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Hello Listeners! In today's episode, Donna sits down. . . on the other side of the table? Because in this installment of the Brighten Up Pod, Donna is not interviewing, but rather, she is the guest for today!

You'll just have to listen in so you know why and what exactly marks this bonus episode as so special.

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Hello Listeners! We are back for another installment of The Brighten Up Pod! Warning: This episode is not for the faint of heart. The premise begins with a simple question that today's guest sought to discover the answer to: Can a positive impact be created by teaching children the core values of the military?

In today's episode, Donna sits down with Colonel Joseph Land, founder of the youth leadership program, Extreme Military Challenge (XMC). For most, this program would appear like a boot camp with a "scared-straight" approach to behavioral modification. The curriculum, however, is far from that misconception. XMC is NOT some correctional facility for troubled youth – it teaches children a sense of duty to self and others by challenging them individually and collectively. This rigorous curriculum has demonstrated that inspiring leadership in others is about creating a yearning to succeed in tasks too difficult for most to accomplish. When children succeed in the program, they develop a monumental confidence that simply cannot be found elsewhere.

Donna connected with Colonel Land after she and her husband found the program and offered it to their 16-year-old son, Christian. He left as a boy and came back a gentleman. Despite the trials and tribulations, he wanted more and is on track to return for XMC's advanced program for Cadet Basic Training graduates.

Extreme Military Challenge Website:

https://www.xmccamp.com/

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Since our last episode, so many historical and politically charged events have been jam-packed into the brief time that has passed. No matter your views, odds are you are among the millions experiencing a spike in anxiety because of one development or another. Here's a secret: you are not in control of the things that happen out there, but you have tools to empower yourself to control how you feel from within.

Exercising gratitude, mindfulness, and servitude, among other things, can be transformative. In this second installment of Brighten Up's Faith series, Donna sits down with ordained Rabbinic Pastor Shayndel Kahn to talk about how she believes faith can be used to live a fulfilling life as well as to overcome adversity.

After listening to this episode, if you'd like to connect with Rabbi Kahn, check out her website at:

https://www.shayndelkahn.com/

In this episode, Rabbi Kahn shares a bit about her music background. She shares with us an album she produced. Check it out at:

https://www.shayndelkahn.com/music

Hey listeners,

We're asking all our listeners to connect with us on social media to demonstrate their support. Give us a hello on any comments and we'll happily give shoutouts! We'd also love to highlight questions or comments from fans to say thanks! Keep following the sunshine!

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New year, new season, new YOU! What better place to start positive change than to reflect upon and assess your family culture? In this episode, Donna chats with Fr. Chris Looby, pastor of three parishes in upstate New York (and podcaster!). He shares daily reflections on his weekday mass readings through his podcast to make his work more accessible as well as to strengthen faith among a local and global community.

In the latest episode of the Brighten Up Pod, Donna and Fr. Chris talk about the role faith can play in the health of families, regardless of what they look like. Join the conversation and consider your own family culture in the meantime as the discussion touches on many areas of daily family life, such as time management, rest, and social media.

The Father Chris Podcast - Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/show/33eRnrm6dzVfquvrVFMwuo

The Father Chris Podcast - Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-father-chris-podcast/id1548207870

Hey listeners,

we're coming up on completing our first year anniversary, so we want to continue growing and connecting. We're asking all our listeners to connect with us on social media to demonstrate their support. Give us a hello on any comments and we'll happily give shoutouts! We'd also love to highlight questions or comments from fans to say thanks! Keep following the sunshine!

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The old African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child" is widely known, but is enough attention paid to the power of community in overcoming family hardships? Of all the difficulties the family unit faces, few are as daunting as a breast cancer diagnosis. There is a great deal to be hopeful of on a medical front, but the emotional front is a terrain all too treacherous that more women are having to endure.

In this episode, Donna sits down with lifetime friend, Tara LaMalfa to discuss her journey of surviving breast cancer. Tara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, so navigating mental health is her expertise, yet nothing could prepare someone for the emotional toll a cancer diagnosis can take. As a working mom of three, the stakes were immensely high, but somehow the strength was discovered to persevere. Upon closer reflection from Tara, she reveals to us that it was all possible with the support of family, friends, and community.

For those seeking a story of inspiration, for those who have a loved one undergoing this life journey, or for those who are just starting their journey navigating breast cancer, the Brighten Up team invites you to listen in on this month's episode with the goal that this story of survival teaches you lessons to live a fuller and richer life, and to even dare to hope in a time of uncertainty when hope may feel scarce.

Hey listeners,

we're coming up on completing our first year anniversary, so we want to continue growing and connecting. We're asking all our listeners to connect with us on social media to demonstrate their support. Give us a hello on any comments and we'll happily give shoutouts! We'd also love to highlight questions or comments from fans to say thanks! Keep following the sunshine!

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Frontiers are often characterized as unknown territory because of the lack of knowledge there is to them. The same rings true for the video game industry. It has only been a short time since children began growing up with them. Those that did are adults and little is known about their long-term effects. Even less is known about the effects of this new era with highly immersive, often violent video games in which kids, especially teens, are clocking in excessive hours of playtime each day.

Donna sits down with Dr. Thomas Osika to discuss the effects of excessive video gaming on the social development of children, more specifically, teenage boys. What may seem like an innocuous hobby, is quickly consuming children and their upbringing.

Dr. Osika is licensed in the state of New York and can be reached at:
https://www.ospsychservices.com/home.html

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It cuts across economic status, it affects all age groups, and it touches so many lives. . . It is suicide. It is such a heavy discussion, yet such a dire one. Brave spaces are needed for brave people to talk, to reach out, to de-stigmatize.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, so Donna sat down with a local leader making a large impact with small efforts, Katie Booth. Katie is the Operations Manager at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for Sarasota and Manatee counties in Florida. She oversees the You Are Not Alone (YANA) wellness drop-in center where community members in need come in for resources like housing assistance, mental healthcare resources, and substance treatment, among other services, all for FREE. Why is this local effort so impactful? Because suicide has many causes, including housing instability, substance abuse, and lack of mental health treatment. The simplest intervention can be the difference between hope and hopelessness, between deciding to persevere or succumb to societal hardships.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the thought of suicide, reach out and connect because you matter. Simply dial and call 988 for the suicide & crisis Lifeline.

You may also visit the NAMI website for additional resources at
https://www.nami.org/

To visit the Florida chapter and connect with local efforts visit https://namisarasotamanatee.org/

Hey listeners,

we're coming up on completing our first year anniversary, so we want to continue growing and connecting. We're asking all our listeners to connect with us on social media to demonstrate their support. Give us a hello on any comments and we'll happily give shoutouts! We'd also love to highlight questions or comments from fans to say thanks! Keep following the sunshine!

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Have you heard of Pig Butchering Scams? Long gone are the days of "Nigerian Princes" seeking our bank info to park their money in exchange for a monetary gift for us. Online scams have become far more sophisticated today, from copycat websites to simple clicks of a random link received via text or email. Senior citizens are among the more vulnerable because of the fast speed of online/technological developments.

In this episode, Donna sits down with Bryce Kuo, an up-and-coming professional in the field of cybersecurity. He is currently an intern on the IT team at Pioneer Bank. He discusses with Donna some of the various meticulous and discreet online scams on the rise that often result in identity and financial theft, with Seniors being among the primary victims. Listen in for simple and practical ways to protect yourself or loved ones from such threats.

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