As a pediatrician and a mom, there are very few times that we are out of character. This week's guest embodies the mom, physician, empath, life-saver all in one. She is a neonatologist on a mission to save moms from the sometimes traumatic events that follow childbirth, that sometimes culminate in self-harm or suicide. Did you know that many moms take their own lives around 9 to 10 months postpartum? I had no idea it was a thing even though after my last baby, I myself had a health scare at exactly 10 months postpartum! Quotables: "Invest in your health, ask for that in your registry" "Expect ..read more

After he went to sleep next to his wife and woke up at the kitchen window, with his wife dying within minutes...anyone else would have been thrown into a fit of depression, and worthlessness, and despair.  But not Bobby Petrocelli! Defying the odds to become a motivational and inspirational speaker, Bobby reached deep down and found the strength to take life literally one moment at a time. He has written and co-written so many books and has spoken to all places and worked with all people.  His is an incredible story of strength, tenacity, and resiliency. Quotables: "They are allowin ..read more

Derek Butler is a man after my heart! It took us so long to get together to but when we finally did, this episode was DYNAMITE!! He is a survivor, and a sur-thrivor, who has discovered that self-care, healthy connections, and positive affirmations to his inner child are the key to resiliency and success in today's world. Find out his daily affirmations, and how he gets them to work for him. Quotables: "I wrote a letter to sex" "I broke up with sex"  "I tried to muscle my way out" "I tried to motivate my way out" Find out what the acronyms: T.I.M.E and S.E.L.F stand for... Words of Advi ..read more

Our first guest this week is a sister, a friend, a fellow African, a coach, and a fellow mom of an LGBTQ+ kid! We met and clicked right away as was discussed in the show, and our bond and sisterhood have continued to soar! As a coach of parents of LGBTQ+ kids, I am so happy to present her episode to you! I am so proud of her and the strength she exudes during this episode. She allowed the deepest level of vulnerability and is such an inspiration! She shares about her unique position as a Black, African mother of a transwoman, and what it took for her to get to her current position being able t ..read more

In this concluding part of her interview, Heather tells us about her second suicide attempt and how and when she decided she needed to get better and heal and leave all her troubles behind and start moving forward with her life. She touches on the death of her father, her work in the media, and her second podcast.  Find out the simple advice she gives to all or anyone who finds themselves in similar shoes as hers... Quotables: "I did what I had to do" Where to find her: Facebook, Podcast Thanks for listening... Ciao Bella Dr. L   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotif ..read more

Fellow podcaster and childhood trauma survivor Heather joins us this week to tell us her story of pain and betrayal of trust as a child. As you know, I always talk about how the betrayal of children is at the top of the list of reasons why our children hurt themselves.  Listen to her story and let me know your thoughts. Quotable: "I was simply tired of being OK" Where to find: Podcast: You Should Have Asked Me First Hope you and your family are keeping safe, wearing your masks, socially distancing, and using hand sanitizers... Cheers! Dr. L --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.s ..read more

When we hear of pivoting and changing and rebranding, many of us do not think about what this week's guest did. At 56yr young, she found herself enrolling in medical school! Today, many moons later, she is a successful family practitioner and goes about her day saving lives. She describes suicidality as "a moment of hopelessness" which as we know can spiral into the worst-case scenario. Listen to her thoughts about female physicians and suicide, and what word she uses to describe her life before medicine. :) How did a motor vehicle accident and PTSD combine to create who she is today? Quotabl ..read more

This week's guest is an author and a speaker who came to visit us from the future! Yes, she really did! She shares about chronic suicidality from early childhood and what finally happened before she figured out that she comes first. Books: 1. Keep it Super Simple 2. The Economy of Enough 3. Beyond Aha 4. Keep it Super Simple for Busy Professional Women Questions to ask yourself: 1. What stresses you out> 2. Create values 3. What am I actually doing? 4. What are the things on your "to-do" list that are for you?  5. Embrace your to-do list. Where to find her: www.sheiqlife.com Rememb ..read more

What do Betrayal, Marital Infidelity, Depression, Grief, Anguish, Abandonment, and Trauma have in common? Our second guest for the week! Ms. Beatrice shares the pain of marital infidelity and how she barely survived it.  She discusses how a 12-Step program for spouses of sex addicts, great girlfriends, and therapy helped her "see the fruit and the blessing from all the traumas". Find out the book she recommends to all of us that will help with the healing. Quotables: "Don't give up hope, keep seeking and looking for yourself" "Stay on the path" "Don't be afraid to go through difficulty ..read more

In the first episode of this week, Coach Benson Fox, a young Jewish coach with wisdom far beyond his age!  I am so proud of this young man and his insights. He talks candidly about the who, the why, and the what of suicide victims.  A former suicide text line volunteer, he talks about his personal experience doing this, and paints a picture of how:  Hopelessness + Emotional pain = Suicide! Find out the one thing he suggests actively suicidal victims can do to help get them out of the mindset right away... Also, find out the  4 things he says suicide hotline volunteers focus ..read more