From Rock Bottom to Rockin' It

45: Teens & Parents, Mental Health, Drugs, & Healing as a Family Unit // The Story of Aaron Huey Feb 09, 2022

Aaron Huey has been working with children, teens, and parents for over 18 years. After ten years directing camps and empowerment programs around the world, Aaron opened Fire Mountain because he wanted to work with kids and families on a deeper level. Over the first few years of running programs like Teen Rites of Passage The Warrior Phoenix Challenge, and numerous cries for help from parents, Aaron realized the need to turn his efforts towards teens struggling with drugs, alcohol and the behaviors and issues related to addiction. An addict in recovery since 2000, he felt a calling to put together an expert team and open Fire Mountain. His mission is to awaken confidence and leadership. “It‘s not about being better, it‘s about giving up the struggle to be different from who you are.” Aaron’s formal educational background is in acting. He graduated from the top acting school in the US, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1990. His skills in comedy and drama make him an influential speaker and presenter, and a favorite among the kids. His confidence, compassion, and humor set the tone for deep healing, and fun. Aaron is also trained as an EMT, a Wilderness Survival Instructor and Martial Arts teacher, all of which he weaves into the Fire Mountain RTC curriculum.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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44: Street Artist to Vice-President of Global Design Coca-Cola // The Story of James Sommerville Jan 18, 2022

James Sommerville is the Founder of KnownUnknown, the world’s first decentralized design community working with Fortune 100 brands on brand design assignments and NFTs, leveraging their utility token ($KUDOS). From 2013 to 2018, James was the VP Global Design for The Coca Cola Company, where he led the design innovation and identity programs for many billion-dollar iconic beverage brands.

Prior to joining Coca-Cola, James was co-founder of Attik, a UK startup design firm that led the digital art revolution and changed the face of design in the 1990s, inspiring thousands of designers and creatives across the world. They were also responsible for the major redesign of Coke’s brand identity in 2006 and its visual identity strategy for 2010’s FIFA World Cup. He also worked with other famous brands such as Adidas, Virgin, Heineken, and Sheraton.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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43: Re-Inventing Yourself Through Entrepreneurship // The Story of Bryan Clayton Dec 23, 2021

Bryan Clayton is the Co-Founder and CEO of GreenPal, an online marketplace that connects homeowners with local lawn care professionals. GreenPal has been called the “Uber for lawn care” by Entrepreneur magazine and has over 100,000 active users completing thousands of transactions per day.

Before starting GreenPal, Bryan Clayton founded Peachtree Inc., one of the largest landscaping companies in the state of Tennessee, growing it to over $10 million a year in annual revenue before it was acquired by Lusa holdings in 2013. Bryan‘s interests and expertise are related to entrepreneurism, small business growth, marketing, and bootstrapping businesses from zero revenue to profitability and exit.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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42: The Kid With No Chance Who Built A World Class Podcast // The Story of Justin Schenck Nov 09, 2021

Justin Schenck is the host of the top-rated podcast the Growth Now Movement and founder of Growth Now, LLC which is a full-service podcast production and coaching company. He has been named a Top 8 Podcaster to follow by INC Magazine and chosen as an ‘Icon of Influence’ in the new media space. What started as a way to connect with top people and inspire others has become a way of life. Now getting played in over 100 countries every single week he is able to make a greater impact than he could ever imagine. He not only speaks to organizations on how to overcome adversity and utilize podcasting to grow your business but he helps others launch and grow their own podcasts with www.beginpodcastingnow.com. His vision? To teach the world how to live happily no matter where they are today. “It’s about the journey, not the destination.”

Like most people, Justin thought that it was his past that defined him. Because he didn’t come from a great upbringing and didn’t have the resources so many had, he thought that he was destined to fail. Then, at 19 years old Justin discovered personal development through a mentor. He became obsessed with the idea that he can have full control over the outcome of his life simply by choosing to grow. The realization that it doesn’t matter where he comes from, but the choices that he makes today to create a better tomorrow for himself and others is all that matters, was life-changing.

When Justin launched the Growth Now Movement podcast in 2016, he had no idea what it would become. Now it gets played in over 100 countries every single week, he speaks all over the country on overcoming adversity, and most importantly, he discovered that we all have the power to create our own happiness, to grow into the person we were meant to be and that we can all create the life we truly desire.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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41: Coming Out as Gay, then Creating a World Class Impact for LGBTQ Communities // The Story of Arthur Woods Oct 19, 2021

Arthur Woods is a social entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ leader, working at the intersection of equity, inclusion and technology. He was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and 40 Under 40 by BEQ. He is the author of the national best-selling book, Hiring for Diversity; he is a global keynote speaker, having delivered 3 TEDx talks; and has contributed to Harvard Business Review, FastCompany and Forbes.

He is the Co-Founder of Mathison, a venture-backed technology platform equipping employers with everything they need to manage their diversity hiring efforts. He is the creator of the first Equal Hiring Index to assess and benchmark inclusive hiring practices. Arthur came from Google where he led operations for YouTube’s Education division and oversaw YouTube for Schools. Arthur previously co-founded Imperative, a leading social learning platform; Out in Tech, the largest global LGBTQ technology community; and Social Impact 360, a collegiate social enterprise education program.

Arthur studied at Georgetown University, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and HBS online. He is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, GCT Entrepreneur in Residence, a New York Venture Fellow, SAP.io Foundries Fellow and sits on the Advisory Boards of LIFT and Second Day.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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40: Sexual Assault Victim To Impact Entrepreneur // The Story of Carlie Rioux Sep 14, 2021

Carlie Rioux is the founder of Thea Caye, a social enterprise creating stylish and functional beach bags while making a positive impact in the world by creating jobs for survivors of exploitation, using sustainable materials, using bio-degradable packaging, and working with unknown artists to help them build their rep. Through this venture, they can provide scholarships to the children of the survivors to help break the cycle of violence. They support the Drop-In center in Nepal so that present-day trafficking victims have somewhere to go. Carlie and her team are also helping to create jobs in poverty-stricken areas by removing ocean plastics.

In her early twenties, Carlie was sexually attacked 4 times by 4 separate men: a friend, a boss, a date, and a massage therapist. Different races and different ages, different dynamics in different places. Since then, it has been a difficult journey for Carlie, but one morning everything changed for her. Her mom hated beach bags and so does most women she knew. This gave her the idea to start her own beach bag business, which also opened her eyes to the many exploitations happening in the fashion industry and all around her. Carlie knew she had to do something about it, which started her career in impact entrepreneurship.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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39: Undercover to Fully Recovered, Former Police Officer Overcomes Addictions // The Story of Brock Bevell Aug 10, 2021

Brock Bevell is a well-regarded family man with 7 children, six daughters and one son. He is a retired Police Officer who was run over on duty and ultimately retired from the injuries. The injuries caused him to endure numerous knee surgeries and constant rehabilitation. To deal with the pain, he was prescribed Opioids. After months and months of therapy, the department and doctors made the determination that his injuries would prevent him from doing the job effectively and could place others at risk. It was decided that he would be medically retired from the department.

For the next few years, Brock struggled with being retired. The day after turning in his equipment, he felt ostracized and not a part of the brotherhood. This was a huge blow to his ego. One day you're chasing bad guys and the next you're picking up your kid’s toys. It was a difficult transition. It was at this time, that Brock’s addiction took control of his emotions and he began to spin out of control, and he proceeded to self-medicate himself. During the height of his addiction, he went through a very difficult divorce. He lost time with his children and made poor decisions costing him his children’s trust.

His detox lasted 7 days. At no time did he have a visitor or help from friends or family. He was alone. He had alienated most friends and was too embarrassed to share the process with his family. He walked the journey alone, but the detox set him up for the comeback. For the first time in years, the need, want or desire to use opioids was gone. He did not want to use it ever again. The process he went on prepared him for the battles he was going to face. Since recovering from his addiction, Brock has helped hundreds of men and women combat addiction. He utilizes an unconventional approach to recovery. This approach continues to lead men and women to lasting sobriety.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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38: Bench Warmer to Pro Basketball Career, Author of 29 Books & 8,000 Videos // The Story of Dre Baldwin Jul 06, 2021

Dre Baldwin turned one year of high school basketball and a Division 3 college ball career into 9 years of pro basketball. In 2005, he began blogging and publishing to a new website called “YouTube.” That’s where the brand started. Dre created his first products in 2008, and introduced the phrase “Work On Your Game” in 2009. His first book “Buy A Game” published in 2010.

Dre stopped playing basketball in 2015 – the same year he did the first of his 4 TEDxTalks. The daily Work On Your Game Podcast launched in 2016. Today, between Speaking, Coaching, Authoring and Podcasting, Dre serves an audience of entrepreneurs, professionals and athletes on mastering Discipline, Confidence & Mental Toughness.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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37: From Depression to Passion, Winning a Film Festival, & 1.4 Million Followers // The Story of Zac Stracener Jun 08, 2021

Zac Stracener is a popular social media personality who gained his popularity for his videos with the theme of mental illness and anxiety. His TikTok account, Zac.Stracener, has over 1.4 million followers. One of his most well-known TikTok videos, which has the song "Overwhelmed" by Royal & the Serpent, earned more than 2 million views.

Creating striking and poignant vignettes on TikTok, Zac has also proven himself with award-winning short films as well as engaging commercial pieces. Bringing magnitudes of creative insight, he has given himself a name in content creation as well as artistic vision in cinema. Zac lives in Los Angeles, California where he creates weekly videos for social media along with working on Films.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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36: Chronic Heart Conditions to the Worlds First AI Powered Health Care // The Story of Marie Johnson May 10, 2021

Marie Johnson is the co-creator of Nadia, the first AI digital human for service delivery and the creator of the AI digital human cardiac coach. She is a writer, commentator and international speaker on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, cyber, technology, ethics and the human experience. Her expertise is the human interface in complex servicing systems.

Described as a “public entrepreneur”, “crazy brave”, Marie is a trailblazer with a track record for tackling wicked problems head-on. Marie says she prefers the “edge” because it’s uncomfortable and that’s what sparks innovation. An impatient optimist, Marie is a relentless advocate for women on STEM, and is recognized for her groundbreaking work on inclusion and accessibility led innovation.

Across government and internationally, Marie has delivered significant technology, innovation and digital services transformation programs across revenue, business, health and human services, payments, identity, immigration visa operations, and disability services. Her advocacy and expertise in identity was influential in the Australian Financial Systems Inquiry recommending the need for a federated digital identity framework as a critical element for the future robustness of Australia’s financial systems.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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35: WW2 Child Survivor, Billion Dollar Tech Mogul, & Inspired Philanthropist // The Story of Dame Stephanie Shirley Apr 14, 2021

Dame Stephanie Shirley CH is a successful IT entrepreneur turned ardent philanthropist. Having arrived in Britain as an unaccompanied child refugee in 1939, she started what became Xansa plc (now part of the Sopra Group) on her dining room table with £6 in 1962. In 25 years as its Chief Executive, she developed it into a leading business technology group, pioneering new work practices and changing the position of professional women (especially in hi-tech) along the way. Her Dameship in the Millennium honours was for services to IT.

She was awarded the Order of Companions of Honour in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 2017. She served on corporate Boards such as Tandem Computers Inc. (1992-7), the John Lewis Partnership plc (1999-2001) and AEA Technology - previously the Atomic Energy Authority (1992-2000). Her philanthropy is based on her strong belief in giving back to society. She focuses on IT and autism (her autistic son Giles died age 35 in 1998).

Dame Stephanie was the first woman Master of the IT livery company; the first woman President of the chartered British Computer Society; and the UK’s Ambassador for Philanthropy in 2009/10. Her charitable Shirley Foundation spent out in October 2018. It made over £67m grants and initiated a number of projects that are pioneering by nature, strategic in impact and significant in money terms. This included three autism charities: Autism at Kingwood (support); Prior’s Court (education); and Autistica (research) which together employ over 1000 staff. In 2001 she co-founded the Oxford Internet Institute which focuses on the social, economic, legal and ethical issues – not the technology – of this network of networks.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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34: Leading a City out of Rock Bottom, Building Calgary 2.0 Mar 23, 2021

Zane Novak is our very first returning guest and we are so glad to have him back on our show. If you haven’t listened to his story yet, please check out his interview - Episode 12: Double Family Tragedy To CEO & Political Influencer // The Story Of Zane Novak. He is currently running for mayor and hoping to win the election this coming October in Calgary. You can get to know more about his platform and vision for Calgary by visiting his website: Zane4Mayor.ca

Twenty years ago, Zane Novak made the inspired move to Calgary because he was drawn to the energy and passion of this great city. His more than 23,000 volunteer hours serving Calgarians has driven him to pursue a higher service to this city. Whether as the president of the Kerby Centre or the Big Hearted Mavericks, an entrepreneur, or as a father and amateur baker, Zane is always looking for a better way forward. Zane brings dynamic leadership to Calgary and a plan to invest in its communities. He wants to enhance economic opportunity for Calgarians while bringing new energy to downtown.

Zane has created the Calgary 2.0, which is a platform for Calgarians to voice their concerns and opinions. Calgary 2.0 follows a grassroots approach, operated entirely by volunteers and concerned Calgarians. Now that the Zane4mayor has been formally announced, Calgary 2.0 will continue to be used as an outreach platform for the community. Calgarians can provide their feedback, thoughts, concerns, and visions for Calgary’s future.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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33: $2 Billion in Sales while Persisting through Tragedy & Towards Positive Change // The Story of Jas Takhar Mar 09, 2021

Toronto native, Jas Takhar, has been in the sales and service industry for over 25 years. Soon after deciding to try his hand in real estate, he co-founded the REC, and in the course of 15 years, has successfully propelled his team to the 1st place position in Canada under Royal LePage.

With 25 realtors and 10 support staff, the team advises and assists over 700 buyers, sellers and investors, yearly, across the Greater Toronto Area, resulting in a total of over $1.5B in transactions. Jas’ area of expertise is in helping investors build out their real estate portfolios. Wanting to share his knowledge and experience with the masses, he wrote a book titled Real Estate Intelligence, which teaches others how to buy or sell real estate on their own.

Furthering his pursuit to educate and motivate, he now hosts one of the top business podcasts in the country, the REC Experience; here he interviews guests who share their success stories on real estate investing, entrepreneurship and leadership. He also hosts a daily Instagram Live show called “Nite Cap with Jas” where he answers his follower’s most frequently asked questions. His hope is to provide inspiring content to aid others in removing the friction for their own life, in order to help them get from where they are to where they want to be.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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32: World Dance Champion & Sexual Assault Survivor // The Story of Anya Katsevman Feb 10, 2021

Anya Katsevman is an acclaimed award-winning dancer and performer with over 20 titles in the International Latin circuit. Her many international performance credits include tours with well known shows such as Burn the Floor and Dancing With the Stars. Together with partner Luis Aguilar she also holds numerous titles in salsa. Among them, she is a two-time World Champion as well as the San Francisco International Salsa Congress and New York Salsa Congress Champion.

Anya is a passionate teacher who’s popular workshops often include philosophical musings as well as detailed and technical dance instruction. She is also a talented designer who’s dresses and costumes have been popular with other top dancers around the world. Born in Kiev Ukraine, Anya Katsevman has been living in New York City for 17 years. She has danced in the films La Epoca and Dancing Scared and in numerous TV productions.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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31: Ugandan Musician to Black Entrepreneurship in the USA // The Story of Muyinza Kasirye Jan 20, 2021

Muyinza Kasirye is a highly experienced artist, songwriter, producer, and videographer. He is the founder of APRT Media, which is a digital marketing agency that helps customers thrive in today’s digital environment. This company is composed of all black individuals from diverse backgrounds that have combined their skill sets to assist fellow black businesses to grow.

Being an immigrant from Uganda has been very challenging for Muyinza, especially during his early teenage years when they moved to Boston. Growing up with little money but armed with a lot of knowledge and passion for music, Muyinza made his way to the top of the entertainment industry. Today, he is an accomplished artist, producer, and media creator who has built and runs his own professional-grade recording studio in Los Angeles. You can check out one of his best-produced music videos on YouTube entitled Cold Blooded.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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30: NHL Hall of Famer & Child Sex Abuse Survivor // The Story of Sheldon Kennedy Dec 01, 2020

Sheldon Kennedy won a Memorial Cup, World Junior Gold Medal and skated for three teams in his eight-year NHL career. He is best known for his courageous decision to charge his Major Junior Hockey league coach with sexual assault for the abuse he suffered over a five-year period while a teenager under his care. Through this disclosure, and the important work that Sheldon continues to do, he has become an inspiration to millions of abuse survivors around the world.

In 1998, he in-line skated across Canada to highlight the issue of child abuse and donated 100% of the proceeds ($1.2M) towards abuse prevention programs. During this skate he was presented with the keys to the cities of Ottawa, Toronto, and Winnipeg. His life story was made into an Award-Winning TV movie.

Sheldon was Co-Founder of the Calgary Child Advocacy Centre, the first-of-its-kind in Canada, offering full wrap-around services for victims of child abuse. He is also the Co-Founder of Respect Group, which provides empowering online abuse, bullying and harassment prevention education to sport organizations, schools and the workplace.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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29: 12 years Working with Human Trafficking Survivors // The Story of Jessica Minhas Nov 03, 2020

Jessica Minhas is a human rights advocate, author, social entrepreneur, and media commentator who makes complex human rights issues relevant, understandable and actionable for audiences of all ages. For the past 12 years, Jessica has worked in media, carefully producing inspiring media content on complex human rights issues; and the survivor advocacy space, crafting economic empowerment programs and investigations on behalf of sex trafficking victims.

In addition to her humanitarian work, Jessica is the Founder and CEO of I'll Go First, a nonprofit organization dedicated to leveraging media and technology in order to provide remote psychosocial care to marginalized trauma populations throughout the developing world, and is working on her first book- an investigative memoir entitled, “I’ll Go First”- following her personal journey of searching for her biological family and finding her life's calling.

Jessica graduated from the University of Central Florida, and has completed graduate studies work in Journalism at NYU, and in Global Mental Health Trauma and Refugee Recovery with Harvard Medical School. She has been honored as a Rising Leader by the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards, is a recipient of a Noble Award on behalf of The Blind Project, and is currently a Hive Global Leader, a New York New Abolitionist, a Global Shaper on behalf of the World Economic Forum and a United Nations Global Accelerator.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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28: Extreme Alcoholic to Sober Forever // The Story of Susan Laurie Oct 05, 2020

Susan Laurie is the author of From Rock Bottom To Sober Forever, which is the story of how a hopeless alcoholic, resigned to an early death, found complete freedom from her addiction. This book is her story of conquering alcoholism forever, and it is essential reading for anyone concerned about their drinking or the drinking of someone they care about.

Alcoholism took hold of Susan’s life and brought her to her darkest and deepest rock bottom moments facing imminent death. After finding a treatment that really worked, she regained control of her life once again. Today, she is a High Profile Expert at the House of Lords Commission on Alcohol Harm.

If you are having problems dealing with alcoholism or you just want to get some guidance and directions, you can visit Susan’s website at SoberForever.co.uk

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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27: Severe Depression Survivor to TV Star & Professional Comedian // The Story of Jessica Holmes Sep 22, 2020

Jessica Holmes has opened for comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Leslie Nielsen, and Ellen DeGeneres, as well as hosted events for such visionaries as Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, and Oprah Winfrey! Although a comedian at heart, having performed with the Second City and Just for Laughs, Holmes has recently delved into writing: penning the book I Love Your Laugh: Finding the Light in My Screwball Life. Born and raised in Ottawa en Anglais et Francais, Holmes sat back and enjoyed the hilarity that was her family: a handful of older brothers, a mormon father and a feminist mother. Not a sitcom, just her family.

The Second City, Just for Laughs and TV shows like Little Big Kid and The Itch got her noticed as a funny, quirky presence in the comedy community. After her comedy special Holmes Alone taped, she was offered her own sketch series: The Holmes Show. A Carol Burnett style series with lots of characters & impressions, Holmes became known for her oddball personifications of Celine Dion, Liza Minelli and Geri Halliwell. Holmes was delighted to join the cast of Royal Canadian Air Farce (having applied to be their secretary five years earlier, and been turned down…they still have her typing test!). There she played politicians and celebrities; including Michael Jackson and Jessica Simpson.

During her years on Air Farce, Jessica had two children, Alexa and Jordan, with her actor husband Scott. Holmes wrote her first book, I Love Your Laugh: Finding the Light in my Screwball Life, in 2010. Having fallen in love with public speaking, Holmes decided to deepen the scope of her material by becoming a Life & Career Coach through San Diego’s Life Purpose Institute. She now enjoys a mix of comedy & motivational speaking.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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26: Racism, Hollywood Movie Star, and Entrepreneurship // The Story of Tommy Chong Sep 15, 2020

Grammy Award winning comedian Tommy Chong is legendary for his invaluable contribution to American counter-culture as part of the iconic comedy duo Cheech & Chong. During their reign, the twosome recorded six gold comedy albums, including the 1973 Grammy winner “Los Cochinos,” and starred in eight films, most of which Chong co-wrote and directed. The first, Up In Smoke, was the highest grossing comedy of 1978, topping $100 million at the box office. Others were Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie (1980), Nice Dreams (1981), Things Are Tough All Over (1982), Cheech and Chong: Still Smoking (1983), and The Corsican Brothers (1984).

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Tommy began his entertainment career as a musician in a Canadian-based rhythm and blues band. Eventually, he landed a gig with the “Vancouvers”” and co-wrote the band’s 1960’s hit, “Does Your Mama Know About Me.”” From here, Chong eventually turned towards the life as an actor. The first step was forming “City Works,” an improvisational group where he consequently met his future comedic partner, Richard “Cheech” Marin. Throughout the 1970’s Cheech & Chong earned a massive following until eventually, the duo had run its lengthy and prosperous course and they both embarked on solo careers.

Earlier this year, the highly anticipated, award winning documentary A/K/A Tommy Chong was released worldwide. The documentary features the journey that Chong took after a fully armed SWAT team raided the comedian’s home in February of 2003. Tommy Chong was sentenced to 9 months in federal prison for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute drug paraphernalia through “Chong Glass,” a family business specializing in handmade glass water pipes, or “bongs.” Making history this year, Tommy Chong reunited with his old comedy partner, Richard “Cheech” Marin to announce their first tour in over 25 years with Shelby Chong opening the show. The “Cheech & Chong: Light Up America & Canada” tour has proven to be one of the most successful comedy tours of the year, selling out multiple shows from coast to coast.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

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25: Suicide Attempt Survivor to Comedy Star & Meditation Teacher // The Story of Sarah Taylor Sep 03, 2020

Sarah Taylor is an award-winning actor, writer, and standup comedian based in Los Angeles. She has worked as a meditation teacher, energy healing practitioner, and awakening guide for nearly fifteen years and has helped people find their authentic well-being.

Having gone through her own radical transformation, often known as non-dual awakening, and in working as a mentor and energy healer for many years, Sarah is gathering her wisdom and wit and writing The Divine Mess: How To Be A Nobody In Hollywood. It’s a humorous and helpful book for anyone who yearns to find what spiritual seekers have sought for centuries, or for people who just want to take a deep breath and sleep better at night.

At The Hollywood Improv she has produced Cosmic Joke and now Weird Advice with Sarah Taylor & Friends in the Lab. Sarah takes The Divine Mess Show on tour, which is a one-of-a-kind experience that includes Sarah’s comedy with its unique point of view.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags:

24: Frauded $100,000 to Catching his Thief & Serving Justice // The Story of Johnathan Walton Aug 31, 2020

Johnathan Walton is a driven and enterprising vigilante who has dedicated his life to hunting down con artists and bringing them to justice.

Johnathan is a reality TV producer. He has worked on shows like American Ninja Warrior for NBC and Shark Tank for ABC. But the most spectacular reality show he’s ever been a part of had no cameras shooting it and no network airing it. Just a devious con artist secretly plying her craft in the shadows and dozens of unsuspecting victims like himself, quietly falling prey.

You can visit Johnathan’s website, JohnathanWalton.com to learn more about the complete story of how he and several other victims were conned by Marianne Elizabeth Smyth and how he was able to finally get justice and put the con artist behind bars.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags:

23: Pilot & Veteran, to Paraplegic, to a Second Chance with Life // The Story of Jim Ryan Aug 24, 2020

On March 30th, 2016, Jim Ryan had a terrible accident while on vacation in Maui, Hawaii. He suffered a spinal cord injury that left him a C-4 complete quadriplegic. His life changed forever in the blink of an eye. Jim’s story of survival and recovery has inspired hundreds of men and women to shift perspective, choose gratitude, and to keep moving forward through challenges.

He now works as an Ambassador to the Rick Hansen Foundation by sharing stories of his new life and educating the public on accessibility issues. He is also a certified accessibility specialist and works to ensure buildings are accessible to all.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: war veteran, middle east, iraq, amputee, solider, us army

22: War Veteran & Amputee Cancer Survivor to Javelin Athlete & Author // The Story of Brandi Benson Aug 18, 2020

At the age of 24, Brandi Benson bravely served her country by enlisting as an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army. She deployed to Iraq in 2008, but her military career was cut short due to her Ewing Sarcoma diagnosis. Brandi continues to lead a life of service and enjoys working with other veterans. She is also a semi-finalist for Ms. Veteran America 2020.

Brandi is also an accomplished author. Her debut memoir, The Enemy Inside Me: A Young Soldier’s Unexpected Battle With Cancer, tells the powerful story of her 2009 Ewing Sarcoma diagnosis during her deployment in Iraq and her ensuing mental and physical battle to triumph over cancer. Over the years, Brandi has also published numerous articles about wellness, cancer and business.

Brandi currently lives in South Florida with a Jack Russell/Yorkie named Maddie and enjoys speaking to audiences across the country.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: war veteran, middle east, iraq, amputee, solider, us army

21: Crash Amputee to 12 Time World Record Holder // The Story of Amy Palmiero-Winters Aug 11, 2020

Amy Palmiero-Winters is a professional athlete, career-woman, mother and the founder of the One Step Ahead Foundation. After losing her left leg below the knee due to a motorcycle accident that occurred in 1994, Amy compiled a tremendous portfolio of world records and firsts for a female amputee in marathons, ultramarathons, triathlons, and ultra-triathlons. As she attained more and more achievements, she found herself in the position of being a role model, especially for young people with physical disabilities of their own. She soon found herself working extensively with children, introducing them to sports and athletics as a way of helping them overcome their physical limitations. After several years, Amy founded the One Step Ahead Foundation in order to provide even more opportunities for children with physical disabilities.

Amy currently holds eleven world records in various track events. In 2010, she was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States and the ESPN ESPY Award as the top female athlete with a disability in the world. Also in 2010, Amy received the Women’s Sports Foundation Wilma Rudolph Courage Award, the Challenges Athletes Foundation Trail Blazer Award, the Huffington Post Game Changer Award and the USA Strength Award.

In 2011, Amy became the first female amputee to finish the Badwater Ultramarathon, which is described as “the world’s toughest foot race”. It is a 135-mile course starting at 282 feet below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California’s Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet (2548 m) at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney. She had a finish time of 41:26:42. In 2011, Amy was the first amputee to run the Reykjavik, Iceland Marathon. During her time in Iceland, Amy was honored with the 2011 Ossur Ultimate Athlete Award.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: television, hispanic, support, family, tragedy, focus, radio, show, syndication, latin, america, disruption, passion, accomplished, hustle, freedom

20: Near-Death Drug Addiction to Winning the Courage to Come Back Award and Founding Camp Kerry // The Story of Josh Dahling Aug 04, 2020

Josh Dahling arrived in Canada from apartheid South Africa when he was still very young. He survived physical and sexual abuse while navigating the daily struggles of poverty and undiagnosed dyslexia. He was introduced to alcohol and cocaine in his childhood, and struggled with addictions from this very early age. While still in his adolescence, he found himself living homeless and addicted on Vancouver’s downtown eastside.

At just 20 – after several near-fatal overdoses, the death of his father and the birth of his first child – Josh found sobriety. An intensive drug and alcohol treatment program helped Josh recover his life, and inspired him to become active in the recovery community. Even twenty years later, Josh continues to face health challenges resulting from his early struggles, including fibromyalgia, diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. Despite these diagnoses, Josh was driven to improve himself for the benefit of both his family and community. He completed high school and a degree in social work while working three part time jobs, and supporting his three children as a single parent.

Since 2009, Josh has been instrumental in the establishment and growth of Camp Kerry Society in support of families coping with grief and loss. He is now the Director of Operations, and Director of the Society’s Youth Services, while also continuing his role as a Youth Counselor. In addition to dedicating his professional life to improving the lives of youth and families, Josh has volunteered thousands of hours as an inspirational speaker, clothing drive organizer, and as an advocate for bereavement care – all in selfless support of people – especially youth – struggling with bereavement and addictions.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: television, hispanic, support, family, tragedy, focus, radio, show, syndication, latin, america, disruption, passion, accomplished, hustle, freedom

19: Family Tragedy to Latin Radio Star & TV Announcer // The Story of Alberto Sardiñas Jul 28, 2020

"So what's your story and what did you learn from it?" is Alberto Sardiñas' most important question to people everywhere he goes. Alberto is the host of “Íntimo”, a leading syndicated radio show in the U.S. Hispanic market broadcasted by Univision Radio. Each night, Alberto receives phone calls from listeners looking to share their stories and receive a friendly opinion. Thousands of people listen to him nightly, and watch him as a contributor on network television shows such as “Despierta América” and “Tu Desayuno Alegre”. Most recently he was featured on Univision’s award-winning journalistic newsmagazine “Aquí y Ahora”.

Alberto actively participates as keynote speaker for various organizations in the U.S. and Latin America, presenting topics on personal and professional growth. As the author of “El Poder de TU Historia” (The Power of YOUR Story), published by Santillana U.S.A., he compiled 40 true, short stories portraying life lessons told to him by his listeners. Alberto shares weekly articles and videos on his blog, www.albertosardiñas.com, and his columns are frequently published in leading magazines and blogs.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: television, hispanic, support, family, tragedy, focus, radio, show, syndication, latin, america, disruption, passion, accomplished, hustle, freedom

18: $20 Million Business Bankruptcy to Passionate Happy Lifestyle // The Story of Bernard Callebaut Jul 21, 2020

Bernard Callebaut is a renowned Master Chocolatier, with four generations of experience behind him. Focused always on the balance of taste and style, fellow chocolatiers, chefs and gastronomes around the world revere him. Having brought worldwide recognition to his craft, many accolades have been bestowed upon him, such as: Winner for ‘Best Milk Chocolate Bar’ – 2013 International Chocolate Salon Awards in Los Angeles; Winner for ‘Best Chocolate Boutique’ – 2013 Top Choice Awards in Calgary; Silver Award – 2015 International Academy of Chocolate Awards in London.

Bernard was the first North American to be bestowed the honour of “l’Ordre Internationale de la Gastronomie Francaise”, recognized by the French Government for outstanding contribution to the culinary arts. As the founder of Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut, he ran the organization for over 27 years. As Calgary’s very own father of chocolate, Bernard is now proud to present his offerings and newest creations.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: family, happy, lifestyle, help, support, entrepreneur, chocolate, legacy, top, choice, business

17: Coma Inducing Car Crash with a 5% Chance of Recovery to Happy Loving Family // The Story of Harriet Ronaghan Jul 14, 2020

A devastating car crash left 18-year-old Harriet Ronaghan with a traumatic brain injury. Given just a 5% chance to live, this vibrant young ballerina survived surgery but remained in a coma for over three months. To recover from her type of injury, she had to build new pathways to control her basic functions. After waking from her coma, she had to relearn how to blink, swallow, talk, walk, and care for herself – skills doctors told her she might never reclaim.

Robbed of her independence, mobility, and many friends (overwhelmed by the gravity of her injury), Harriet refused to let this accident take more from her. One grueling step at a time, she began to recover. Uplifted by the love of her family and her own characteristic strength and determination, Harriet was walking without assistance after just 16 months. Three months later, she went on her first date with the man she would later marry on the 9th anniversary of her accident. Last year, they celebrated the birth of their first child, Charlie.

Early in her recovery, Harriet helped the father of a young man in a coma simply by sharing her story. Determined to amplify her message of hope, just 10 months after the accident she began typing – with her one working finger – a manuscript for her book, You are my Sunshine: The Journey Through my Recovery with a Traumatic Brain Injury. To inspire those affected by trauma, she continues to share her story through media, presentations, and personal connections. Just as Harriet forged new pathways in her brain, she has redefined the path to her bright future, transforming the people and community around her.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: mobility, car, wreck, young, surgery, coma, survivor, love, determination, strength, independence, mother, strength

16: Witnessing A Murderous Fire To Helping 38,000 People By Building 49 Interfaith, Caste-Free Homes // The Story Of Sister Lucy Kurien Jul 07, 2020

Sister Lucy Kurien is the Founder and Director of Maher, a community and interfaith organization for abused and destitute women and children, headquartered in Pune, India.

Maher in the Marathi language means "Mother's Home" - a haven of hope, belonging and understanding. Their mission is to help destitute women, children and men from all over India exercise their right to a higher quality of life, irrespective of gender, caste, creed or religion.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: faith, sister, murderous, fire, interfaith, religion, hope, triumph, homes, help, love

15: Double Suicide Attempt Survivor & Pro Golfer in Canada to Mental Health Ambassador // The Story of Andrew Jensen Jun 30, 2020

Andrew Jensen is a professional golfer and mental health Bell Let’s Talk Ambassador. In his teens, Andrew began to suffer with depression, culminating in a suicide attempt at 16 years old. In those difficult teenage years, golf was his refuge and the one place he felt meaning and purpose. It wasn’t until having to deal with the immense stress and pressure of professional golf that the game became his undoing.

After struggling through an extremely difficult rookie campaign in 2008, being dropped by his sponsors in 2009, and finally an injury in 2010, Andrew’s poor play and off course struggles re-opened the door for his depression and suicidal thoughts to enter his life. His 2011 season was his worst to date, forcing him to retire and give up on the game he loved for so many years. In the fall of 2011, two failed suicide attempts in a 3-week span had Andrew hospitalized. Most importantly, he was finally ready to get help and walk a road of recovery towards better health.

Returning to professional golf in 2013, Andrew gained status PGA Tour Canada. Though his starts were sparse, the Tour took it upon themselves to share Andrew’s story of strength and courage on the PGA Tour Canada TV show and YouTube channel. The response Andrew received helped him fully realize his place as an advocate for mental health across Canada.

Andrew now finds himself at the forefront of the dialogue on mental health overall and as a Bell Let’s Talk Ambassador, and the effort to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health as a public speaker traveling the country and sharing his story with charities, schools, associations, and corporate Canada.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: pro, golfer, canadian, suicide, attempt, mental, health, pga, ambassador, stress, support, professional, sports, relief

14: Golden Gate Bridge Jump Survivor Helps Thousands Heal from Racial Hate Crimes & Black Lives Matter (BLM) // The Story of Kevin Hines Jun 23, 2020

Kevin Hines is a best-selling author, global public speaker, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. In the Year 2000, Kevin attempted to take his life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Many factors contributed to his miraculous survival including a sea lion which kept him afloat until the Coast Guard arrived. Kevin now travels the world sharing his story of hope, healing, and recovery while teaching people of all ages the art of wellness & the ability to survive pain with true resilience.

Kevin’s will to live and stay mentally well has inspired people worldwide. His compelling story has touched diverse, global audiences within colleges and universities, high schools, corporations, clergy, military, clinicians, health and medical communities, law enforcement organizations, and various industries. Thousands have communicated to Hines that his story helped save their lives. He has reached millions with his story. His story was featured in the 2006 film The Bridge by the film director and producer Eric Steel.

Currently, Kevin is in pre-production of his new Documentary Series The Journey, and is working on a comic book version of his life in cosmic & supernatural form called Hope Dealers. His fight has been long and arduous, but he is determined to remain committed to life until its natural end.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit our website: RockBottom2RockinIt.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: black, lives, matter, best, selling, author, golden, gate, bridge, film, feature, hope, healing, murder, racial, crimes, survivorship, free, falling

13: Cancer Survivor and Multiple Olympic Gold Medalist // The Story of Shannon Miller Jun 16, 2020

Seven-time Olympic Medalist, Shannon Miller is the only female athlete to be inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame – Twice! [Individual (2006) and Team (2008)]. Shannon has won an astounding 59 International and 49 National competition medals. Over half of these have been gold. In 1993/94 Shannon became the first US gymnast to ever win back-to-back World All-Around Titles, and she is the first American female to medal in the individual all-around of a non-boycotted Olympics. Her tally of five medals (two silver, three bronze) at the ’92 Olympics was the most medals won by a US athlete in any sport. At the ’96 Games, she led the “Magnificent Seven” to the US Women’s first ever Team Gold and for the first time for any American gymnast, she captured Gold on the Balance Beam. She is the first American gymnast to win an individual gold medal at a fully-attended summer games and cemented her place as the most accomplished gymnast, male or female, in U.S. Olympic history.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: olympics, gold, medalist, b2b, gymnast, hard, work, magnificent, seven, history, gymnastics, team

12: Double Tragedy to President & Civic Leader // The Story of Zane Novak Jun 09, 2020

Zane Novak, from Calgary Alberta, Canada, is the President of the Kerby Centre, a charitable organization that has a mission to assist older people to live as well as possible, for as long as possible, as residents in the community. His love for Calgary has led him to become very involved in the charitable side of the community. He is also the President of the ZKO Oilfield Industries, which introduces unique and innovative products and services into today's industry.

Zane has experienced two tragic events that took the life of his mother and his son. These rock-bottom moments have made a big impact on his life and molded him to become the person he is today.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: civic, leadership, family, tragedy, canadian, support, mother, son, death, pillar, hope, ambition, leader

11: A Burn Survivor's Journey to Discover True Beauty // The Story of Kelly Falardeau Jun 02, 2020

At the age of 2, Kelly Falardeau was severely burned over 75% of her body in her childhood home. Her life was forever changed in that moment. It led to numerous surgeries throughout her life. Because her scars are so visible it led to a life of being highly visible, to being bullied, to being shunned, to being avoided because they were uncomfortable knowing how to talk to her, and to her not feeling wanted, needed or even loved.

But she has a beautiful story of discovering for herself that she wanted herself, she needed herself and most of that she loved herself. She became herself and she owned who she was. She was not defined by what happened to her, not by any event that happened to her.

Kelly found a way to go from near-death to success; from the ugly scar-faced girl to the Top 10 Most Powerful and Influential Speaker, Fierce Woman of the Year, Best-Selling Author (4 times), recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and most recently a YWCA Woman of Distinction 2013.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: burns, adversity, speaker, survivor, discovery, female, voice, survival, true, beauty

10: Biker Gangs & Drug Addiction to helping Kids Heal & Grow // The Story of Joe Calendino May 26, 2020

Drugs, gangs, and violence represent the dark side of society and have taken many young lives on a destructive path. Back in the early 80’s one of those lives was Joe Calendino. Drug use started at age 14, involvement in gangs a year later, and by the time he left high school, Joe had a record of over 300 fights, according to his famed drama teacher.

Joe’s adult life became marked with time as a full patch Hell’s Angel and a full-blown drug addict, an addiction that almost led to his death in 2006. Fortunately, from that day forward, events would transpire to transform Joe’s life for the better.

Through his lived experiences, Joe has the unique ability to connect with youth to educate, inspire, and mentor them to avoid the same path he took. It is the reason why the Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative exists, and why its programs are so essential in today’s urban society, riddled by the perils of drugs, gangs and violence.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: gangs, violence, youth, drug, school, help, fighting, dark, side, voices, justice, aid, dependency, fixation, tribal, support, bikers

09: Surviving a Near Death Stabbing to Building a $20 Million Dollar Business // The Story of Gigi Stetler May 19, 2020

Gigi Stetler is an entrepreneur, life coach, CEO, author, designer, equestrian, mother, and survivor. She has made a very successful career in the RV industry. Her decades in the business of buying, selling and servicing RVs, trailers, and campers have given her unprecedented firsthand knowledge and experience to become one of the nation’s top RV experts.

Gigi’s walls are lined with plaques and certificates of achievement for outstanding sales and service for every year dating back to 1988. In 2004, Gigi helped set up and run a 170 RV camp in a remote region of Guatemala for the hit show Survivor on CBS. In 2005. Gigi set up a 200 RV camp for first responders and victims of Hurricane Katrina.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: solved, murder, recreational, vehicles, entrepreneur, mother, unsolved, survivor, equestrian, lover, crime, park, predators, life, rebound

08: World's First Armless Pilot... & How She Obtained her Pilot's License... with her Feet? // The Story of Jessica Cox May 15, 2020

Jessica Cox is best known for becoming the first armless pilot in aviation history. Her achievement earned her a Guinness World Record medal, invitations from six continents, and featured on tv programs like Ellen, Inside Edition, Fox and Friends, Oprah Winfrey Network, CNN, CBS Evening News, and the BBC.

Jessica continues to travel the globe motivating people to overcome their perceived limitations with her inspirational speeches. With Jessica's experience speaking to audiences in 23 countries, she codified her message into Possible Thinking and the Achieve Model.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: flying, pilot, missing, arms, armless, worldwide, traveler, aviation, history, filipino, guinness, world, record, countdown

07: University Dropout to NASA Project Leader // The Story of Dr. Erika Hamden May 13, 2020

Dr. Erika Hamden is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Arizona. Her observational focus is on measuring and mapping diffuse hydrogen around galaxies and within star forming regions in our own galaxy. Her current projects include FIREBall, a UV balloon-borne telescope; KCRM, a spectrograph for the Keck telescope; and Hyperion, a UV space telescope she is currently developing. Her work is driven by a desire to know and understand more about the universe around us.

Hamden received a bachelor's from Harvard in 2006 and a PhD from Columbia in 2014, both in astrophysics. She has held an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellow and the R.A. and G.B. Millikan Prize Postdoctoral Fellow in Experimental Physics at the Caltech. She was awarded a Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship for her detector work in 2016. She worked as a chef for a year before beginning grad school and has a serious yoga practice.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: mental, health, doctor, nasa, colombia, caltech, university, astrophysics, space, leader, dropout, galaxies, hydrogen

06: OCD & Suicide Survivor to NHL and Mental Health Ambassador // The Story of Clint Malarchuk May 11, 2020

Clint Malarchuk, who was born in Grand Prairie, Alberta, played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. He went on to play professionally in the NHL for the Quebec Nordiques, the Washington Capitals, and the Buffalo Sabres, and in the IHL for the Las Vegas Thunder. When his throat was slashed during a collision in the crease, Malarchuk nearly died on the ice. Forever changed, he struggled deeply with depression and a dependence on alcohol, which nearly cost him his life and left a bullet in his head. Both Clint and his wife Joanie are on the Board of Visitors with Mclean University. They are part of the Outreach Ambassador Group IOCD.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: nhl, hockey, suicide, survivor, gruesome, injury, pro, player, mclean, university, missing, alaska, washington, capitals, buffalo, sabres

05: From Living on the Streets to Champion Rally Racer // The Story of Penny Mallory May 08, 2020

Motorsport and TV fans know her as the first (and remains the only) woman to compete in a World Rally Car. Penny Mallory knows how to compete and beat the odds, but she also knows top performance requires even more than sacrifice and maximum commitment. It also takes heart, insight and the courage to keep going and the refusal to quit.

Her life is a continuing series of doing what conventional thinking says she simply can’t. From competing in three marathons on three consecutive days to hell runners and triathlons, finding the courage to enter the boxing ring, and the physical resolve to conquer two of the world’s highest mountains. Penny is the author of ‘World Class Thinking, World Class Behaviour’.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: champion, racer, alcoholism, mental, illness, marathon, triathlon, runner, world, class, thinking, motor, sports, female, morbid, true, crime

04: High-School Dropout goes from Living on Porches to Building an LA Fashion Business // The Story of Magnus Walker May 07, 2020

Magnus Walker, nicknamed the Urban Outlaw, is a British custom car builder, fashion designer and car collector. After emigrating to the United States in 1986, he established the Serious Clothing Brand, which was worn by the likes of Madonna, Alice Cooper, and Bruce Willis. Having been fascinated with Porsche since childhood, he started collecting and customizing vintage Porsches, mostly of the 911 model. After the documentary Urban Outlaw about his life and fascination with Porsche was shown at the 2012 Raindance Film Festival, he became one of the world's most visible faces of the Porsche and car collecting scene, and has since been featured in a multitude of media, such as The Joe Rogan Experience (2015), and Jay Leno's Garage (2017), and the 2015 video game Need for Speed.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: raindance, film, festival, car, collector, builder, outlaw, jayleno, joerogan, podcast, city, angels, urban, outcast

03: How a 17-Year Old Child-Bride Escaped Abuse & Rose to a Best Selling Author // The Story of Samra Zafar May 06, 2020

Samra Zafar is an award-winning international speaker, bestselling author, consultant, educator, and social entrepreneur who advocates for equity, inclusion, and human rights. Her book, A Good Wife: Escaping the Life I Never Chose, became an instant bestseller and was named as a 2019 Book of the Year for Canadian Nonfiction by the CBC. It is now being published internationally and adapted to a TV series.

Samra has spoken on dozens of stages, including at TEDx, Yale University, UNICEF, Amnesty International, Art of Leadership, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, as well as for many corporations, universities, and nonprofits. In 2019, Samra was recognized as one of Canada’s “Top 100 Most Powerful Women '' and as a “Top 25 Canadian Immigrant”.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: business, entrepreneurship, motivation, women, author, leadership, tedtalk, yale, university, crime, countdown, good, wives, unicef, true, crime

02: Heroin Addict goes from Homeless to CEO // The Story of Joe Roberts May 06, 2020

Joe Roberts is an inspirational example of overcoming adversity and managing change. In 1989, he was living under a bridge, homeless on skid row. Today he is an advocate, author and the Executive Director of The Push for Change.

Joe has witnessed human behavior at its depths and its peaks, in personal and professional life, and he has captured his experiences in thought-leading principles that are critical to success.He is the former President and CEO of a successful multimedia company. Joe is a well-polished inspirational speaker that has delivered his keynote to over 1,000,000 people over the last 15 years. He is committed to helping young people break through their most difficult barriers and is the perfect front man for The Push for Change.

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: entrepreneur, interviews, ceo, youth, drug, addiction, adversity, help, middle, high, school, push, change, heroin, business, growth, support

01: From Rock Bottom to Rockin' It // Our Launch Episode May 06, 2020

In this Kick Off Episode you’ll get a preview of what’s in store for future weeks of From Rock Bottom to Rockin’ It… Hope you enjoy!

*** For Show Notes, Key Points, Contact Info, Resources Mentioned, & More on this episode please visit my website: EricGilbertWilliams.com. ***

Feedback? Questions? Comments? I would love to hear from you! Contact me at us via: Email (eric@ericgilbertwilliams.com), LinkedIn (@ericgilbertwilliams), Twitter (@ericgilbertw), or Instagram (@ericgilbertwilliams).

EP Tags: marketing, launch, charity, diy, bullying, help, high, school, drugs, support, preview, launch, episode

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