In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts interviews Jon Emery, creator of Life’s Check Mark podcast. Jon shares his story of overcoming job loss and divorce, and how these challenges led him to deeper self-discovery and a passion for helping others. The conversation explores the power of community, the importance of mental health—especially for men—and how podcasting can be a tool for healing and connection. Jon also discusses building the Podcasters Hub and his upcoming anthology book, encouraging listeners to pursue their dreams and never quit.

Jon's Bio and Contact Information

Jon Emery’s journey is a testament to resilience and self-discovery. After losing a 20-year job and navigating a divorce, he embarked on a transformative path. This journey led him to authenticity and a deep desire to connect with others, creating his podcast, “Life’s Checkmark”

which is in the top 10%. Through this platform, Jon offers comfort and understanding to those feeling alone on their journeys. This has expanded to speaking and being an author in several books.

This quest for authenticity extended to his role as a father, allowing Jon to forge deeper connections with his children. Alongside family, he enjoys the companionship of an amazing dog and finding peace in nature through hikes and outdoor adventures. Beyond personal pursuits, Jon's passion lies in aiding others, particularly in helping them find their voice through

podcasting, fostering empathy and connection among individuals.

In essence, Jon Emery's life narrative embodies resilience, empathy, and the power of forging genuine connections. His journey from adversity to self-discovery reflects the beauty of understanding and empathizing with others, both in personal relationships and within the wider human experience.

🔗 Connect with Jon Emery:

Website: lifescheckmark.com Find the Podcasters Hub, live event info, and one-on-one coaching

Interested in the anthology book? Reach out to Jon directly!

🎧 Listen to Life’s Check Mark Podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms.

To find out more about Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminster.com

This episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, hosted by Dave Roberts, features clinical psychologist Michelle Sherman and her mother, mental health advocate DeAnne Sherman. The conversation centers on their book, "I'm Not Alone: A Teen's Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has a Mental Illness or History of Trauma." The guests discuss their personal and professional journeys into mental health advocacy, the lack of resources for children of parents with mental illness, and the importance of early intervention and community support. They highlight the need for resilience, accurate information, and supportive adults outside the family. The episode also explores the challenges of updating mental health resources for a new generation, the impact of technology and misinformation, and the importance of kindness, awareness, and open discussion to break the stigma around mental illness in families.

Michelle’s Bio

Michelle (she/her) is a clinical psychologist who has dedicated her 30+ year career to supporting families dealing with a mental illness or history of trauma. She was named the American Psychological Association’s Family Psychologist of the Year in 2022.

Michelle has served as a therapist for over 30 years, providing individual and couples psychotherapy to adults in a VA medical center, urban primary care clinic, community clinic, inpatient psychiatric unit, and private practice. As an educator, she served as a Full Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the University of Minnesota Medical School, teaching and supervising trainees from numerous disciplines. She enjoys public speaking, having given over 250 workshops nationally and internationally. She conducts research and serves as the Editor in Chief of the journal, Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice. She has published over 75 articles in peer-reviewed journals, over 80 book chapters and articles in other sources, and four books for the lay public.

She also enjoys volunteering, having served on the board of the Oklahoma National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for 14 years and currently volunteering with the Minnesota NAMI affiliate.

Grounded in the research she conducted while at the University of Minnesota, she also volunteers as a Behavioral Health Consultant with professional and community theater companies as they produce musicals with psychological themes, thereby merging her love of psychology and theater.

Deanne's Bio

DeAnne (she/her), Michelle’s mother, is a mental health advocate and educator. She graduated from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, with degrees in French, education, and speech and theater. She volunteers with NAMI-Minnesota, gives workshops with her daughter about mental illness in the family, and mentors people of all ages in the performing arts as a choreographer. DeAnne's mission is to affirm, educate, and empower others. She has strong passions for combating stigma, offering hope to people who are hurting, celebrating diversity, and promoting open discussion about mental health.

Learn more and find resources: Seeds of Hope Books

To find out more about Dave go to davidrpbertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

Host Dave Roberts welcomes Elaine Lindsay, the “Dark Pollyanna,” to share her extraordinary journey of surviving trauma, loss, and medical adversity. Through candid conversation, Elaine discusses how humor, hope, and resilience have helped her navigate life’s darkest moments. The episode explores the importance of passing wisdom between generations, staying engaged at any age, and finding meaning and growth through adversity.

Elaine’s Bio and Contact Information

She walks the fault lines with ink-stained hands, sketching hope where the sky cracked.

Elaine Lindsay, Hope Cartographer & Shadow Alchemist known as TheDarkPollyanna, navigates the fault lines between despair and resilience, distilling truth from trauma and weaving raw emotional landscapes into language. She maps the brutal beauty of survival, offering others a compass made of candor, contradiction, and sparks that refuse to die. Not here to fix, here to witness, reflect, and remind you that staying is its own kind of sacred work.

Connect with Elaine Lindsay (The Dark Pollyanna) and learn more about Baton of Hope Canada for suicide prevention and life preservation.

Websites

https://thedarkpollyanna.com/

https://suicide-zen-forgiveness.captivate.fm/

https://elainelindsay.com/

https://batonofhope.ca (coming December 2025)

Podcast: https://www.szf42.com/

Socials

LinkedIn ca.linkedin.com/in/elainelindsay/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/suicide-zen-forgiveness/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheElaineLindsay

https://www.facebook.com/SZF42/

Insta

https://www.instagram.com/thedarkpollyanna/

https://www.instagram.com/suicidezenforgiveness/

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@TheDarkPollyanna

https://www.youtube.com/@ElaineLindsay

www.youtube.com/@suicidezenforgiveness

To find out more about dave go to davidrobersmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

This episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, hosted by Dave Roberts, features Vanessa Thompson—founder of the Sustainability Experts Group and a leader in sustainable business practices. Vanessa shares her journey from early mentorship and work in clean tech startups to consulting for major organizations. The conversation explores how lessons from nature and biomimicry can drive innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in business. Through real-world case studies, Vanessa and Dave discuss the importance of authentic mission, collaboration, systems thinking, and embracing failure as a learning tool. The episode offers practical advice for leaders and organizations seeking to create positive, lasting impact.

Vanessa's Bio and Contact Information

Vanessa Thompson has worked in sustainability and finance for the past ten years. She has worked at the UN Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, the World Bank, JLL Spark Ventures, and numerous Silicon Valley startups.

Her podcast has hosted Olympian Venus Williams, Eric Schurenberg (former CEO of Inc. & Forbes Magazine), Philip Hoare (Chief Operating Officer of AtkinsRéalis), and Lisa Neuberger Fernandez (former head of Innovation at Accenture).

She graduated Summa Cum Laude from U.C. Berkeley with a B.S. in Environmental Economics and earned an MBA from Santa Clara University. Her innovative book will be released next year, redefining how sustainable leadership can accelerate business innovation.

🔗 Connect with Vanessa Thompson:

• LinkedIn: Vanessa Thompson
• Website: vanessathompson.com
• The Sustainability Experts: thesustainabilityexperts.com

To find out more about Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes Nina Maglic, founder of the Healing Millions Global Movement. Nina shares her journey from growing up amid the Bosnian war to establishing a movement dedicated to making healing accessible worldwide. She discusses her transition from marketing for Fortune 500 companies to her work in energy healing and business mentoring for healers. Nina emphasizes the importance of overcoming limiting beliefs and empowering oneself through both spiritual and practical means. She also offers insights into her Healing Millions book and the various resources available through her movement, including a free course designed to help individuals reclaim their lives.

Nina’s Bio and Contact Information

Nina Maglic is the visionary founder of the Healing Millions® Global Movement — an international movement devoted to bringing peace and healing to humanity across four continents. Her mission is simple yet profound: to make healing affordable, accessible, and available to everyone on Earth.

Before stepping fully into her calling as a healer and mentor, Nina spent more than 18 years running marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and helping small businesses across the USA and Europe grow with clarity, strategy, and heart.

Today, she blends that business expertise with deep spiritual wisdom, energy work, and mindset mastery to help healers build profitable, predictable, and soul-aligned businesses without burnout or sacrificing family time.

Through her Healing Millions® Membership, Healing Millions® Mastermind, and bestselling book Healing Millions, Nina guides a global community of light-workers to heal themselves, share their gifts, and create ripples of transformation that extend far beyond their clients — touching families, communities, and the collective.

Connect with Nina: Website & Free Gift: https://ninamaglic.com/gift

Join the Healing Millions Community: Search for "Healing Millions" on Facebook and Skool

Purchase "Healing Millions" book: Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

To find out more about Dave, please go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes Dr. Radha Measuria, a UK-trained doctor with over a decade of experience. The discussion revolves around Dr. Measuria's global healthcare experiences and her mission to empower patients by incorporating holistic approaches and traditional medicine. They explore the cultural practices from various countries that can enhance functional medicine and improve health outcomes. The conversation highlights the importance of blending Western and complementary medicine, ensuring patient participation in healthcare decisions, and focusing on quality of life throughout one’s life. Dr. Measuria shares insights from her volunteer efforts in Kenya, Sierra Leone, Mexico, Romania, and Greece. The episode concludes with a call for integrating science with soulful practices to heal both individuals and the healthcare system.

Radha’s Bio and Contact Information.

Dr. Radha Measuria is a UK-trained doctor with over 10 years of experience working in the NHS and beyond. Having worked in hospitals across the UK and in developing countries, she brings a global perspective to her mission of transforming healthcare.

As a doctor and coach, she’s dedicated to helping Doctors break free from their limiting beliefs to create lasting change. Her approach goes beyond quick fixes or temporary solutions—it’s about empowering individuals to embrace their health, build powerful rituals, and step into a radiant identity that thrives, no matter life’s challenges.

She also hosts the Medicine Unraveled podcast, where she shares insights into functional and nutritional approaches to health and wellness, alongside strategies for medical professionals to craft balanced, optimized careers.

Curiosity, growth, and resilience are at the heart of everything she does. She believes in creating ripples of positive change that will inspire and empower future generations. Radha’s message : Let’s create a world where vibrant health isn’t just a goal—it’s a way of life.

Connect with Dr. Radha Measuria:

Podcast: "Medicine Unraveled" (Apple, Spotify, and all major platforms)

YouTube: New content coming soon!

·LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-coach-radha-measuria

·Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radhakanini.measuria

Facebook Community: Weekly live sessions, practical tools, and Q&A

Instagram: @drRadhaMeasuria

·Newsletter: Rpmlist.mailerpage.io

Resources Mentioned:

"Medicine Unraveled" Podcast

"Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes returning guest Keri Cooper, a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Keri Cooper Holistic Therapy. Cooper discusses her practice, which focuses on teens and holistic therapy. The conversation delves into sleep disturbances among young adults, emphasizing the critical role of sleep in mental health. Issues like anxiety, stress, time management, and the impact of electronic devices on sleep are highlighted. Cooper also discusses the importance of parents modeling good behavior, and outlines practical steps for improving sleep hygiene. Additionally, details about her books, 'Mental Health Uncensored' for parents and teens, are shared, illustrating their alignment with her therapeutic approach.

📚 Keri’s Bio and Contact Information

Keri Cooper, LCSW, is the owner of Keri Cooper Holistic Therapy in northern New Jersey. In her private practice, she counsels teens and works to give them the tools they need to navigate life.

Keri takes a holistic approach to therapy, looking at the whole person, not just their symptoms.

Keri is the author of Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Parent Needs To Know, a book designed to give parents steps on how to improve their child’s mental health.

Her second book is a workbook for teens, Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Teen Needs To Know.

She is a speaker and writer who helps educate teens and parents on the topics teens face in everyday life.

She is a graduate of the University Of Pennsylvania and continues to further her education by obtaining additional certifications in her field, one of her favorite pastimes!

When Keri isn't busy working with teens, she is busy with her own four children and her flock of chickens.

🔗 Resources & Contact:

• Keri Cooper Holistic Therapy: kericooperholistictherapy.com
• Instagram: @KeriCooperHolisticTherapy & @SleepSolutionsByKeri
• Books: "Mental Health Uncensored" (Parent & Teen editions)
• Email: keri@kericooperholistictherapy.com

To find out more about Dave, please go to davidrobsertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes back Nick Gaylord, a former pharmaceutical industry professional who found his calling in podcasting. Nick shares his profound journey from navigating a complicated relationship with his father to finding peace and purpose through his podcast, initially titled 'Our Dead Dads' and now rebranded as 'Grief Is Not a Dirty Word.' They discuss the importance of creating safe spaces for discussing grief and how Nick's podcast has touched lives worldwide, including stories from notable figures such as Gabby Petito’s parents and survivors of the Sandy Hook tragedy. Nick also reveals his future plans, including upcoming interviews with prominent figures and his speaking engagement at Pod Fest 2026.

Nick's Bio and Contact Information

Nick has always been driven by a desire to help others. As a child, his natural talent for numbers had him convinced he would become a math teacher. While life took him down a different path—spending nearly three decades in the pharmaceutical industry, working in Quality Assurance and Document Control—his passion for making a meaningful impact never wavered.

Yet, something always felt missing. No matter how important his work was in helping develop life-changing medicines, Nick longed for something more—something deeper, something that allowed him to connect with people in a way that truly mattered.

That search led him to podcasting. In early 2024, he launched Our Dead Dads Podcast, a space dedicated to the conversations we’re often too afraid to have—grief, loss, trauma, and everything in between. Through the podcast, Nick shares his own personal journey, including the complicated relationship he had with his father, who passed in 2021. By opening up about his own unresolved feelings, he creates space for others to do the same.

Nick is on a mission to normalize the conversations around death, grief, and the often-overwhelming emotions that come with them. He wants to inspire those who feel stuck in their pain to share their own stories or, at the very least, find healing in hearing someone else’s.

🔗 Listen & Connect:

• Subscribe to "Grief Is Not a Dirty Word" on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all major platforms
• Visit the website: https://griefisnotadirtyword.com
• Interested in sharing your story? Fill out the guest form on the website

To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author site psychologyprofessorandminister.com