You Too?

This week, one of our Youturn Health coaches shares her story! You Too? Yes! Me too. I have a story that is uniquely mine yet very similar to yours. I have loved ones who have suffered from mental health issues and substance misuse. I have struggled with both. We have all gone through things that have shaped our lives, changed us for the better, and given us a story worth telling. When we share with others, the walls of isolation fall, hope is restored, and communities are built. On this platform, You too? we will feature the stories of our coaches, Youturn Health employees, and YOU! We want you to have a chance to share. You never know if your story might be the catalyst for someone to get help, realize they aren’t alone, or even just smile again. Join us weekly as we hear stories of the human condition that teach, inspire, and create community.

This week, one of our Youturn Health coaches shares her story! You Too? Yes! Me too. I have a story that is uniquely mine yet very similar to yours. I have loved ones who have suffered from mental health issues and substance misuse. I have struggled with both. We have all gone through things that have shaped our lives, changed us for the better, and given us a story worth telling. When we share with others, the walls of isolation fall, hope is restored, and communities are built. On this platform, You too? we will feature the stories of our coaches, Youturn Health employees, and YOU! We want you to have a chance to share. You never know if your story might be the catalyst for someone to get help, realize they aren’t alone, or even just smile again. Join us weekly as we hear stories of the human condition that teach, inspire, and create community. You Too? Yes, me too. #storytelling #youtoo? #mentalhealth #substanceusedisorder

You Too? Yes! Me too. I have a story that is uniquely mine yet very similar to yours. I have loved ones who have suffered from mental health issues and substance misuse. I have struggled with both. We have all gone through things that have shaped our lives, changed us for the better, and given us a story worth telling. When we share with others, the walls of isolation fall, hope is restored, and communities are built. On this platform, You too? we will feature the stories of our coaches, Youturn Health employees, and YOU! We want you to have a chance to share. You never know if your story might be the catalyst for someone to get help, realize they aren’t alone, or even just smile again. Join us weekly as we hear stories of the human condition that teach, inspire, and create community. You Too? Yes, me too.

Lauren Houck is a Youturn Health Peer Support Specialst who works on the reentry team. Her lived experience allows her to not only empathize with her clients, but forms a bond that is necesary for their success once they are on the outside.Her story is an example of how our coaches use their struggles and their triumphs to encourage others along a path to a life worth living. Lauren pours her heart out on this episode and will undoubtedly give hope to those still struggling. All of our peer coaches have lived experience for this reason: Regardless of receiving treatment while incarcerated – and only a small percentage do – individuals re-entering society need support for substance use, mental health, and life in general. This is where a peer coach with lived experience can make a profound difference.

Robbie Shaw is the founder and CEO of Eventide Recovery. His journey with alcohol also led him to create the nationally recognized podcast Champagne Problems. He and co-hosts, Samantha Hampson and Patrick Balsley have all worked in the addiction space and bring fresh perspectives to managing our relationship with alcohol.BIOGRAPHYShaw has an undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of Southern Maine.He is trained in recovery coaching and intervention from the Addictions Academy in South Florida. Currently, Shaw is training as a Holistic Wellness Coach under the International Association of Wellness Professionals.He feels that the many opportunities he has had to work with others continues to inform the techniques and strategies used to educate and mentor clients.https://eventiderecovery.com/https://champagneprobspodcast.com/

Kevin Lynch embodies The Quell Foundation mission. Founded in December, 2015 in North Falmouth, MA, Kevin launched The Quell Foundation which aims to reduce the number of suicides, drug overdoses and incarceration of people living with a mental illness. Kevin works tirelessly, and without compensation, to remove the stigma and normalize the conversation of mental health. In doing so, he encourages others to share their stories and creates an environment for them to do so without fear of judgment. Leading by example, Kevin openly discusses his personal experiences with mental illness, often in some of the most public forums, including commencement addresses, corporate speaking engagements and over 100 college campuses across the United States.Kevin’s career as a public servant began as a twelve-year veteran of the elite United States Naval Submarine Force. When an unfortunate injury ended his military career, Kevin chose the healthcare sector to continue his commitment of caring for and fighting for others in their time of need.Since the Foundation's inception, Kevin has played a major role in the creation and implementation of The Quell Foundation's programs and initiatives to reduce suicides and erase the stigma surrounding mental health. Kevin envisioned and implemented a scholarship program within The Quell Foundation which provides financial support to undergraduate and graduate level students who are either enrolled in a mental health degree related field, are living with a diagnosed mental illness themselves, or who had lost a parent/caregiver or sibling to suicide.Kevin grew The Quell Foundation’s scholarship program from 16 scholarships in 2016 to over 1,800 scholarships today. To date, Quell has distributed over $3.2 million in awards to students attending over 480 different colleges and universities in all fifty states..As executive producer, and film subject, of The Quell Foundations’ educational documentary, Portraits of Life with Mental Illness, Kevin aims to positively influence the public’s perception of mental illness by fostering a culture of empathy and understanding through film. Statistically proven to reduce stigma, Portraits of Life With Mental Illness has been shown to over 20,000 individuals at college campuses, in corporate offices and with government agencies across the country. Kevin attends each screening, volunteering his time and expertise by serving as a panelist and directly engaging with the audience. He continues to partner with both local and national organizations to bring the film to communities in need. His research on this films ability to positively influence the viewer has been peer reviewed and published in an international medical journal.As the founder and CEO of Quell, Kevin has also brought forth his passion for mental health advocacy work for first responders. In 2022, Kevin served as an executive producer for his second documentary, First Responders Sound the Alarm. Through this work, Kevin fights to remove the stigma that lives within many of our nation's first responder communities. Since its release, First Responders Sound the Alarm has been shown throughout the country to hundreds of first responders with each screening being accompanied by an interactive panel discussion. In recent research conducted by our organization, early indicators show First Responders Sound The Alarm can better help first responders process traumatic events, increase willingness to disclose their mental health challenges to colleagues and show a greater readiness to work with peers who have a mental health illness.Kevin has transformed The Quell Foundation into a nationally acclaimed mental health organization known for turning advocacy into statistical change through its prestigious scholarship program, educational documentary series and First Responder Resilience Project. Kevin is a Fellow of The Pennsylvania State University Alumni Association...

You Learn You Turn is once again highlighting an exceptional woman in construction, Kelly Flagg in honor of Women In Constuction Week this month.WIC Week™, or Women in Construction Week™, celebrates and promotes the role of women in the construction industry. NAWIC held the first WIC Week in 1998 and it has grown and expanded each year since. Many of our local chapters hold WIC Week events, which can include making presentations to high school classes, job site tours, luncheons and virtual events.This year's theme, 'Keys to the Future', celebrates the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry.Kelly Is the Executive Director for AGC Maine. AGC Maine is a legislative advocate for the construction industry and also provides safety education, management courses, technical training and apprenticeship opportunities through the Maine Construction Academy. Kelly maintains a seat on the Career Management Associates roster as a Contract Speaker and Trainer, and is a current member of the National Association of Women in Construction. Throughout her career, she has become a trusted advisor to many in business leadership, human resources and safety management. She is particularly passionate about teaching front line and newly promoted supervisors how personal leadership growth can improve team dynamics. Her focus is on supporting development of the individuals in order to enhance the team. Women in Construction Week (wicweek.org)Home | Associated General Contractors of America (agc.org)AGC Maine Team - AGC Maine

WIC Week™, or Women in Construction Week™, celebrates and promotes the role of women in the construction industry. NAWIC held the first WIC Week in 1998 and it has grown and expanded each year since. Many of our local chapters hold WIC Week events, which can include making presentations to high school classes, job site tours, luncheons, and virtual events.This year's theme, 'Keys to the Future', celebrates the strength and knowledge of women and the vital role they play in shaping the future of the construction industry.Construction firms of all sizes and types are encouraged to participate in WIC Week and show their support for their women employees.You Learn You Turn is honored to have guest Mandi Kime who exemplifies exceptionalism in construction as she works tirelessly to normalize conversations around mental health and suicide prevention in the workplace.Mandi is a Central Washington University alumnus of the safety and health management program and currently serves as the director of safety for AGC of Washington. She also has a bachelor’s degree in foreign language and teaches Spanish for supervisors in the construction industry. She recently earned her master’s degree in Safety & Health Management and published a thesis and employer best practice guide on mental health interventions in construction. Mandi has worked in AGC’s safety department for 20 years, helping members with safety programs, and working on legislative/regulatory issues pertaining to safety. Mandi currently serves as the co-chair of the AGC of America Chapter Safety Leadership Committee and the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force. Mandi enjoys spending time camping and traveling with her family, including her 16-year-old daughter and 11-year-old triplets. Mandi was the only safety professional selected by Construction Business Owner for the 2019 class of top 20 Outstanding women in construction from 200 nominees and was featured in their November 2019 issue.Women in Construction Week (wicweek.org)About - AGC of Washington (agcwa.com)

Dr. Olivia Johnson and Erin Craw discuss the hardships First Responders face both on and off the job. She was recently part of the documentary called Is There Something Going on at Home? where she discusses how to navigate trauma with two families. Dr. Johnson has dedicated her life to improving the mental health programs for First Responders and finding solutions that work for the family.Dr. Olivia Johnson is a United States Air Force veteran, a former police officer, and a suicidology researcher. Dr. Johnson holds a master’s in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership Management from the University of Phoenix, School of Advanced Studies. Dr. Johnson works as a consultant, trainer, and Director of Training and Development for Responder Health and is the founder of the Blue Wall Institute where she provides consulting, needs assessment, and training to organizations and agencies in need. Correspondence can be sent to: olivia@BW-Institute.com

Chris Thompson of the wildely successful Sober Sidekick app sits down for an imformative session with our very own Chief Clinical Officer, Rich Jones.Chris Thompson is the founder of Sober Sidekick, the largest digital recovery community in the world. He founded this platform because he believes the opposite of addiction is connection, and believes that his own recovery is dependent on his willingness to be of service to others.About | Sober SidekickHis own journey through addiction propelled one entrepreneur to launch Sober Sidekick | FortuneNew Year, New You: Sober Sidekick CEO Chris Thompson's Comeback Story - Men's Journal (mensjournal.com)(1) Chris Thompson | LinkedIn

Tiffany Hines is back with more insight into how she found recovery but even more important, how she maintains this on daily basis. Staying away from past behaviors and patterns can be hard without the right support systems in place. Find someone you can confide in and that will hold you accountable. It could save your life!Tiffany Hines is a coach for Youturn Health and works to help others find a stable life with new opportunities and hope for the future. She spent many years in and out of prisons and treatment centers until one day, she became open to change.Listen to PART ONE here: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/tiffany-hines-part-one-a-story-of-hope-resilience-and-giving-back--58586174

Tiffany Hines is a coach for Youturn Health and works to help others find a stable life with new opportunities and hope for the future. She spent many years in and out of prisons and treatment centers until one day, she became open to change. Through love and support from her family, she dug into the 12-step program offered at the treatment center. From there, she moved into sober living and did everything they told her to do. She soon got her kids back, found somewhere to live, and got a job in a treatment center. Serendipitously, she came across our CEO in a meeting with her dad and the rest is history!Listen to Part One of her story here.

Jeff Johnston is the CEO of startup Brightn, Author, Founder of The Living Undeterred Project, and host of The Living Undeterred Podcast.Listen to our conversation about devasting loss and unbelievable resiliance. In 2016 Jeff lost his son, Seth to fentanyl poisoning. In 2021, Jeff lost his wife to alcoholism resulting from grief. Instead of going down a road of anger and despair, Jeff used this as motivation to make a difference and change the way we approach mental health and substance misuse. Jeff's story will encourage you to keep going even in the hardest of circumstances. You can find Jeff here:jeff@brightnapp.comHome | Living Undeterred

Youturn Health is proud to introduce our sister podcast The Path Forward with host Augie Ghilarducci where he will bring guests who have walked the path of re-entry. He will show listeners that incarceration does not define a person, it is just one chapter in their book. His guests will provide journeys of hope, inspiration, and resources. In this extraordinary episode of The Path Forward, we delve into an inspiring narrative of triumph over adversity as our special guest, Dr. Chico Tillmon, shares his remarkable journey. Join us in this riveting conversation as he recounts his experiences and unveils the powerful transformation that led him to become a key figure in the fight against gun violence.Our guest's journey is nothing short of awe-inspiring, marked by resilience, determination, and an unyielding commitment to making a positive impact on his community. From navigating the challenges of incarceration to emerging as a prominent gun violence subject-matter expert, his story is a testament to the boundless potential for change and growth within each individual.The episode sheds light on how our guest, once ensnared by the criminal justice system, transformed his life through education, emerging as a powerful advocate for change. As the Director of the Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy, he has become a driving force behind innovative approaches to addressing and preventing gun violence.The conversation also explores his unexpected journey to the White House, where his expertise has been recognized and utilized in shaping policies aimed at curbing community violence. From adversity to advocacy, this episode encapsulates a narrative of second chances, educational empowerment, and the unwavering determination to create positive change.The Path Forward Podcast is brought to you by Youturn Health and 2nd Opportunity.The Path Forward on Apple Podcasts

It has never been easier to place a bet. Once confined mostly to casinos concentrated in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, gambling has expanded to include ready access to lotteries and online games and video games with gambling elements for adults and children. Sports betting is now legal in 37 states plus Washington, DC, with six more considering legislation, according to American Gaming Association data from early 2023. People can gamble around the clock from anywhere and, increasingly, at many ages, including teenagers and even young children who are well below the legal age for gambling. As access to gambling has expanded, psychologists and other experts have become concerned not just that more people will give it a try, but that more will develop gambling problems. And while it is still too soon to know what the long-term effects will be, evidence is growing to suggest that young people, especially boys and men, are among those particularly vulnerable to gambling addiction—the same demographic most often participating in the newest forms of gambling: sports betting and video game-based gambling. *Youturn Health's CEO Hamilton Baiden and Craig Carton have been friends for years. Craig was a successful radio and television personality until his gambling addiction landed him in prison for 12 months. Listen to his story where he seemingly has it all but falls into the dark world of high stakes gambling where his life was literally at stake. Since getting out of prison and finding work again in his chose profession, he works hard to carry the message of recovery to others.Craig Carton is an American radio and television personality. He was the co-host of the Carton and Roberts sports radio program on WFAN in New York City, and is seen nationally on Fox Sports 1 as host of The Carton Show weekday mornings. He previously co-hosted Boomer and Carton on WFAN and later CBS Sports Network from 2007 to 2017.During its 10-year run, Boomer and Carton became the most listened to show in WFAN history, placing first among men ages 25–54. In September 2017, Carton resigned from the program and WFAN after his arrest for securities and wire fraud. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, and after serving 12 months, he was released in 2020.That year, he was rehired by WFAN, for which he currently hosts the #1 rated afternoon-drive program with Evan Roberts. Carton also hosts a podcast and public service show called Hello, My Name Is Craig in which he attempts to help listeners work through their gambling addiction and other issues. The show recently celebrated its 100th episode.*How...

Singer and songwriter, Edwin McCain shares his journey from childhood dyslexia to addiction to his present-day life. He shares his success and failures and gives us some interesting ways to look at life. He is a talented musician, a wonderful father, and a great friend to all of us at youturn. You don't want to miss this one!Called the “great American romantic” by the New York Times, Edwin McCain has built an enviable career over the past 20 years by balancing his massive pop success with the year-round touring schedule of a tireless troubadour. His hit songs, authentic spirit and surprisingly affable sense of humor keep fans coming back time and time again for nights that feel more like parties with old friends than rock concerts. After recording two of the biggest love songs in the history of pop music, McCain now performs upwards of 100 shows annually throughout the US as a solo artist, with his full band or his acoustic trio. Recently, he’s added orchestras to his repertoire, performing with symphonies in select markets where he brings his powerful songs to majestic new heights. Edwin is in recovery and is passionate about helping others achieve and maintain their own recovery from addiction.

Augie Ghilarducci knows what it’s like to be at a crossroads and to need a second opportunity. After owning and operating a financial planning firm for fourteen years, he made a series of bad decisions that led to him being convicted of white-collar crimes. He served 13 years in Federal Prison before returning to Chicago in July 2017. He presently resides in Atlanta. To make sense of his experience, Augie used his time in prison to help others. As part of a community outreach program, he spoke about his ethical failures at high schools, colleges, and businesses for almost a decade. He also developed a series of employment readiness, financial literacy, life skills, and barriers to re-entry courses that he taught to fellow inmates.When he was released, he turned his passion into a second career empowering those dealing with incarceration, addiction, trauma, loss, and other life-changing events to break the chains of the past and create a positive new future. He has written white papers A Parallel Path, Collaboration for Social Benefit, It Takes More than a Job, It Begins in Jail™, and The Jigsaw Puzzle Called Re-entry. Augie draws on his lived experience to speak both in person and virtually in jails and prisons, substance abuse recovery centers, drug courts, halfway houses, probation departments, juvenile detention centers, and diversion programs. The message provides a practical approach to raising awareness as to how individuals can find and stay on the right path, and to law enforcement about making inmates more productive to help make jails safer. Augie was featured in a recent American Jails Magazine article and spoke at the 2023 Correctional Education Association Leadership Conference in New Orleans. He has achieved a Master’s Certificate in Business Ethics and an MBA since being released in 2017, having started both while incarcerated. Augie now shares the 2nd Opportunity Program in jails and prisons around the country.

According to NIH, "Opioid use disorder and opioid addiction remain at epidemic levels in the U.S. and worldwide. Three million US citizens and 16 million individuals worldwide have had or currently suffer from opioid use disorder (OUD). More than 500,000 in the United States are dependent on heroin."John Watson was seventeen when his best friend was in an accident and given Oxycotin for the pain. Kids being kids, John and his friend discovered that this pill made them feel very good. At the time, no one knew the addictive nature of these drugs and John thought he was just having fun and experimenting. Eight years later, he realized he was trapped and could not stop using on his own. When he couldn't find any on the street, he turned to heroin, something he said he would NEVER do. Listen to John tell his story about how opioids highjacked his brain, stole years of his life and almost killed him. Despite knowing he was on a downward spiral for years, his family never turned their back on him. If you want to better understand the realities of opioid addiction and gain hope when it seems all is lost, listen to John Watson's story and you will know that everyone can recover.

The holidays are HARD! Especially when trying to navigate family, functions and the added stress while tyring to stay sober and sane. Liz and Leigh Huckins, a Youturn Health recovery coach team lead, discuss some things that worked for them in early recovery and that they still practice today. We hope everyone can glean some ideas on how to enjoy this time of year while always keeping your recovery in front of everything else. Leigh was born and raised in Anderson, SC, Leigh has been in recovery since 2014. She graduated from Clemson University and moved to Charleston, SC where she started her career. After living in Charleston for 10 years, her life had spiraled out of control with substances, so she sought treatment and moved back home to Anderson.Upon completion of treatment, Leigh dove into recovery through different types of recovery meetings and utilized a Recovery Coach. She became a volunteer Recovery Coach at a local Recovery Community Organization and eventually took the Certified Peer Support Specialist Training for South Carolina.Leigh has been working in the recovery field since 2018 as a CPSS, Program Manager for a RCO, a trainer for CPSS, and most recently joining Youturn as a Team Lead.In her spare time, Leigh enjoys all the fun and constant moving of her three beautiful children, husband, and animals!

Kim Hix has made it her life's mission to spread awareness about fentanyl poisoning. A wife, mother and nutrition, health, and fitness coach of 20 years, Kim knows her way around the wellness space. She knew when her daughter started using drugs as a coping mechanism that she needed to step in. She was a constant support to her daughter Kelsie helping her navigate treatment and recovery. Once home however, Kelsie managed to get ahold of a Xanax which would prove to be fatal. What she thought was a Xanax was really laced with Fentanyl-enough to cause her to stop breathing. It was February of 2022 when Kim found Kelsie slumped over in her room and her life changed forever. Fentanyl is the most potent opioid pain reliever available for use in medical treatment. It is roughly 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Used correctly, it is a useful and powerful pain reliever, but too much will kill you and there is no way to tell how much may be in any drug sold outside of a prescription. It is in cocaine, marijuana, pain pills, anxiety medication, and many more. Help support Kelsie’s Cause, created by Kim to help spread awareness and education about the dangers of fentanyl. It could save the life of someone you know! HOME | fentanyl awareness kelsie's cause (kelsiescause.com)