The Teaching Journeys Podcast

di Dave Roberts

Sacred Law vs. Human Law: Understanding Child Loss, Consciousness & Life After Death

What happens when a child's life ends too soon — and what can it teach us about love, consciousness, and what lies beyond death? In this deeply moving episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes Katy Gilbertson, founder of Hauora Wellness, for a raw and spiritually rich conversation about child loss, grief, and the survival of consciousness after death. Both Dave and Katy have lived through a parent's worst nightmare — Dave lost his daughter Jeannine to cancer at 18, and Katy lost her son Jaxon to leukemia just before his 10th birthday. Together, they explore the sacred and the human dimensions of these profound losses. In this episode, you'll discover: • The concept of sacred law vs. human law — and why a short life can still be a complete one • How Jaxon and Jeannine demonstrated advanced empathy and spiritual awareness beyond their years • Real accounts of shared-death experiences and signs from the other side • How consciousness survives physical death — and how to stay connected to loved ones who've transitioned • The waves of grief that resurface at unexpected milestones, and how to navigate them • How Katy transformed her experience into Hauora Wellness, guiding high-achieving women beyond burnout into embodied leadership • Why "once you learn how to die, you learn how to live" • This episode is for anyone navigating grief, curious about life after death, or seeking meaning after profound loss. Katy Gilbertson's Bio and Contact Information Katy is the founder of Hauora Wellness, an expert in holistic wellness, embodied leadership, and human potential, guiding high-level women to expand their capacity and step into their next level of life, leadership, and business in a sustainable and deeply aligned way. Her work sits at the intersection of holistic health, nervous system regulation, human potential, identity transformation, energy work, and personal mastery. Blending a holistic and functional medicine lens with embodiment, leadership development, and transformational coaching, Katy guides women to reconnect with the deeper intelligence of their body, energy, and purpose so they can lead from alignment rather than exhaustion. At the heart of her philosophy is Hauora, the interconnected relationship between physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental wellbeing. Her work is deeply shaped by lived experience. After navigating her own health challenges, chronic stress, periods of losing herself, and the profound journey of supporting her son through cancer and loss while continuing to lead in life and business, Katy’s understanding of resilience, regulation, grief, leadership, and human potential transformed entirely. These experiences became the foundation for the work she now shares through transformational immersions, private mentorship, embodied leadership experiences, and teachings devoted to sustainable expansion and self-mastery. Today, Katy supports high-level women, entrepreneurs, and leaders who know they are here for more, helping them move beyond overthinking, dysregulation, and survival-mode patterns so they can access deeper levels of vitality, clarity, creativity, leadership, and fulfillment. Through Hauora Wellness, Katy is building a movement devoted to embodied expansion, sustainable leadership, and helping women fully hold the mission they are here to lead. Connect Instagram: @hauorawellness Facebook: @hauorawellness Website: www.hauorawellness.com Email: katy@hauorawellness.com Subscribe, share, and leave a review — your support makes all the difference.

E272

18 giu 2026

1:04:34

Can One Partner Save a Marriage? Lee Baucom Says Yes — Here's How

What if you could save your marriage — even if your partner has already given up? In this episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Dr. Lee Baucom, PhD, creator of the globally used Save the Marriage system and host of the Save the Marriage podcast (600+ episodes strong). Lee breaks down why most marriages fail — not from conflict, but from disconnection — and introduces his concept of the "pause button": the moment couples stop investing in their relationship and slowly drift apart. He reveals the three levels of connection (physical, emotional, and spiritual) that every healthy marriage requires, and explains why neglecting even one can quietly erode a relationship over years. You'll also discover: • Why premarital counseling rarely works — and what actually does • How to rebuild intimacy using a team approach, even through trauma, grief, and conflict • Why one motivated partner can shift the entire relationship dynamic (no dragging a reluctant spouse to therapy required) • The chaser-spacer dynamic — and how to invite connection instead of pushing your partner away • How Lee's Unpause app helps couples build new habits of connection daily • Whether your marriage is quietly disconnecting or at a full-blown crisis point, this episode delivers a clear, actionable roadmap for turning things around. Lee’s Bio and Contact Information Lee Baucom, Ph.D., is the creator of the Save The Marriage System, used around the world for over two decades. He is the author of four books on relationship issues and marriage recovery. As a Relationship Coach, Lee works with people around the world to save and restore their intimate relationships, even when a partner has given up. His method proved useful for people, working on their own, to turn their marriages and committed relationships around into loving, thriving, connected relationships. He shares that approach in his System, his writing, and the Save The Marriage Podcast. He has been podcasting since 2013. He is married, with two adult children and two active dogs. Connect with Lee Baucom: 📌 Connect with Lee Baucom: Chronically disconnected → unpauseyourmarriage.com At a crisis point → savethemarriage.com Save the Marriage Podcast: savethemarriage.com YouTube: Search : Lee Baucom Save the Marriage To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

E271

16 giu 2026

48:07

Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming Addiction, Abuse & Generational Trauma with Shannan Kym

Esplicito

What does it take to break free from a lifetime of addiction, childhood abuse, and generational trauma? In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with internationally award-winning author, public speaker, and transformational mentor Shannan Kym to share her extraordinary journey from rock bottom to radical freedom. Growing up as the youngest of eight children in a home defined by alcoholism, mental illness, and abuse, Shannan endured unimaginable hardship — only to find herself trapped in a marriage to a narcissist and drinking up to six bottles of wine a day. Her story is raw, honest, and ultimately deeply inspiring. In this episode, you'll discover: •How childhood trauma and generational patterns fuel addiction — and how to break the cycle • What hitting rock bottom really looks like and the moment Shannan finally surrendered • Why traditional therapy and AA didn't work for her — and what did • The awakening that led to nearly 7 years of sobriety •How writing her award-winning book How in the Hell Did I Get Here? changed everything •The 10 Pathways to Self-Discovery . · •How she helps women ages 40–60 reclaim their identity, rebuild their lives, and step into their greatness Shannan's Bio and Contact Information SHANNAN KYM grew up in a family where addiction, violence, and extreme dysfunction were normalized. Robbed of her childhood, she was forced to grow up at a very young age. After dropping out of high school and leaving her family, she was filled with self-loathing and shame. Suppressing her feelings, Shannan became an alcoholic. For years, she abused her body, gained excessive weight, and let herself be taken advantage of by toxic people, including marrying a narcissist. She experienced career highs and lows and suffered the loss of a child. Eventually, Shannan hit rock bottom; but on August 17, 2019, everything changed. That day, Shannan made up her mind to stop letting addiction control her life. She also made a decision to get real, let go of her past hurts, embrace forgiveness, and focus on living each day with gratitude, purpose, light, and love. Connect with Shannan Kym at shannankym.com or find her on all social platforms @shannankym. To connect with Dave , go to davidrobertsmsw.com

E270

14 giu 2026

51:41

Legacy Architect Debbie Simmons: From Quadruplet Loss to Nonprofit CEO and Adoptive Mom of Nine

What would you do if you lost four babies in one day — and then built a multi-million dollar nonprofit, wrote a book, and adopted nine children from trauma backgrounds? In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Debbie Simmons — Legacy Architect, keynote speaker, author, and CEO/founder of Anchor Point, a nonprofit serving families in crisis. Debbie shares the extraordinary journey that shaped her: surviving the loss of quadruplet sons, battling infertility, finding purpose through grief, and ultimately adopting nine children from the foster care system. Together, Dave and Debbie explore: • How to process grief without getting stuck in the "why" questions • The founding of Anchor Point — a nonprofit offering medical care, maternity housing, parenting classes, and trauma-informed family camps • Debbie's proprietary frameworks: The Architecture of Trust and The Obedience Engine — and how leaders can identify where trust is leaking in their organizations • Why control and hustle are maladaptive survival mechanisms — and how to replace them • The realities of parenting nine adopted children from hard places • How to take the "next best step" no matter where you are in life • Debbie's book, The Heart of Legacy, is available FREE at theheartoflegacy.com. to teaching journeys podcast listeners. Debbie's Bio and Contact Information Debbie Simmons is The Legacy Architect™ — a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and the CEO/Founder of Anchor Point, a multimillion-dollar nonprofit changing lives every day. With over two decades of leadership at the intersection of impact and exhaustion, Debbie equips high-capacity leaders to rebuild what success was never designed to carry alone. She’s the creator of the Architecture of Trust™, a structural framework that helps leaders diagnose where trust is leaking — and the Obedience Engine™, a proprietary rhythm and decision-making model that aligns identity, trust, and forward movement. Her frameworks weren’t built in theory. They were born under pressure. Debbie has adopted nine children from trauma backgrounds, lost quadruplets, and battled a health crisis that nearly killed her. Despite the outward success — leading teams, speaking on global stages, publishing a bestselling book — her system began to collapse from the inside out. That breakdown exposed what many leaders quietly feel: they’ve built strong organizations but left their own structure weak. From that wreckage, she rebuilt. Today, Debbie is a trusted strategist to CEOs, founders, pastors, and high-level teams navigating leadership at scale. She doesn’t just speak truth — she helps leaders structure their obedience, rebuild trust at the root, and lead from a place that holds under pressure. If you’re successful but stretched, respected but unraveling, or tired but still performing… Debbie is your mirror, your strategist, and your challenger. SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: https://www.facebook.com/TheDebbieSimmonsSpeaks https://www.youtube.com/@TheDebbieSimmonsSpeaks https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedebbiesimmons/ https://www.instagram.com/thedebbiesimmons/ To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

E269

12 giu 2026

46:23

"I Had to Choose the Day My Husband Died" : Erica Baccus on Love, Dementia & Letting Go

What would you do if you had to choose the day your husband died? In this deeply moving episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Erica Baccus — author, former marketing executive, and end-of-life advocate — to explore one of the most profound and rarely discussed decisions a family can face. After her husband John was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's in 2020, Erica and John made a courageous choice: rather than wait for the disease to steal everything he was, John would die on his own terms. That journey led them to Dignitas in Zurich, Switzerland — and forever changed Erica's life. In this episode, you'll hear: · What it was like the day John received his Alzheimer's diagnosis · Why U.S. aid-in-dying laws create a cruel catch-22 for dementia patients · The intimate, heartbreaking, and even humorous final moments of John's life · How Erica found the strength to choose the date her husband would die · The family's reaction — and why secrecy was necessary · Erica's book A Promise Kept: Honoring His Wishes, Embracing Our Love · Why every person — young and healthy — should have end-of-life conversations now A powerful, compassionate conversation that will make you think differently about life, love, and letting go. Erica’s bio: Erica started her professional career in the suburbs of Chicago as an 8th grade English teacher. She went on to San Francisco to become a high-tech marketing, advertising, and research executive. She and her beloved husband John were married for 41 years. Together they lived an active and adventurous life-skiing, golfing, hiking and traveling around the world. Erica enjoys spending time with her son, stepson, stepdaughter and grandkids. Now she helps advocate and educate people about end-of-life decisions exploring the moral and ethical perils so many face. Erica’s Social Media: Website: https://ericabaccus.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ericabaccus/ Threads:https://www.threads.com/@ericabaccus?xmt=AQF0dd2_SOOtLxTJickCWTEMu8SGa14IuGfoLb6PD1SoMS0 Substack: https://ericabaccus.substack.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn9iTZX6vHaLEUPb4H0ve1jd4RW-YfGvouRzbgzDm4Loa51BkSGTvg61IkTtI_aem_M9j4EYCPiYOIDAt6UikBgA&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3_a1dennhddsnx1i 📖 Erica's Book: A Promise Kept: Honoring His Wishes, Embracing Our Love Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold 🎙️ Subscribe, rate, and review the Teaching Journeys Podcast wherever you listen. To find out more about Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

E268

10 giu 2026

1:00:36

Walking in Joy After Tragedy: Carrie Eaton on Child Loss, Near-Death Experiences & Faith

What does it look like to find joy after losing a child? In this deeply moving episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with author Carrie Eaton, who lost her 3-year-old daughter Chelsea in 1995 — and lived to tell a story of miraculous healing and unshakable faith. Carrie shares how she navigated decades of grief, survived two near-death experiences, caught a glimpse of heaven, and ultimately found peace through her relationship with God. She also opens up about releasing 27 years of self-blame and co-writing her book Walking in the Fullness of Joy After Tragedy — which she says God gave her word by word in under 30 days. A conversation about grief, faith, healing, and the hope that joy is always waiting on the other side. Carrie's Bio and Contact Information Carrie Eaton currently resides in Elgin Texas and cares for her 92 year-old mother who has dementia and has for the past three years. God And I have written two books: Walking in the Fullness of Joy .Faith without Borders is our second book that will be out later this year. Carrie wants to give people hope that even through tragedy joy is on the other side of it. Email: chvycwgrl4@gmail.com Social Media Links: https://www.instagram.com/carrie_eaton?igsh=aXFnYWtpOTlhdjl3&utm_source=qr https://www.facebook.com/share/14adN9w3wVP/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.threads.com/@carrie_eaton?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== https://open.spotify.com/user/31wy23toaccub26to5c2osxoiqbm?si=BPT82bUCRSO9K9CF3bF8SA https://youtube.com/@carrieeaton8069?si=Li7csw_bQR6FzsHj https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-eaton-485b7357?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios https://a.co/d/018Ct82R 📚 Carrie's book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books. Keywords: child loss, grief, near-death experience, Christian faith, hope, healing, faith after tragedy

E267

8 giu 2026

43:19

The Walkabout Method: How Claudia Wyatt Turned Tragedy Into Purpose and Transformed Her Life

What happens when grief, toxic relationships, and rock bottom become the foundation for your greatest transformation? In this powerful episode of the Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Claudia Wyatt — internationally recognized keynote speaker, certified confidence coach, and founder of the Walkabout Method — for a deeply honest conversation about turning tragedy into purpose. Claudia opens up about a decade of compounding loss: the death of her father and sister within a month of each other, two toxic marriages (including one to a master manipulator), and the slow erosion of her sense of self. She shares the exact moment — a simple walk with her dog — that sparked her awakening and ultimately led to building her signature coaching framework. Whether you're a leader, a survivor, or simply someone ready to stop living on autopilot, this episode will energize and challenge you to take that first bold step forward. Claudia Wyatt Bio and Contact Information Claudia Wyatt is a globally recognized inspirational leader, international keynote speaker, consultant, coach and writer known as The Enthusiasm Igniter™ and Self-Doubt Eraser™. With over 20 years of experience coaching high-performing teams and leaders, she helps individuals and organizations break free from limiting beliefs, strengthen communication, and lead with unshakable confidence. Claudia is a certified confidence, cognitive behavior and life purpose coach with emphasis in leadership, empowerment and wellness. Having transformed profound personal loss into purpose, Claudia brings authenticity, heart, and fire to every stage she steps on. She is the founder of The Walkabout Method™, her signature framework guiding leaders & individuals to reclaim their power, elevate emotional intelligence, and lead boldly from within. Showing up as themselves for themselves and living on purpose. Recognized &verified by Influential Women. Awarded Best Executive Life & Leadership Coach – Midwest USA (2025). World’s Rising High Women Leaders Making a Difference in 2023. One of the Most Admired Women Leaders in Business to Follow in 2022. Claudia’s impact is immediate, audiences leave energized, empowered, and ready to rise. Social Media Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiawyattcoaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theclaudiawyatt/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554805040594 Company pages: LinkedIn: : https://www.linkedin.com/company/claudia-wyatt-coaching-llc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567176611416 Website: https://claudiawyatt.com/ To find out about Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com

E266

5 giu 2026

51:28

How to Rebuild Trust After Infidelity: A Betrayal Recovery Expert Explains

Vanessa's Bio and Contact Information Vanessa Cardenas is a Relationship Reset Expert and Betrayal Recovery Specialist who has helped individuals and couples rebuild trust, restore emotional connection, and regain clarity from the inside out since 2017. She is the founder of Understanding Ear and the creator of the HOPE Roadmap, a structured approach designed to help people stabilize after betrayal, navigate emotional disconnection, and make grounded decisions about what comes next in their relationships. Vanessa’s work focuses on emotional safety, intentional communication, and restoring self-trust when relationships feel uncertain or fractured. For years, Vanessa was considered a best-kept secret, quietly supporting clients through some of the most painful and defining moments of their lives. In 2025, her work was formally recognized when she was named Best Relationship Coach in Westchester County. Clients often describe her impact simply and powerfully. One shared, “Working with Vanessa helped me come back to myself. I stopped spiraling and finally trusted my own decisions again.” She believes empowerment begins when people feel safe enough to trust themselves again and strong enough to choose what comes next. Website https://www.UnderstandingEar.com Booking / Sessions https://calendly.com/understandingear/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vanessa_understandingear/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UnderstandingEar/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@Vanessa-Cardenas LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-understanding-ear/ Substack https://beyondbetrayal.substack.com/ Medium https://medium.com/@Vanessa-Cardenas Book Dealing with the Devastation of Your Partner’s Betrayal https://amzn.to/3PcA6bj To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

E265

3 giu 2026

57:53

Surviving Domestic Violence: How Courage, Curiosity & Connection Lead to Healing

Host Dave Roberts welcomes Kat Polsinelli to the Teaching Journeys podcast to discuss how a decade-long abusive relationship shaped her life and mission. Kat, a domestic violence and PTSD survivor, shares her journey of leaving at 28 with two children, rebuilding identity, and helping others through speaking, her podcast Real Chat with Kat, and The Lotus Effect. She emphasizes that survivors are not alone, that abuse is often emotional and psychological, and that common biases and stigma—especially toward men—harm understanding; she cites domestic violence prevalence and deaths. Kat and Dave highlight why “just leave” is complex, the importance of safety planning, and how helpers can hinder by talking over survivors or taking control. Kat presents her TEDx “three Cs”—courage, curiosity, connection—plus a simple practice for judgment-free conversations, and previews a mid-May support community. Kat's Bio and Contact Information From stepping onto a stage at just 10 years old to stepping out of a decade-long abusive relationship, Kat Polsinelli's journey is one of courage, resilience, and radical transformation. Now a sought-after speaker, bestselling co-author, and host of Real Chat with Kat—a top 5% globally ranked podcast airing on four radio stations and two public TV stations—Kat is on a mission to shed light on the unseen wounds of emotional and psychological abuse while empowering others to reclaim their strength and rewrite their stories. A survivor of domestic violence, PTSD, and the challenges of single motherhood, Kat speaks with raw authenticity about the invisible scars that linger long after the abuse ends. She chose to leave, to rebuild, and to lean into courage every day—and now she helps others do the same. Through her own story and hard-won insights, she challenges audiences to rethink what they know about trauma, healthy relationships, and resilience, offering a powerful look at the emotional and psychological toll of abuse and the path to healing. Kat's talks go beyond inspiration—they spark deeper conversations and deliver practical change. She brings a no-nonsense approach with a compassionate heart, making her a powerful voice for colleges, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and advocacy organizations. Whether she's speaking to students, educators, social workers, or criminal justice professionals, audiences walk away with greater understanding of the survivor experience and actionable tools to support those affected by abuse. Featured in NashvilleVoyager, CanvasRebel, and Her Nation, Kat has taken the stage at universities, domestic violence awareness events, and criminal justice panels. She's here to challenge perspectives, create change, and prove that even the darkest moments can become catalysts for transformation. Connect with Kat Polsinelli: Website: www.the-lotus-effect.com Podcast: Real Chat with Kat (available on all major platforms) Socials: @KatPolsinelli To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

E264

1 giu 2026

41:59

How Dance Heals Trauma: Emma Leach on Five Rhythms, Grief & Finding Your Voice

Host Dave Roberts welcomes Emma Leach to the Teaching Journeys podcast to discuss how art and movement shape healing and meaning. Leach describes a childhood rooted in theater and visual art amid family instability and bullying, and how creative expression helped her cope. She shares the loss of her first love, Ray, who died of a heroin overdose at 27, and how discovering Gabrielle Roth’s Five Rhythms dance practice became a turning point, leading her to teach the method for 25 years and apply arts-based work with marginalized youth, prisons, and addiction. Leach explains Five Rhythms (flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical, stillness) as an energetic “wave” that supports intuition and trauma release. She also outlines her in-progress documentary, Let It Play, centered on Ray’s handmade guitar as a metaphor for grief, hope, and storytelling through musicians and dance. Emma's Bio and Contact Information Emma Leach has spent 35 years listening to bodies. Not as objects to be trained or corrected, but as living texts, fluent in a language older than speech. Movement, for her, is not decoration or performance. It is metaphor in motion. A way meaning arrives before thought has time to organize it. Rooted in the Five Rhythms as her main body of study, Emma has been teaching this practice for 25 years. Over decades of guiding others through sweat, silence, pulse, and release, she has witnessed how movement tells truths the intellect cannot negotiate. The body speaks sideways, symbolically, through weight and rhythm and pause. It reveals what words circle but never quite land on. Alongside this devotion to movement practice, Emma has wandered widely through other art forms. Visual art. Installation. Clowning. Burlesque. Theatre and ritual theatre. Each discipline added texture, tension, and contrast. Each offered another doorway into presence, risk, and transformation. Yet again and again, she found herself returning to the body as the primary instrument, the original stage, the first storyteller. Now her work is evolving. What once lived in separate rooms is beginning to converse. From this convergence, Movement Metaphor is emerging. A living, expanding practice that recognizes the body as a generator of meaning rather than a vehicle for ideas. In this work, movement does not illustrate concepts. It unlocks them. Emma’s inquiry rests on a simple, radical knowing. When the body moves with attention, something beyond intellect comes online. Memory. Image. Instinct. Archetype. The unsayable finds form. Gesture becomes sentence. Rhythm becomes revelation. Her work invites people into that threshold, where language dissolves into motion and motion reassembles as understanding. Not tidy. Not fixed. Alive. Emma Leach continues to explore, create, and listen. Following movement not as an answer, but as a question that keeps unfolding. 🎵 About the Documentary: Let It Play is currently in post-production and seeking support. Follow Emma's journey at emmadance.co | Instagram: @EmmaChristinaRed To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

E263

28 mag 2026

53:39

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