Jay meets Valerie Mena, a devoted mother and hygienist that embodies a tale of resilience, perseverance, and unwavering dedication. Rooted in the rich heritage of her immigrant parents, Valerie's journey has been marked by both profound challenges and triumphant victories.

Growing up, Valerie witnessed the hardships of depression and alcoholism with her mother that placed her amidst trauma and conflict. These challenges were intensified in her most formative years and well into adulthood. Valerie became pregnant while in high school, giving birth to a beautiful daughter. She immediately embraced the role of being a single mother, a journey dotted with episodes of domestic violence being brought upon Valerie. Despite the adversity, Valerie's spirit remained unbroken; she navigated through these tribulations and traumas and pursued a fulfilling career in hygiene, demonstrating that one's past does not define one’s future.

Valerie's resilience was further highlighted as she became a beacon of support for her mother during her most trying times, caring for her until her final moments. Her life story is not just about enduring pain; it is a testament to her strength and compassion, as she continued to excel in her professional field while navigating personal adversities.

In every aspect of her life, Valerie exemplifies grit and a relentless pursuit of betterment, becoming a symbol of hope and an inspiring figure for many who find themselves in similar circumstances.

Valerie Mena’s story is one of hope, transformation, and unwavering love. In sharing her journey, she aims to inspire and empower others to overcome their own obstacles and build a life marked by achievement and fulfillment, regardless of the difficulties they face.

https://www.samhsa.gov/
https://www.thehotline.org/
https://mutualground.org/

Jay meets with Paige Arnone. Paige is a yoga practitioner and Founder of Firstgevity she is AZPOST CERTIFIED & E-RYT 500. With years of experience working directly with first responders, Paige knows firsthand the unique challenges these brave individuals face and the toll it can take on their mental and physical health. Her journey with yoga began when she struggled with debilitating anxiety and panic attacks from childhood traumas. Yoga taught her how to take back control of her life, and it has since become her mission to give back to those who have always protected her.

Paige's ultimate goal is to support the development of a new generation of first responders who are physically healthy and mentally strong being able to easily handle challenging conditions. Paige's passion and dedication to helping first responders thrive and creating a stronger and more resilient community for all are at the heart of Firstgevity's mission.

https://www.firstgevity.com/

Jay and Colleen from the Reclaim Team have Jen take the wheel to provide insight to shed light on the teacher experience of going back to school. Jen is a Masters level educator that served as a teacher for 15+ years. In this episode Jen unpacks the challenges a teacher faces or may face and the the overall mindset of teachers. Jen also shares some practical ways students and parents can start the year off strong. She also offers further dos and don'ts to start the year off with positivity. 

Jay meets with Retired Police Officer of Phoenix Arizona, Christopher Hoyer. Christopher is an author, keynote speaker/presenter, trainer, protector, survivor and active advocate for mental/ physical/emotional/spiritual wellness for the First Responder and civilian communities. 

After over 20 years as a street cop, having been faced with the worst horrors imaginable, he has turned his focus to public speaking and writing various articles worldwide. 

Having recently published a book: When That Day Comes Training For The Fight, with Natalie June Reilly he is helping LEO and First Responder communities from all over prepare for the crisis, stored trauma and joys that come with the job. His book was written for a couple of specific and special reasons. The first is to honor the memory of all fallen Law Enforcement Officers ... one in particular. The second is to pass on what time on the street taught him about survival ... mental, physical and emotional.He has spoken to thousands, including First Responders, mental health advocates and various professional entities, sharing his story in hopes of saving lives.

https://a.co/d/aD5freS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-hoyer-25398192/

The Reclaim Team meet with Jeremy Indika. Jeremy was sexually abused for two years when he was 8-years old, by a 25-year old man. He now speaks publicly about what happened, covering a range of topics such as how it felt to speak out for the first time, prosecuting the man that did this to him and how we can better protect children moving forward. He is the founder of a movement called Something to Say, runs a podcast, YouTube channel, clothing line and speaks in schools, businesses and organizations to encourage conversation around the crime of children being sexually abused.

Jeremy has been ridiculed and has been met with considerable outrage from interviewing and learning from individuals that have been charged for sexual deviancy. His goal is to bring awareness and education to provide greater tools and resources to protect children and teenagers!

Jeremy Indika : www.jeremyindika.com

STS: www.somethingtosayofficial.com

Jay from the Reclaim Team meets Johnnie Davis. Johnnie is a successful author, entrepreneur and miracle to still be here spreading love, insight and sharing his inspiring story. Johnnie grew up in one of the toughest housing projects in NJ with 5 of his other siblings and his mother. His mother worked countless hours to provide her children with private education which gave Johnnie the opportunity for college. Johnnie became very successful in the direct sales business and was retiring at the age of 34 years old!!! The Johnnie came down with heart failure and battled that sickness for 6 amazing and death defying years. We unpack this and his harrowing journey coming back from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, being saved by his wife Rachel, the Fire & Rescue Team at Station 38 and SOOOOO much more!

Johnnie is a Board of Directors Officer for the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.

https://www.amazon.com/Im-Still-Here-Failure-Champion-ebook/dp/B072BCVMVH/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

The Reclaim Team meets with Cody Bentley. Cody is a man of faith, principal and family. He was raised in a loving and nurturing family where his mom and his dad were his heroes and well respected. Then tragedies and crisis hit his family one by one.  Then one day the ultimate tragedy happened and his parents were no longer there to support him and his siblings. Cody takes us on a journey of his life and shares with us his way back from trauma and horror to creating the organization he founded so everyone can have access to support and love one conversation at a time.

Cody's nonprofit Humane Kinect is a way for people from all walks of life to receive peer support and love at the click of the button. This revolutionary approach allows everything to be kept anonymous while people are getting support at times where it is needed most in their lives and the have the opportunity to pay it forward to someone else in need.

https://humanekinect.org/

The Reclaim Team meets with Dr. Ted again to unpack anxiety. Although Ted is not taking new clients at this time, Ted is a psychologist who works with clients whose concerns include depression, anxiety, stress, anger, conflict management, poor self-esteem, compulsive behavior, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, unemployment stresses, alcohol and other substance abuse issues, psychosis, domestic violence, as well as marriage and family issues.

Ted Welsch, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Illinois. He has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology-Chicago. Prior to establishing CCCA, he worked at a community mental health center, at a parish, a psychiatric hospital, and a nursing home. In addition, Ted conducted court ordered psychological assessments and provided counseling services to adolescents at a juvenile detention center. Over the past 10 years in private practice, he has experience working with couples, families, adults and adolescents in individual therapy.

Ted is a husband and father of four adult children and utilizes that experience in his work with his clients. The field of psychology is his second career endeavor, previously working in various capacities in a family-owned construction firm. so he can also relate to occupational challenges that individuals face in the work world. Ted places a priority on keeping up with current developments in areas of interest in the field of psychology. He maintains membership in the American Psychological Association, the Association for the Development of the Person-Centered Approach, the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies, the APA Division of Psychologists in Independent Practice, Division of Humanistic Psychotherapies and the Division of Clinical Psychology.