The options are not what they used to be that's for sure.

The Wake-Up Call at 30: Leaving Drugs Behind and Rebuilding Life | Frank Molman

What happens when you realize that the life you've been living isn't the life you want to keep living?

For Frank Molman, that realization came just before his 30th birthday.

Growing up in Santa Cruz, California, Frank experienced a free-range childhood filled with friendship, skateboarding, partying, and plenty of questionable decisions. What began as teenage experimentation eventually became years of substance use, reckless behavior, and a lifestyle he knew couldn't continue forever.

But Frank doesn't tell his story through...

What if the peace you've been searching for has been within you all along?

Udo Erasmus survived World War II as a young child, became a refugee, experienced separation from his mother, and grew up questioning everything he thought he could trust.

But his search for answers led him somewhere unexpected: inward.

In this episode of Walk With Me – Conversations With Real People, host Stephanie Bloom welcomes Udo Erasmus, founder of Udo's Oil, author, and longtime advocate for holistic health and self-discovery.

At 84 years old, Udo shares an extraordinary story of su...

Galen Wilson shares his life story, detailing his experiences from childhood through various career challenges, struggles with alcoholism, and ultimately finding love and purpose after a heart transplant. His journey emphasizes resilience, the importance of relationships, and the tools he developed to overcome adversity. The conversation explores the Monument Method, a relationship coaching approach developed by Galen, which emphasizes the importance of emotional safety and connection in romantic relationships. It discusses techniques for managing conflicts, enhancing intimacy, and creating a safe emotional environment for couples.

Takeaways

What happens when you get the money, the recognition, the relationships, and the life you thought you wanted—and you still don’t feel whole?

Ali Christos knows what it is like to build a life that looks successful from the outside while struggling deeply on the inside.

In this vulnerable conversation, Ali shares his journey from childhood bullying and trauma to depression, a suicide attempt as a teenager, years of chasing external success, the breakdown of a 15-year marriage, and a serious accident that forced him to reevaluate what actually mattered.

We...

What happens when anxiety doesn’t feel like panic—but instead shows up as nausea, vomiting, weight loss, fear, and an increasing need to avoid everyday life?

In this episode of Walk With Me — Conversations With Real People, Stephanie Bloom talks with journalist and podcaster Noah May about living with depression and anxiety from a young age, navigating grief, bullying, family challenges, and the physical toll mental health struggles can take on the body.

Noah shares how music helped him feel less alone, how medication has supported him, and how his relationship with mental health has ch...

What happens when your deepest experiences challenge everything you have been taught about identity, consciousness, God, and what it means to be human?

In this episode of Walk With Me—Conversations With Real People, Stephanie speaks with Michael Monk, founder of the Avatar Energy Mastery Institute. Michael describes growing up as the black sheep of his family, struggling to find a stable identity, and eventually transforming the qualities that once made him feel like an outsider into a path of teaching and service.

Michael shares his account of a profound spiritual awakening in 1999 and the ye...

What happens when the survival skills that protected you as a child begin to destroy your life as an adult?

In this deeply personal episode of Walk With Me Conversations, Stephanie sits down with author Rich Dunning, whose memoir, Silence Was My First Language, tells the story of a childhood shaped by poverty, instability, addiction, abuse, homelessness, and one overriding rule: stay silent.

Rich shares how those early survival patterns followed him into adulthood. Despite building a successful career and becoming a husband and father, unresolved trauma remained beneath the surface, eventually contributing to severe...

When a Brilliant Child Can't Get Their Ideas Onto the Page

What if a child who struggles to read or write isn't lazy, unintelligent, or incapable—but has simply never been taught in a way their brain can use?

In this episode of Walk With Me: Conversations With Real People, Stephanie speaks with dyslexia researcher and educator Russell Van Brocklen, whose own painful educational journey became the foundation for more than 20 years of work with dyslexic students, parents, and teachers.

Although Russell's intelligence tested in the 96th percentile, he spent much of his ea...

What happens when you spend decades carrying grief, trauma, responsibility, and pain without ever truly learning how to process it?

In this episode of Walk With Me Conversations, Stephanie sits down with author, speaker, and Marine Corps combat veteran Keith Cole for a deeply personal conversation about survival, faith, healing, and the courage it takes to finally face the things we have carried for far too long.

Keith shares how the death of his father during his senior year of high school changed the direction of his life and eventually led him to join the...

What if finding your purpose isn't about searching harder—but about noticing the need right in front of you and choosing to act?

In this episode of Walk With Me Conversations, Stephanie sits down with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization built around a simple but powerful mission: "No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town." Luke's journey began in Idaho with one family, one bunk bed, and a desire to teach a group of young men about service. What happened next changed the direction of his life.

Luke shares th...

What happens when something that feels completely normal in childhood quietly becomes the thing that consumes your life?

Jay Sapovitz grew up close to his father, spending much of his childhood around sports and racetracks. By 13, Jay had started gambling. Before long, gambling wasn't simply something he did—it had begun swallowing his identity. He worked constantly to fund it, surrounded himself with older gamblers, and eventually chose UNLV as his college destination while already deep in an addiction he couldn't yet see clearly.

By his early twenties, Jay had reached a devastating bottom. Sitting al...

What if healing isn't about finding the perfect treatment—but becoming the kind of person who believes healing is possible?

In this deeply encouraging conversation, Stephanie sits down with Amy Lenius, holistic health advocate, coach, and speaker, to explore what happens when we stop waiting for someone else to rescue our health and begin becoming active participants in our own healing.

After years of living with endometriosis, chronic pain, surgeries, medications, and discouraging prognoses, Amy chose a different path. Through curiosity, education, lifestyle changes, and a commitment to consistent action, she gradually transformed both her he...

Have you ever left a workplace wondering why the same unhealthy dynamics seem to follow you from job to job?

In this thought-provoking episode of Walk With Me – Conversations With Real People, Stephanie Bloom sits down with employment attorney, speaker, and author Natalie Holder to explore how workplace experiences can leave lasting emotional imprints—and how recognizing those patterns can become the first step toward lasting change.

Natalie shares how growing up with a strong sense of justice inspired her career advocating for people facing inequity and exclusion. Together, Stephanie and Natalie discuss workplace culture, lead...

Who are you when the world has spent years telling you who you should be?

In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Stephanie Bloom sits down with licensed therapist, storyteller, and author Johnzelle Anderson to explore the profound connection between identity, trauma, storytelling, and healing.

Growing up as a mixed-race child in the American South, John struggled to find belonging while navigating racism, abuse, neglect, and the confusion of being defined by everyone except himself. Yet throughout every difficult chapter, a quiet spark of hope remained.

That hope eventually led him to become a therapist...

What happens when the unimaginable becomes your reality?

In this deeply moving episode of Walk With Me – Conversations With Real People, Stephanie Bloom sits down with author, educator, and grieving mother Katie Rizzo to talk about surviving the loss of her oldest son, Nicholas, to opioid addiction.

Katie shares the journey that led her from scientist and biology teacher to writer and advocate after tragedy forever changed her family's life. Together, Stephanie and Katie explore the devastating impact addiction has on families, the hidden shame so many parents carry, and why healing begins when we st...

What if the life you've worked so hard to build is the very thing disconnecting you from yourself?

In this deeply personal conversation, Stephanie Bloom sits down with Elizabeth Munoz, founder of Soulhaven and creator of the Radiant CEO Movement, to explore how childhood trauma, nervous system dysregulation, perfectionism, and burnout can quietly shape the course of our lives.

Elizabeth shares her journey from growing up in an abusive home, serving in the military, navigating high-pressure corporate leadership, and surviving toxic relationships, to experiencing a complete nervous system shutdown that ultimately became the catalyst for...

Some people survive adversity.

Others allow adversity to transform how they live.

In this inspiring episode of Walk With Me Conversations, Stephanie Bloom sits down with Bron Watson—nurse, educator, entrepreneur, mother of five, and founder of The Serenity Project. After surviving breast cancer and later being diagnosed with incurable multiple myeloma, Bron discovered that healing is about far more than medicine. It is about learning to live fully in the present, caring for yourself with intention, and finding peace even when certainty is impossible.

Rather than allowing illness to define her, Bron sh...

What happens when a childhood tragedy shapes the course of an entire life?

In this deeply moving episode of Walk With Me Conversations, Stephanie Bloom sits down with Karen Olsen to explore the profound impact of losing her mother to suicide at just twelve years old. Growing up in a time when grief, mental health, and suicide were rarely discussed, Karen was left to navigate unimaginable loss with very little support.

Rather than allowing that pain to define her future, Karen transformed her experience into a life dedicated to helping others. She shares her journey...

In this deeply moving episode of Walk With Me Conversations, Stephanie sits down with healer, teacher, and meditation guide Ben Oofana to explore a lifetime devoted to healing, self-discovery, and the pursuit of deeper awareness.

Ben shares the extraordinary story of growing up amidst childhood trauma, religious extremism, and emotional wounding, only to find himself drawn toward Native American healing traditions from a young age. That calling eventually led him to become the apprentice of Horace Daukei, one of the last renowned Kiowa medicine men, where he was introduced to vision quests, Indigenous healing practices, and a...

What happens when unimaginable loss becomes the foundation for a life of purpose?

In this powerful episode of Walk With Me Conversations, I sit down with Zolal Habibi, activist, advocate, and member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran's Foreign Affairs Committee. Raised in the United States by Iranian parents deeply involved in the fight for human rights, Zolal shares a story that is both deeply personal and globally significant.

At just seven years old, Zolal learned that her father had been killed by the Iranian regime during one of the darkest chapters in...

In this deeply moving episode of Walk With Me Conversations, host Stephanie Bloom sits down with Lena Fein, author of Shattering the Mirror, to explore the lifelong impact of childhood shame, emotional trauma, and the powerful journey back to authenticity.

Lena shares her story of growing up in a home shaped by criticism, emotional neglect, and generational trauma. From the heartbreak of having her childhood diary publicly exposed to decades spent hiding behind achievement and perfectionism, Lena opens up about how survival patterns can disconnect us from our true selves.

At age 51, after the death...

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Stephanie sits down with Dr. Albert Bermonti — performance psychologist, professor, author, talent agent, and NLP practitioner — to explore the lifelong journey of healing, belonging, and overcoming self-imposed limitations.

Albert opens up about growing up feeling different in a blue-collar Italian family where sports defined connection, while he found refuge in books, libraries, creativity, and introspection. After experiencing devastating family loss, depression, and suicidal ideation as a teenager, he began searching for meaning through psychology, teaching, and eventually the world of performance and talent development.

Together, Stephanie and Albert disc...

What happens when a healthy, adventurous young professional suddenly wakes up unable to walk, talk, or smile?

In this powerful episode of Walk With Me, Dan McQueen shares the incredible story of surviving a catastrophic brain hemorrhage after what initially seemed like "just headaches." From a vibrant life in London working for Hootsuite to emergency brain surgery, a coma, and the brutal process of relearning how to function, Dan's story is a masterclass in resilience, mindset, and refusing to surrender.

Rather than embracing victimhood, Dan chose something different: relentless determination. Through humor, honesty, and unforgettable...

What if the struggles in your relationships aren't random—but rooted in patterns you've been carrying your whole life?

In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Brian Power, an integrated attachment theory coach, to explore how childhood experiences shape the way we love, communicate, and connect. From a chaotic upbringing marked by instability and addiction to nearly losing his marriage, Brian shares the journey that forced him to confront his deepest wounds—and ultimately transform them.

This conversation is a powerful look at what happens when we stop blaming, start taking ownership, and finally learn the...

A powerful conversation on trauma, suicide, shame, and healing through brain health. Dr. Theodore Henderson shares how neuroplasticity, ketamine, and infrared light therapy are changing mental health treatment.

What if healing isn't just about coping—but actually repairing the brain?

In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Theodore Henderson shares his journey from severe childhood trauma and years of suicidal ideation to becoming a leading voice in brain health and innovative mental health treatment.

We explore the lived reality of trauma, the hidden role of shame, and the small, daily decisions that can keep so...

Episode Summary

What happens when the conflict you grow up in becomes the very thing you're called to change?

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Dillon, divorce mediator and co-founder of Equitable Mediation Services, who shares his deeply personal story of growing up as an only child in the middle of a long, litigated divorce in the 1980s. What began as a childhood shaped by silence, conflict, and emotional disconnection followed him into adulthood—impacting his relationships, emotional regulation, and worldview.

But Joe's story doesn't end there.

After years of...

Episode Summary

What does it really look like to rebuild your life after unimaginable loss?

In this deeply moving conversation, I sit down with Becky Smith-Gallai, author, speaker, and resilience expert, whose life has been shaped by profound adversity—and an unwavering commitment to finding possibility through it.

From losing her brother at a young age… to raising multiple children with complex medical needs… to becoming suddenly paralyzed as a single mother—Becky's story is not just about survival. It's about transformation.

Together, we explore how grief evolves over time, how to navig...

In this episode of Walk With Me Conversations, we sit down with Edward Okafor, a high-performance wellness strategist and founder of Wisdom of Men, a platform focused on helping men develop discipline, confidence, and supportive brotherhood.

Raised in North Carolina by a single mother, Edward grew up navigating life without a consistent male role model — an experience that deeply shaped his understanding of the challenges many men face today.

After studying industrial design and briefly stepping into the corporate world, Edward realized the traditional path wasn't aligned with his purpose. A life-changing opportunity took him ov...

In this episode of the Walk With Me Podcast, Stephanie sits down with David Richards — a Marine Corps veteran, author, yoga instructor, and coach whose life journey spans military service, personal transformation, and a deep exploration of spirituality and purpose. 

David grew up in a military family and eventually followed that path himself, attending Penn State and becoming a Marine officer. His career included leadership roles and deployment to Somalia during the early 1990s. The experience gave him a deep understanding of discipline, strategy, and the psychology of human behavior. 

But David's story is about far...

In this episode of the Walk With Me Podcast, we sit down with Meridee Hlokoff — a spiritual guide, addictions coach, life coach, and business coach dedicated to helping people break free from destructive patterns and reconnect with their authentic selves.

transcription

Meridee's story begins in a challenging environment marked by generational trauma and a mother struggling with serious mental health issues. Growing up in that instability forced her to confront difficult questions about identity, responsibility, and the cycles we inherit from our families.

transcription

As she became a parent herself, those le...

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Walk With Me Podcast, Stephanie sits down with Dr. Sharnael, a practitioner, author, and educator whose work blends holistic health, spirituality, and the science of human energy and physiology.

Dr. Sharnael shares the deeply personal journey that led her into the world of natural healing. After years of struggling with serious health issues and being placed on more than thirty medications without improvement, she began searching for answers beyond conventional medicine. That search eventually led her to explore biohacking technologies, naturopathic approaches, and the intersection of spirituality and...

In this episode of the Walk With Me Podcast, we sit down with Kay, a lifelong community developer, entrepreneur, and health advocate who believes that the choices we make every day can dramatically change the trajectory of our lives.

Kay grew up in a large Midwestern family as the oldest of eight children. That early responsibility helped shape her curiosity about people and her desire to serve others. Over the years, that curiosity led her far beyond her hometown—working in community development projects in inner-city Chicago and eventually across the world.

For decades, Kay he...

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Walk With Me Podcast, Stephanie speaks with Adriene Caldwell, author of Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines. Adrienne shares her extraordinary journey from childhood abuse, homelessness, and foster care to becoming a survivor, mother, and advocate for healing.

Adriene grew up surrounded by generational trauma, poverty, and instability. Her mother struggled with schizophrenia, and throughout her childhood Adrienne experienced physical abuse, extreme poverty, and constant upheaval—attending 13 different schools before graduating high school. 

Despite these challenges, Adriene found refuge in education. School became the one place where she...

In this deeply moving episode of Walk With Me Conversations, we sit down with Alicia Johnson-Niles, founder of Unlikely Courage and author of the forthcoming book Angel in Arlington.

Alicia's story begins with a devastating loss—her father was murdered when she was just two years old. Though she grew up surrounded by love and stability, the trauma of that loss quietly shaped her inner world for decades, manifesting as anxiety, fear, people-pleasing, disordered eating, and a constant sense of bracing for the worst.

In this conversation, Alicia courageously explores what it means to grieve so...

In this episode of Walk With Me, Stephanie sits down with David Auger—environmental engineer, author, husband, father, and deep thinker—to explore sustainability as more than a scientific metric. David invites us to consider sustainability as a normative, values-based question: What do we want to hold onto, protect, and pass forward?

David shares his personal journey growing up in Denver, attending West Point, serving in the military, and transitioning into a long career in environmental engineering focused on water, air quality, wildlife habitat, and industrial responsibility. Alongside his professional experience, David opens up about one of the...

In this deeply honest and unconventional conversation, we sit down with Dale Walsh—poet, mentor, and mental health advocate—who shares his lived experience with schizophrenia spanning nearly five decades.

Dale's journey began in the summer of 1975, when a psychotic break during his freshman year at Dartmouth College led to involuntary hospitalization and a diagnosis that would shape much of his adult life. What followed were years inside psychiatric institutions, long-term stigma, and a mental health system that, at the time, offered little hope for recovery.

In this episode, Dale speaks candidly about:

The...

In this deeply moving episode of Walk With Me Conversations, we sit down with Damian Bloss, author, recovery advocate, and mental health group leader, to explore a story of grief, addiction, redemption, and hope.

Damian shares how a seemingly "normal" childhood—filled with baseball dreams and close family ties—was forever altered by the suicide of a father figure during his late teens. Carrying unspoken guilt and unresolved trauma, Damian turned to alcohol as a way to numb the pain, a coping mechanism that slowly grew into a 20-year battle with addiction.

What followed were year...

✨ What We Talk About

💡 Memor...

Guest: Matt Von Becklin – Founder of QuitKit

Episode Summary

In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, Matt Von Becklin shares his journey through addiction, identity loss, abandonment wounds, and ultimately recovery. From growing up with an absent father and feeling perpetually on the outside socially, to navigating substance use through alcohol, cigarettes, tramadol, and kratom, Matt opens up about how addiction became both a coping mechanism and a cage.

Matt explains how his lowest moment—facing suicidal thoughts—became the catalyst for radical self-responsibility and innovation. Drawing on his background in chemical engineering, he dev...