Episodes

March 26, 2025

Divorced but not Defeated

Marquette shares about her experiences being married multiple times and learning how she needed to find herself before she could be happy with a partner. She also shares how she went about doing that and also processing some ...
March 19, 2025

Being Driven is not always a Good Thing

Clara shares about being a speaker, entrepreneur, mom and driven business person. She talks about the moment her young son took her phone and said, “you are not paying attention to me.” #scarstostars #mindset #mentalhealth #c...
March 12, 2025

The Echoes of Silence

Samantha shares with us her journey of being a first responder and how that did not even prepare her when a family member was murdered. She is a fierce advocate for suicide prevention and for her fellow #firstresponders. You ...
March 5, 2025

Lessons Learned

Lora vulnerably shares many times of adversity in her life as a teacher. Murder, divorce, music and people played huge roles in her journey. You can read more about her story in Scars to Stars™ Vol 4. #scarstostars #suicidepr...
Feb. 26, 2025

My Thin Blue Line

Bil shares about his experience of being bullied as a police officer, and the ongoing anguish that has brought him. We also chat about his favorite things... photography and his harley! You can read more about his story in Sc...
Feb. 19, 2025

How I Got Here…

Deb shares her story of mental health issues throughout her life, letting us in for some of her most defining moments as a teen, and then an adult. Deb is a board member and active partner of The Realize Foundation. She has a...
Feb. 12, 2025

How Basketball Changed Everything

J.D. Leisky, with 12 stints in his heart, started spending time at his community basketball court. He would shoot basketball by himself to get some exercise at his own pace on a daily basis. You can read more about his story ...
Feb. 5, 2025

Breaking the Cycle of Silence

April shares her story of abuse by a family member and how she was sworn to secrecy for decades. She also shares how the process of writing in Scars to Stars™ Vol 4 healed her relationship some of her family members. You can ...
Jan. 29, 2025

Breaking the Curse of Generational Trauma

Jeanette shares about her childhood trauma and how she carried that into adulthood. As a U.S. Marine, she continued to receive abuse in multiple forms. You can read more about her story in Scars to Stars™ Vol 4. #scarstosta...
Jan. 23, 2025

Victim to Survivor

McKayla was one of six friends in 5th grade who were drugged and shared by two men over a 12 month period. She never told a soul. Years later there was a knock on her door, it was the FBI. #scarstostars #suicideprevention #me...
Jan. 15, 2025

How Getting Arrested Saved My Life

A dynamic trainer, speaker, author and consultant, Ken Miller, CFRE is the president of Denali FSP Fundraising & Grant Consultants, a nonprofit fundraising and grant writing consultancy he founded in 2014 located in Bellingha...
Jan. 8, 2025

From Sex Cult to Millionaire

Deana talks with Lucy about her journey of growing up in a cult in Mexico and how she found success in Real Estate as well as becoming a mental health professional and helping others with trauma healing. #happinesscoach #cult...
Oct. 30, 2024

Getting Authentic with Marques Ogden

Marques shares his mindset shifts through his journey from Howard University, being drafted in the NFL, starting and losing a successful company, divorce and various addictions. The authenticity of his sharing is incredible. ...
Oct. 25, 2024

Thriving after Trauma

Kristin shares her story of sexual abuse as a child and how her life turned to heroin and prostitution. As a volunteer for Refuge City and other organizations, she used her experiences and trauma to help others. Kristin share...
Oct. 16, 2024

Overcoming a Child's Suicide Attempt

Coleen and Deana have a vulnerable conversation about the suicide attempt of Coleen’s son at 10 years old and dive into the journey of how a family made it through this very hard time. He is now grown up and a thriving adult!...
April 24, 2024

From Victim to Victor | Deb Weilnau

Deb shares her journey from the first phone call with Deana after being referred by a mutual friend, to 3 years later being on the board and one of the biggest advocates for Scars to Stars™. Mentioned Resources: Apply to Tell...
April 17, 2024

Helpers Need Help Too | James Boomhower

James ‘Boomer’ Boomhower has been involved since the beginning of The Realize Foundation. He has been a huge supporter as well as a trusted advisor. Deana and James catch up about what is happening with Stay Fit 4 Duty as wel...
April 10, 2024

Healthy Grief | Dr. Karen Kramer

Dr. Karen Kramer chats with Deana about her new book called Healthy Grief and how she helps people in some of the hardest times of their life. Mentioned Resources: https://drkarenkramer.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Gri...
April 3, 2024

The Mind Engineer | Tommy Walker

Deana interviews Tommy Walker who is known as The Mind Engineer. The conversation is in depth and Tommy offers a couple of case studies. Mentioned Resources: https://themindengineer.com/ About the Guest: Passionate about Insp...
March 27, 2024

Documentary, Police Work & Photography | Bil Gardiner

Bil Gardiner and Deana talk about his work with domestic violence as a police officer, the important advocacy around the documentary film, “Walking While Black, Love is the Answer”, and the incredible photography project Bil ...
March 20, 2024

TJ Has a New Job Helping People with Disabilities! | Timothy West

TJ joins Deana to give an update! He lost his jobs months ago, but now has a new one doing exactly what he loves, helping others with disabilities. He also continues his podcast, “My Blurred Opinion” which is the perfect name...
March 13, 2024

Catching Up with Amy! | Amy Charbonneau

Amy & Deana catch up since writing in Book #3. Mentioned Resources: https://mydigitalhomepage.com/amy-charbonneau/ About the Guest: Amy Charbonneau is an accomplished professional with a passion for holistic wellness and empo...
March 6, 2024

Catching Up with Stephanie | Stephanie Rodriguez

Catching up with Stephanie since she wrote in Book #2. Mentioned Resources: https://usolmt.com/ About the Guest: STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the daughter of an absent father sent off to the mi...
Feb. 28, 2024

JD Tells Us More About His Personal Development App | J.D. Leisky

JD created the GPS to Life Success App in 2022 and it is a mecca for personal growth! About the Guest: J.D. Leisky is the founder of an APP called GPS To Life Success Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gps-to-life-suc...