to establish her funeral planning business
• Faced challenges as a young woman entering the traditionally male-dominated funeral indu...

Jennifer Muldowney, internationally recognized as "The Glam Reaper," brings a fresh perspective to modern memorial planning through deeply personal, culturally inclusive, and environmentally conscious end-of-life experiences. Her journey from wedding planner to funeral celebrant began after losing two young friends, inspiring her to reimagine how we commemorate lives.

Jennifer Muldowney

• Founder of Muldowney Memorials, working in the funeral space for over 16 years
• Describes herself as "a wedding planner but for funerals" and...

Elizabeth Fournier, known as "The Green Reaper," shares her unique approach to maintaining emotional balance while working in the funeral industry through unconventional methods like tending to Disney-named sheep and creating a "Wind Phone" where people can connect with deceased loved ones. She provides insight into the funeral profession while emphasizing the importance of self-care and compassion when dealing with grief and loss.

Elizabeth Fournier

• Caring fo...

Elizabeth, known as "The Green Reaper," shares her journey as the first woman in Oregon to independently own a funeral home and discusses how she's transforming funeral services with eco-friendly options. She reveals how the pandemic changed death care by empowering families with knowledge about their rights and choices beyond traditional cremation or burial.

Elizabeth Fournier

• Families have more rights in funeral arrangements than most realize, in...

Elizabeth Fournier, known as "The Green Reaper," runs a one-woman funeral service from a repurposed goat barn in Boring, Oregon, specializing in environmentally friendly burial options and natural death care.

Elizabeth Fournier

• Operating out of a 40-acre property where nature and wildlife are part of the funeral experience
• Provides traditional services alongside green burial options across Portland and surrounding areas
• Green burial means no embalm...

Dive deep into the world of emotional healing as hypnotherapist Joseph reveals how confronting pain patterns leads to spiritual growth and transformation. Learn how addressing emotions stored in the body can create immediate shifts without revisiting traumatic experiences.

Joseph Drumheller

• Repeated emotional patterns continue until we face them directly
• Emotions manifest physically in specific areas of the body
• Effective healing can occur without reliving past traumas
• Joseph's spiritual journey includes profound...

Joseph shares his transformative journey from geologist to hypnotherapist, exploring how these different fields converge to create powerful healing experiences for cancer patients, entrepreneurs, and those seeking spiritual growth.

Joseph Drumheller

• Describes India as "the most sacred land" with deep spiritual traditions despite infrastructural challenges
• Worked with cancer patients using hypnotherapy to help them make peace with mortality through guided death experiences
• Explains how releasing suppressed emotions can create healing and stop r...

Master hypnotherapist Joseph Drumheller shares his journey from geologist to energy healer and discusses the realities of working with energy both positive and negative. His mission to help people heal and awaken to their greatest potential stems from profound mystical experiences and six years working with cancer patients.

Joseph Drumheller

• Dark energy is real and entities can be dangerous if approached without proper protection
• Energy flows where attention goes – focus on positivity to avoid...

Irma Parone shares her journey from bestselling author to Florida Speakers Association president, offering valuable insights on decision-making and business success. She discusses her passion-driven approach to leadership, encouraging entrepreneurs to serve with heart while maintaining practical business sense.

Irma Parone

• Irma's first book "Winx: The Problem-Solving Model" has significantly impacted her career by helping organizations make better decisions
• We are the result of our decisions—from career choices to how we respond to mistakes and succes...

We explore the critical elements that make or break business teams and how proper people management directly impacts company success.

Irma Parone

• Most businesses seek help when they're already in crisis mode, realizing teams lack direction or purpose
• Clear expectations are essential—many leaders think employees understand their role when there's actually a significant disconnect
• Rehabilitating struggling employees requires checking three boxes: clear expectations, proper tools/training, and genuine desire to do the work

Irma Parone, president of the Florida Speakers Association and strategic leadership consultant, shares how her family circumstances led her to leave corporate life and build a business that empowers organizations through alignment of people, processes, and performance. She reveals her leadership philosophy centered around creating environments where everyone understands the big picture and moves cohesively toward common goals.

Irma Parone

• Irma worked as a Regional Senior Vice President in the security industry before starting her own business

Suicide prevention and supporting those left behind are critical yet often overlooked aspects of mental health care. Dr. Phil from Mental Health America of Southeast Florida shares his personal story and professional insights on helping suicide survivors heal and preventing further tragedies.

Phil Bulone

• Between 800,000 to 1 million people die by suicide worldwide annually, with each death affecting approximately 135 people
• For every suicide, about 20 people in the deceased's inti...