Survive Everyday

May is mental health awareness month and on this podcast we’ve never shied away from talking about mental health. On this episode we are going discussing 6 topics  that  delve into the intricate workings of the human mind and explore ways to foster our mental well-being. I’m embarked on a profound journey to unravel the significance of taking care of our mental health years ago, but like anything the work is never done, and it’s always ongoing. I hope to try and uncover the layers of this essential topic that impacts every aspect of our lives.In today's fast-paced world, where relentless demands and pressures consume our daily routines, the significance of mental health care cannot be overstated. Our mental well-being is the cornerstone of our overall health, affecting how we think, feel, and act. Just as we prioritize our physical well-being by exercising, eating well, and visiting the doctor, we must accord the same importance to nurturing our minds. So, let's explore why investing in our mental health is not just an option but an absolute necessity.*Contest Info: Subscribe to the podcast in whatever app you want and screenshot it, and share it on social media. Make sure you tag the podcast so I can see it and you’ll be entered to win, we’re on Facebook and Instagram, and if you share on Tik Tok you can tag me personally. There is no limit at the number of times you can enter, but only 1 per day per social media network. Here’s the kicker. If you are a member of our coffee club and subscribe and share the screen shot, you’re post counts for 2 entries.  No purchase necessary to win*Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

A little more than a week ago I asked a question on social media. If you’re a musical theater nerd like I am, there’s always a song early in the first act called, the “I want song”. This is the song the hero of the story sing to set up the journey you’re about to go on. In Hamilton it’s the song “My Shot”. In the Little Mermaid it’s a part of your world. In Rent, it’s the title song called Rent. In Wicked it’s the Wizard and I. I could go on and on and on. But in nearly every single musical there is a song. It’s belted out, loud and proud. Over spring break I really thought of what I really wanted and how would by song go? What would it say? What did I want? What has been my purpose?This honest appraisal of what you want is a tough introspective look. It’s incredibly uncomfortable. Here's how my "I want" song goes....Details on the Contest*no purchase necessary to winTo get entered to win an 8x10 print by Adam, here's what you need to do. 1. Subscribe to the podcast in any app you like, and screen shot that you did it. 2. Share that screen shot on social media with a story on how you found the podcast, and make sure you tag Survive Everyday (Social Links are below) so I can see it and enter you in the drawing. 3. You can enter once a day, per social network. (total of 3 per day of you really wanted to go nuts). 4. If you join the coffee club each share counts for 2 entries. At the end of the month a Facebook Live will happen where we draw a name and I will ship the print anywhere in the world. Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

In our previous episode, we explored the importance of literacy. Today, we'll be diving into another form of language that is also essential to our survival - music.From ancient times to the present day, music has been an integral part of human culture, connecting people across borders and languages. It has the power to inspire, heal, and uplift us during the most challenging times. Today, we'll be exploring why music is so important to our emotional and mental well-being, and it can help us overcome adversity.So, whether you're a music lover or just curious about the power of music, join us as I do something a little different. We’re going to be hearing a few songs from stop.drop.rewind.I’m thrilled to have the band joining us to share their experiences as a band from the beginning playing for the first time and to discuss the creative process behind their music. stop.drop.rewind links: web: stopdroprewind.comTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sdrklo?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stopdroprewindTwitter: https://twitter.com/stopdroprewindInsta: https://www.instagram.com/stop.drop.rewind/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SDRkloSupport the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

Literacy is an essential tool for empowerment and change. So today we’ve assembled the literacy Avengers, to use a comic book reference, to talk about the power of literacy and the challenges we face in promoting it and what Cleveland is doing to empower us all to become literacy ambassadors. Our Guests: Laureen Atkins-Holliday - Vice President of Strategic Initiatives with the Literacy CooperativeThe Literacy Cooperative’s links:Web:  www.literacycooperative.orgFB: https://www.facebook.com/literacycoopTwitter:  @literacycoop Jessica Walsh-Fraizer- Community Outreach Director of the Cleveland Kid’s Book BankThe Cleveland Kids' Book Bank links: Web: kidsbookbank.orgFB: https://www.facebook.com/clevelandkidsbookbankInsta: @kidsbookbankTwitter: @kidsbookbankJoshua Edmonds - Chief Executive Officer of Digital CDigital C Links: Web: https://www.digitalc.org/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCorgInsta: @DigitalC_orgTwitter: @digitalc_orgLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digitalc/Jennifer Jumba - Popular Library Manager at the Cleveland Public LibraryWeb: www.cpl.orgInsta: @Cleveland Public LibraryTwitter: @Cleveland_PLKen Glanc - Founder and Director of Operation Comic BookWeb: https://www.operationcomicbook.org/captain-comic-book-1st-issueFB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069678847933Cleveland Reads Links: clevelandreads.comFacebookTwitterInstagramThis podcast was recorded live in the White Room at Evergreen Podcasts in Downtown Cleveland.Audio Engineer: Noah Foutz of Evergreen PodcastsSpecial thanks to Dave Davis, Michael DeAloia, and Noah FoutzCover Art by Jennifer GercakSupport the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

Here we go again. Yet another school shooting, in yet another school district, in the only developed country where this seems to be a problem. In february we had the shooting at Michigan State University, and now….this….Our kids see more combat than our military....https://www.statista.com/statistics/476456/mass-shootings-in-the-us-by-shooter-s-race/#:~:text=Between%201982%20and%20March%202023,percent%2C%20and%20seven%20percent%20respectively.https://www.statista.com/statistics/270272/percentage-of-us-population-by-ethnicities/https://www.statista.com/statistics/476445/mass-shootings-in-the-us-by-shooter-s-gender/https://www.statista.com/statistics/971473/number-k-12-school-shootings-us/Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

From the beginning of this podcast I’ve wanted to focus on books that tell a compelling story about survival, and I find none so compelling as the search for what our response to the Pandemic really was. I’ve read so many things on the pandemic and the response, but this book stands out.As much as this is a book about the pandemic, it's also a study on relationships. How they can help you and how they can hurt you. It's not what you know, but who you know.  Michael Lewis has always had a knack for storytelling and this book is no exception. He takes the banal subject of epidemiology and turns it into a thriller of the highest order. And, with the benefit of hindsight we can understand a little more about human nature, leadership, and interpersonal relationship. Show Notes: COVID Tracker from the CDCWHO COVID TrackerSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupAdam on TikTokSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

A goal without a plan is a wish. This week we are still talking to Tanisha, but this time we are talking about how she exactly goes about talking to young adults without sounding like an arrogant boomer. If you have no idea who Tanisha Taylor is, go back and listen to episode 32 and come back. So here is my continuing conversation with Tanisha, check it out. Tanisha Taylor CoachingTanisha Taylor InstagramSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupAdam on TikTokSupport the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

This is the Survive Everyday Podcast Episode 32 with me, Adam Gercak.Money. It makes the world go around. We need it to navigate our society. We need it to exchange services for goods. It is the center of our lives. Survival Depends on a lot of things. Having enough food, water, shelter, and money is essential to survival. If you’re not independently wealthy, you need money to pay for shelter, you need money to pay for water, you need money to pay for goods. This is why it’s important to talk about with our spouses and loved ones, and more importantly, with our kids about money. It's just as important as the S.E.X. talk. This episode kicks off a 2 part episode with today’s guest, Tanisha Taylor. Tanisha is a 20+ year veteran of the financial services industry and she now helps coach young adults to create a beneficial relationship with their finances so that it can empower them to make more informed choices about the plans they have for their life. Tanisha most certainly lives in today’s world. So here is our guest Tanisha Taylor telling you her story on the first part of our discussion on finances and money. Tanisha Taylor CoachingTanisha Taylor InstagramSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupAdam on TikTokSupport the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

Childhood is something everyone on the planet goes through, and the stories of our childhood are incredibly different. Today, we have a very special guest, my oldest daughter, Audrey. She just turned 21 yesterday, so I wanted to chat with her about her experiences growing up and what she has planned for the future. We discount the next generation of this county as not adding value, but I think Audrey offers some solid insight to her life, but also the lives of other kids her age. So here’s my conversation with my now 21 year old daughter, Audrey.Survive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupAdam on TikTokSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surviveeveryday)Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

According to the IRS, there are over 750,000 not for profit organizations in the United States. Organizations like the Red Cross, Susan G Komen Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and so many more. These missions fill mainstream roles in the national conversations, but there are 100s of thousands you might not even know about, doing great work in their community. Non-Profit Companies have a ton of headwinds, and you might even be mulling over the idea to start your own non-profit and might not even have the slightest clue where to start. Or, you might even have found a cause you love, but want more information about the non-profit and want to know how to research it to see if they really are spending that money on the mission, or is the non-profit being used as a cover for something else? To help us understand all of that and more we welcome a person with over 28 years of experience in the world of Fundraising. To date she has raised over $22 million for various organizations and has worked with a huge set of different non-profits. From international philanthropists and world-renowned artists. Her passion is producing public art projects and bringing people together through social media, which is where I met Ashley Capps. You might have seen her Tik Toks talking about 990s (and if you have no idea what that is, we explain it). Here is my conversation with Ashley Capps, check it out.Resources mentioned in the podcast211 - For Essential Community ResourcesProPublicaFlorida Cancer Specialist FoundationGetInsulin.orgT1D Mod SquadCommunity FoundationsNon-Profit Search Tool IRSLily CaresRonald McDonald House CharitiesConnect with Ashley:Email AshleyAshley Capps WebsiteAshley Capps TikTokAshley Capps InstagramConnect with Survive EverydaySurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookRyan St-Marie Insurance AgencyRequest a quote or just a call back. Type Survive Everday Podcast in the messageDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

Being a parent is hard. Being a parent doesn’t come with an instruction manual, and to this day I’m surprised as hell that I was allowed to take them home from the hospital. This year my oldest turns 21 marking my 21st year of beng a Dad. Literally half my life has been being a parent, but as my other 3 start to enter teenage years, I realized something. While I’ve been a Dad for 21 years, I haven’t been a full time parent. I co-parented my oldest with my ex-wife which is another adventure. But Since 2009, my wife and I have parented 3 more tiny little humans leading to a path of self discovery and realization and fear that I might be screwing something up. Today's guest is Meredyth Willits from the Meredyth with a Why Podcast. She is here talking about parenting, and how to identify those red flags. Connect with Meredyth: Meredyth with a Why Podcast Meredyth on Tik TokMeredyth on InstagramMeredyth on FacebookMeredyth's WebsiteGet Meredyth's BookSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surviveeveryday)Ryan St-Marie Insurance AgencyRequest a quote or just a call back. Type Survive Everday Podcast in the messageDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

Valentine's Day, named after St Valentine, who as a Priest in Rome performed secret marriages for soldiers who were not allowed to get married. Valentine's Day is an amalgamation of a few different mythologies. Like Cupid who was really Eros the god of love. We've celebrated Valentine's Day since 496 or so. So today I'm going to tell you my love story with my wife Jennifer and we're going to have fun talking to 3 of my kids about Valentine's Day, including a conversation with my 2nd oldest, Andi which I had the most fun. enjoy this one. It was fun. Survive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surviveeveryday)Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

Survival and Preapredness look different to everyone. Today on the podcast we are diving into preparedness and really, where to start. John Gareis, Regional Preparedness Manager for the American Red Cross in Cleveland is joining us to talk about all they do to help everyday citizens get prepared and discuss what we already do that IS preparedness but we don’t think of it as preparedness. Show Notes: The Red Cross Resources: https://www.Redcross.org/get-help.htmlSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surviveeveryday)Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

This week's episode does feature some bonus content which you can access HERE and at the link and become a member of the Coffee Club to unlockBefore we go on: a little disclaimer -The information provided in this episode is intended to be, educational in nature and informational. In this episode we are not diagnosing, treating, or offering a cure to any medical condition. Please consult your doctor before starting any new self-help program. Statements made about the medical effectiveness of cannabis, pot, weed, ganja, or any other off shoot of cannabis plant has not been evaluated by the Federal Drug Administration. Today, our guest is Rebecca Smolenski. She’s a 2 time DARE essay award winner, and someone voted least likely to leave their corporate career to join the cannibis industry. Rebecca is the proprietor of “Highly Well”, a Cannabis coaching practice here in Cleveland, Ohio. She’s going to uncomplicate the cannabis situation here in Ohio and beyond.SPECIAL OFFER FOR LISTENERS OF THE PODCAST:$50 off CBD guides at Highly Well just mention the Podcast when you book, runs till 1.31.2023 If you book at all, mention the podcast. Services are available nationwide so check in, and she can hook it up. Highly Well - http://highlywellcle.com Endocannabinoids article from Harvard National Museum of Civil War MedicineAmerican’s concerns of Marijuana in the 1930s: https://www.jstor.org/stable/41108749Ohio DARE program: https://dare-oh.org/Survive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

January is a month where a lot of us hit a reset button. We are actively looking for ways to make us better. Those New Year’s resolutions to eat differently, workout more, learn more, whatever the case, we often try and start over. January 1 is a great place for a new beginning or a change in thoughts, or a place for growth. But if you missed January 1 and you might be listening to this in July. The best place to start to learn is right now. Recently I was at a luncheon where I heard today’s guest talk about leadership, but not in a way that felt like a pontification. He clearly had applied what he had learned over a career into every aspect of his life. Our guest, Chris Piazza has a ton of real world experience leading teams. He’s currently the Senior Vice President of the R&D Performance Coatings Group at Sherwin Williams and today he’s here to talk about his leadership style, and how we might apply that not only to our work lives, but also our family lives. Show Notes:Digital Download of Chris Piazza's leadership model and vision board Connect with ChrisMark Rober - Super Mario Effect TEDxPenn TalkThis week's episode does feature some bonus content which you can access HERE and at the link below and become a member of the Coffee Club to unlockSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surviveeveryday)Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

The holidays are stressful, there is no doubt about it. In America we have Thanksgiving quickly followed by Christmas and families get together and often talk about, eat, and critique food. Too much salt not enough salt, you get it. You have a mother who’s cooked a certain dish your whole life and now you try and make it and you’re terrified your mother is going to just eviscerate you on how you made it. It’s stressful.  As a parent who’s always terrified of ruining my kids childhood and unaware of perhaps of me doing the same crap to my kids that I hated as a kid. Around the holidays we as parents fill a plate of food and make them eat all of it before getting pie, or cake, or whatever. Of course the kids won’t eat it all, and then tears are shed and the kid just want to have fun. So, with all this in mind I punched out an email to Kristen Lorenz. She was guest on our 3rd episode of the show so to get caught up on who Kristen is, go back and listen to episode 3 and come back. So welcome back Kristen to Survive Everyday. Kristen's Links: Website: https://www.kristenlorenznutrition.com/Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/thelastdietitianFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelastdietitian/Survive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surviveeveryday)Ryan St-Marie Insurance AgencyRequest a quote or just a call back. Type Survive Everday Podcast in the messageDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

Earlier this year I became an insurance agent, and not too much longer after that I was recruited to join a project called Project YESS. The project was to get kids out on Lake Erie and on the water and teach them water safety. Over the course of 3 weeks kids would get into the water learn how to swim, kayak, sail, and operate watercraft. The culminating exercise was a 1 week voyage on a tall ship sailing from Wisconsin to Cleveland, Ohio. 1 week without the comforts of home, to operate on a team, and to use that experience into their lives. Little did I know that this project was a part of a much larger organization and it’s just one of the many projects that the Rotary Club of Cleveland has been working on for over 10 years. During COVID this project fell apart due to the obvious. No in person meetings, people re-prioritizing free time, and just plain burnout.  Just a month or 2 ago, I was officially welcomed as a member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland where I met today’s guest. In the Cleveland Rotary Club Ron is a celebrity. He’s been a part of it for many years and served as President during one of the toughest times for any member organization, COVID-19. Today we are diving into Ron’s story and how his leadership took them through some of the most trying times any one of us can remember. Today we welcome Ron Flegenhauer past president of the Rotary Club of ClevelandShow Notes: Rotary Club of Cleveland Website: https://www.rotaryclubofcleveland.com/Rotary Club of Cleveland YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoKklbSusgnvGBMROaqlqTwProject YESS: https://www.rotaryclubofcleveland.com/sitepage/project-yess-1Survive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surviveeveryday)Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

Veterans Day is intended to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military – living and dead – whether in wartime or peace. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living Veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their dutyThe last 2 episodes of the podcast have focused on the crisis that disproportionately plagues the veteran community, death by suicide. Today we are going to talk to another veteran, this time we’re going to talk abou the value a veteran an bring to their community and possibly to your organization. Today we are talking to Mikey B a special forces veteran, corporate coach, team builder, and CEO of Smoked Bros, a spices & seasoning company. Support our Guest: Smoked BrosRange UniversityImpactful Ways to Support VeteransSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surviveeveryday)Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

"I’ve often said that we have only one truly sacred obligation as Americans—to prepare and properly equip our women and men in uniform when we send them into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families when they return. Yet for too many who are serving or have served, we are falling short. In an average day, 17 veterans die by suicide—not in a far-off place, but right here at home. Two service members on average die by suicide every day of the year. They’re our daughters. Our sons. Parents. Spouses. Siblings. Beloved friends and battle buddies. Each of these precious lives leaves behind loved ones who feel their absence every single day, like a black hole in the middle of their chests. In the wake of these terrible tragedies, we ask ourselves impossible questions. What signs did we miss? What more could we have done? The truth is, there’s no easy answer. There’s no simple solution. But there is hope. " - President Joe Biden“Vulnerability sounds like truth, but feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they are never weakness” - Brené BrownShow Notes: Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide: Advancing a comprehensive, cross-sector, evidence-informed public health strategyLouisville H.E.R.O. Run 5KSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surviveeveryday)Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency

In this episode we will be talking about suicide and other topics that might trigger some listeners. Anything you hear in this episode should not be considered medical advice. If you are currently in crisis and need help please stop this podcast and call The Suicide Prevention Line by dialing 988, if you are a veteran please select option 1.Our veterans are at a 57% higher risk than those who haven’t served. Since 2003 the US has experienced a total of 7,075 deaths in combat, that’s both forward deployed military and civilian sectors of the DOD. During that same time, 125,000 veterans have died by their own hand and that’s just counting the military veterans, not the civilians part of combat units. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for Veterans under the age of 45.The easily digestible statistic of 22 veterans a day are lost to suicide is all over social media, in the news, podcasts all over and with good reason. The VA statistics show that the crisis is getting better, but an outside analysis of the same data might suggest the crisis is actually getting worse when you count drug overdoses and unexplained deaths. Today we meet Matt Greiner, a veteran of the Navy and Coast Guard and the founder of The 22 Peaks Project.Show Notes: VA Suicide StudyCombat Deaths in GWOT22 Peaks ProjectVA Resources for Veteran Mental HealthVeteran's Crisis LineSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookSurvive Everyday GroupSupport our SponsorRyan-St Marie Insurance AgencySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/surviveeveryday)Support the showSurvive Everyday InstagramSurvive Everyday FacebookAdam on TikTok Our Sponsor Ryan-St Marie Insurance Agency