The Teaching Journeys Podcast

What if the things stealing your satisfaction are hiding in plain sight?

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Lynette Melnyk — next chapter strategist and creator of the Unedited Life — to explore why so many accomplished people feel like life looks right on paper but something feels off.

Lynette shares her own journey through burnout, a trip to France that didn't fix what she thought it would, and how she found her way to helping others rediscover who they really are beneath years of expectations and obligations.

In...

What happens when a child survives vitamin A toxicity, 20+ surgeries, parental kidnapping, and a front-row seat to 9/11 — and still builds a captivating life?

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with author and resilience advocate Eliza Young to unpack one of the most extraordinary life journeys you'll ever hear.

Eliza shares how she became the first diagnosed case of vitamin A toxicity — a medical mystery that left her physically handicapped and led to over 20 surgeries before her 18th birthday. She opens up about surviving her parents' brutal custody batt...

What if an animal has been trying to send you a message — and you just haven't been paying attention?

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with licensed clinical social worker and intuitive spiritual guide Tammy Zumbo to explore the transformative journey behind her upcoming book, When the Lion Roars: Answering the Call (releasing August 18th).

Tammy shares how a shamanic breathwork journey in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and a sacred ceremony on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala led her to discover the white lion as...

In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Cristina P. Simmons — bestselling author, TEDx speaker, trauma-informed occupational therapist, and founder of Soul Story Collective — to explore the deep connection between emotional trauma and our relationship with food.

Cristina opens up about losing three biological children, raising a son with autism, surviving two major surgeries, and how all of it led her to discover occupational therapy — and ultimately, herself. She breaks down why so many of us eat our feelings, the neuroscience behind emotional eating, and the practical tools she used to hea...

What if the energy trapped in a house could prevent it from selling — and a spiritual specialist could clear it?

In this captivating episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Venus Castleberg — energetic clearing specialist, intuitive guide, ordained minister, and bestselling author — for a wide-ranging conversation that bridges the seen and unseen worlds.

Venus shares her remarkable story: how getting sober at 30 unlocked her gifts as a clairvoyant medium, her years of resistance, and the pivotal moment in Sedona that changed everything. She explains how she developed the Vibrational Flow Method...

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Serena Mastin — founder of the award-winning Pulse Marketing agency, author, speaker, and resilience advocate — for a raw, honest conversation about healing, loss, and rebuilding life with purpose.

Serena shares her extraordinary journey: surviving a satanic cult in early childhood, living on the streets at 15, navigating a decade of infidelity and mental illness in her marriage, losing her husband Kyle to suicide in 2020, and then losing her partner Thomas to sudden cardiac arrest in 2024. Through it all, Serena found her way to healing — and no...

What happens when the life you've built no longer fits who you are? In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Natasha Ramlall — embodied integration coach and guide for high-functioning women navigating major life transitions and identity shifts.

Natasha shares her own journey of growing up without a single defining trauma, yet still carrying the weight of unprocessed emotions, cultural expectations as a child of West Indian immigrants, and the guilt that came from not feeling "allowed" to struggle. Her story will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever felt unmoored be...

In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Kari Wells — Bravo TV personality, actress, entrepreneur, and author of From Attitude to Gratitude: 15 Practices for Transforming Pain into Power — for a deeply moving conversation about survival, loss, and the radical power of gratitude.

Kari opens up about the night she was held at gunpoint during a violent armed robbery, the PTSD that followed, and how her sense of safety was shattered. She also shares the heartbreaking loss of her sister Jackie to an accidental overdose — and the 20-year journey of grief that u...

What does it mean to truly start over after a life-altering diagnosis? In this powerful episode, breast cancer survivor and wellness advocate Susan "Belly" Varee shares her raw, unfiltered journey through chemotherapy, identity loss, and radical self-reinvention — and why healing is never a straight line.

Belly opens up about how cancer forced her to ask the hardest question: "If today was the last day of my life, how am I going to choose to live it?" From rediscovering a love of food and cooking during chemo (yes, even when everything tasted like metal) to confronting grief, setbacks, an...

The Teaching Journeys Podcast | Episode with Janelle Miller Moravek

Why is your involvement in your child's therapy more important than you think — and what's stopping parents from showing up?

In this eye-opening episode, host Dave Roberts sits down with return guest Janelle Miller Moravek, Executive Director of Youth and Family Counseling (YFC) in Lake County, Illinois. Janelle brings nearly two decades of nonprofit leadership and mental health advocacy to a conversation every parent, educator, and clinician needs to hear.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What happens when a man teetering on a hotel balcony, ready to end his life, screams out to a God he doesn't believe in — and everything changes?

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Peter A. Colter — musician, author, and survivor — for a raw, unfiltered conversation about addiction, mental illness, faith, and the moment that changed everything.

Peter opens up about growing up deaf, undergoing over a dozen ear surgeries, and discovering music as a lifeline. By 14, he was touring in bands — and struggling with drugs. For the next...

What happens when you lose your father and your job on the same day?

For Thomas Scaria, resilience coach and founder of Steps Along the Way, April 6, 2020 was that day — and it became the catalyst for a complete life transformation.

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Thomas to explore how grief, loss, and a relentless pursuit of purpose can forge unshakeable resilience. From running five solo marathons during COVID lockdown to raise money for cancer research, to nearly finishing an ultra-marathon in South Africa with a bl...

What if you brought Fortune 500 CEO energy into your cancer treatment? That's exactly what Farla Efros did.

After receiving an aggressive breast cancer diagnosis mid-client call, Farla — president of HRC Retail Advisory and former interim CEO of True Religion — refused to be a passive patient. Instead, she built an "executive board" of healthcare providers, walked into oncology appointments with printed agendas and highlighters, and developed the Healing Rebel Protocol: a step-by-step system for patients to take control of their own care.

In this raw and deeply honest conversation with host Dave Roberts, Farla shares:

What if the key to extraordinary leadership was already inside you?

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Randall Ian Thames — CEO, author, executive coach, pastor, and speaker — to explore how leaders at every level can discover, develop, and display their unique "executive superpower."

Drawing from 35+ years of corporate experience across Fortune 10 companies and his proprietary Discover, Develop, Display Your Best framework, Randall shares the deeply personal journey that sparked his life's mission — and what it means to truly Rise to the Role.

In this episod...

What happens to your sense of self when grief turns your world upside down?

In this powerful follow-up conversation, host Dave Roberts welcomes back journalist, attorney, and author Ashley Jordan to explore one of grief's most overlooked dimensions: the deconstruction and rebuilding of identity after devastating loss.

Ashley shares her deeply personal journey through repressed traumatic grief, which resurfaced unexpectedly at age 37, nearly 24 years after losing her childhood sweetheart Daniel at just 12 years old. Together, Dave and Ashley unpack what it truly means to "unbecome" — to shed the false versions of ourselves forged in the af...

What happens when suffering becomes your greatest teacher?

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Kelsey Dunbar and Marc Rogala — co-founders of the Suffer to Tougher resilience and mental wellness movement — for an honest, raw conversation about trauma, addiction recovery, and transformation.

Kelsey shares how childhood abandonment, military school, and obesity-driven suicidal ideation led him to a 30-year career as a fitness and mindset coach. Marc opens up about battling alcohol and opioid addiction — including multiple overdoses, a near-fatal car accident, and losing his family — and how a 45-min...

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes back executive coach and former CEO Becca Pearce — author of You Don't Have to Achieve to Be Loved — for a raw, honest conversation about mourning the past, redefining success, and choosing who you want to be after tragedy.

Becca survived a brain tumor that left her with lasting disabilities and forced her to walk away from a high-powered career. Dave lost his daughter. Together, they explore what it truly means to grieve not just people, but the versions of ourselves we can never return to.<...

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Christine Olson, founder of TIFF's Initiative (To Inform Families First) — a program that has helped over 22 million people in Florida alone ensure their emergency contacts are embedded directly in their driver's license.

On December 7, 2005, Christine's daughter Tiffiany was killed in a motorcycle accident. What followed was a nightmarish six-and-a-half-hour ordeal of fragmented communication, unanswered questions, and a law enforcement system unprepared to notify next of kin. That experience became the catalyst for a grassroots movement that is now before the U.S. Co...

What does it take to go from prison to pardon — and build a life of purpose?

In this powerful episode of Teaching Journeys, host Dave Roberts sits down with Perry Staples, a St. Croix Chippewa Indian of Wisconsin tribal member with 17 years of sobriety, a gubernatorial pardon, and a life devoted to helping others heal.

Perry shares his raw, honest story: growing up on the reservation, the grip of alcohol and drugs, six DWIs, four felonies, and 33 months in prison — all the way to receiving a personal phone call from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers congratulating him...

What happens after everyone goes home? In this deeply moving episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Kelly Edmondson — nurse executive, certified grief counselor, and bereaved mother — to explore the one truth most people avoid: grief doesn't end at the funeral. It's just beginning.

After losing her son Darius on January 3rd, 2023, Kelly founded A Timely Presence, a year-long grief support service designed to show up for the bereaved long after the flowers fade. Drawing on her clinical background and lived experience, Kelly shares how ongoing presence — not platitudes — is what grieving people t...

What happens when a kid from one of America's most dangerous neighborhoods becomes a champion — on and off the field? Keith Mercer knows firsthand.

Growing up in Capitol Heights, Maryland — once dubbed the "Murder Capital" — Keith Mercer made a decision early on: his circumstances would not define his future. That mindset took him from the streets of DC to back-to-back national championships at the University of Nebraska under legendary coach Tom Osborne, and eventually to founding Mercer Elite Academy, where he's helped over 200 student athletes earn college scholarships.

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcas...

What happens when grief strikes twice — 34 years apart?

In this deeply moving episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Deston Rogers — veteran radio broadcaster, law enforcement officer, international police advisor, and founder of the Eagle Freedom Presents podcast — to explore one of the most profound journeys through loss, faith, and radical resilience you'll ever hear.

Deston lost his son Cody and Cody's mother Jodi in a devastating car accident in 1990. Then, 34 years later, he lost his second son Dakota. Rather than surrendering to grief, Deston leaned into his Christian faith, chose...

What does it take to rebuild your life after unimaginable loss — and turn your deepest wounds into a source of strength for others?

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with author, blogger, storyteller, and mental health advocate Diana "Dinky" Smith for a deeply honest conversation about grief, resilience, healing, and the courage it takes to keep moving forward.

After losing her daughter Lily to a drunk driving accident on her own birthday, Diana faced years of anger, depression, and isolation. But instead of letting tragedy de...

What happens when life strips away everything — your mother, your identity, and the father you thought you knew — all before the age of 12? For Kora Franco, it became the foundation for something extraordinary.

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Kora Franco, founder and CEO of Aesthetic Wines, a modern luxury wine brand rooted in resilience, bold self-expression, and intentional living. Kora shares her remarkable journey — from navigating grief and identity loss as a child, to a 15-year search for her biological father using AncestryDNA, to building a thriving wine brand...

What separates those who bounce back from those who stay stuck? Frank Zaccari has spent a lifetime finding out.

In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes Frank Zaccari — 5x bestselling author, business turnaround expert, Air Force veteran, and host of the Bounce Back in Business and Life podcast — for a powerful conversation on leadership, resilience, and the lessons that only life can teach.

Frank shares how enlisting in the Air Force at 21 gave him a crash course in responsibility, critical thinking, and people management — skills he carried into 25+ years in the hi...

What does it actually take to build a resilient organization — and how do you measure it?

In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes back Terry Healey — cancer survivor, facial difference advocate, keynote speaker, business strategist, and author of The Resilience Mindset. Terry draws on his 35-year career as a marketing executive and his deeply personal journey through a rare fibrosarcoma diagnosis to explore what resilience really looks like inside teams, leadership structures, and organizations.

You'll discover why 83% of people believe they're resilient, but research shows only 57% actually are — and what organi...

What does it truly mean to strive for more — and how do you get there?

In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Jan Raeder, the Self-Care Sensei — a wellbeing educator, keynote speaker, and author with over 30 years of experience in traditional Okinawan and Japanese karate.

Jan breaks down her evidence-based MORE Framework (Meaning, Optimism, Relationships, Engagement) from her book Strive for More: What Wellbeing Really Means and How You Can Achieve It, and shares how the principles of martial arts — self-discipline, resilience, and perseverance — apply directly to personal growth a...

What if the stories you tell yourself are the very thing keeping you stuck?

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Scott Mason — known as The Myth Slayer — a speaker, coach, attorney, and former senior executive who uses the power of ancient Greek mythology to help people identify the toxic myths holding them back from living a bold, purposeful life.

Scott shares his remarkable journey from a high-powered career in New York City government and nonprofits to a complete identity collapse — and the profound near-death experi...

What does it take to go from hitchhiking through a revolution at 19, scaling the deadly North Wall of Denali at 20, and surviving violent conflict in Vietnam — to becoming one of the world's leading voices for peace, purpose, and citizen action?

In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with John Graham — Foreign Service officer, global peacebuilder, and 42-year leader of the Giraffe Heroes Project — for a raw and inspiring conversation about adventure, transformation, and the search for meaning.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What can 30 years living in Japan and Indonesia teach us about mental health, respect, and what it means to live a meaningful life? In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes back writer, producer, and entrepreneur Rob Schwartz — son of Morrie Schwartz of Tuesdays with Morrie fame — for a wide-ranging conversation that connects Eastern philosophy, cultural identity, and the growing mental health crisis in America.

Rob shares his remarkable journey from studying Eastern philosophy in university to building a decades-long career in Japan as a film journalist, Billboard Magazine Asia correspondent, NHK World TV s...

What does British theater have to do with business leadership? More than you'd think.

In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes back award-winning actor, director, and business coach Carl Walsh for a deep dive into creativity, innovation, and the leadership principles that separate great managers from truly inspiring leaders.

Carl draws on 20 years in the British theater, 25 years in corporate management, and 15 years as a professional speaker to explore:

• Why most adults think they've "lost" their creativity — and how to get it back

• How Disney built a cult...

In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Julianna Burmesch — former school principal, speech pathologist, early brain development trainer, and author of the memoir Life With Less of Me (releasing June 23rd).

Julianna shares her deeply personal story of growing up in a home marked by alcoholism, physical abuse, and chronic unpredictability — and how those adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) shaped her brain, her body, and her life well into adulthood. From PTSD and anxiety to sepsis, cancer, and necrotizing fasciitis, Julianna connects the science of trauma to real-world heal...

What does it truly mean to see someone?

In this heartfelt episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with award-winning author, humanitarian, and founder of the Desire to Inspire Foundation, Dawn Airhart Witte, for a deeply moving conversation about purpose, belonging, and the transformative power of human connection.

Dawn shares how a childhood experience of not feeling seen sparked a lifelong mission — from volunteering in the LA foster care system to bringing clean water, resources, and hope to communities across Africa. Rooted in the African philosophy of ubuntu ("I am because we...

What happens when your worst chapter becomes the foundation for your greatest purpose?

In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with RJ Johnson — speaker, author, and founder of Not My Will Ministries — to explore one of the most remarkable stories of redemption, faith, and transformation you'll ever hear.

After making a devastating choice that led to a 20-year prison sentence, RJ didn't just survive incarceration — he encountered the relentless grace of Jesus Christ and came out with a mission. Serving seven of those years, RJ faced multiple attempts on his...

What does it take to lead with heart, communicate with impact, and live with true purpose? In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Amrita Mukherjee — TEDx speaker, ICF ACC executive coach, author, and founder of the Thriving Women's Tribe — for a deeply inspiring conversation on emotional intelligence, leadership communication, and the power of intentional living.

Amrita shares how personal adversity, including recovering from a burn injury and losing her sister, shaped her passion for purposeful leadership. She breaks down the EQ-i 2.0 framework and explains why emotional intelligence — not technical expertise — is the d...

Can pain really become a portal to beauty? What happens when you stop numbing and start feeling everything?

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with writer and self-healing advocate Alexis Leigh, author of Pain Is a Portal to Beauty — a transformative memoir about grief, authenticity, and the unconventional path to wholeness.

Alexis opens up about losing her mother to addiction at age 11, spending decades numbing her pain, and the moment a voice in the woods in 2020 told her, "If you die today, your life will have been a tr...

What if kindness could literally save a life? In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Randy McNeely — also known as Captain Kind Man — a survivor of childhood abuse turned passionate advocate for courageous kindness.

Randy shares the deeply personal journey that shaped his mission: from surviving multiple forms of abuse and near-suicidal darkness, to becoming a bestselling author, speaker, filmmaker, and founder of the Kindness Giver LLC and The Kindness Factor International.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How Randy's traumatic childhood became the foundation for a worl...

What happens when a child's life ends too soon — and what can it teach us about love, consciousness, and what lies beyond death?

In this deeply moving episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes Katy Gilbertson, founder of Hauora Wellness, for a raw and spiritually rich conversation about child loss, grief, and the survival of consciousness after death.

Both Dave and Katy have lived through a parent's worst nightmare — Dave lost his daughter Jeannine to cancer at 18, and Katy lost her son Jaxon to leukemia just before his 10th birthday. Together, they expl...

What if you could save your marriage — even if your partner has already given up? In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Dr. Lee Baucom, PhD, creator of the globally used Save the Marriage system and host of the Save the Marriage podcast (600+ episodes strong).

Lee breaks down why most marriages fail — not from conflict, but from disconnection — and introduces his concept of the "pause button": the moment couples stop investing in their relationship and slowly drift apart. He reveals the three levels of connection (physical, emotional, and spiritual) that every...

What does it take to break free from a lifetime of addiction, childhood abuse, and generational trauma? In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with internationally award-winning author, public speaker, and transformational mentor Shannan Kym to share her extraordinary journey from rock bottom to radical freedom.

Growing up as the youngest of eight children in a home defined by alcoholism, mental illness, and abuse, Shannan endured unimaginable hardship — only to find herself trapped in a marriage to a narcissist and drinking up to six bottles of wine a day. Her st...