Relentlessly Resilient Podcast

Latest Episodes:

A Mother and daughter’s stories of teenage pregnancy and adoption part 1: Heather’s closed adoption in 1997 Apr 26, 2024

Show notes

Teenage pregnancy and adopting out is an emotional and heart-wrenching experience for all involved. When, in 1996, Heather Andrews found herself pregnant at 18 years old without her family and the baby’s father's support, she faced a systematic culture of shame, guilt, and abandonment. In this first of a two-part series, Heather shares the story of her first traumatic pregnancy, which ended with her adopting out her firstborn son in a closed adoption.

In our second-part episode, we will then hear a similar story two decades later in 2017, when Heather’s daughter Kiara Williamson, as a pregnant teenager herself, adopted her daughter out in a much more supportive story with an open adoption. Kiara, empowered by her journey, is helping others find their “Birth Mom Tribe” at TikTok, Instagram, and on Facebook. The juxtaposition between these two stories highlights the importance of nonjudgmental support, the danger of cultural shame, the power of communication, and the importance of tapping into your own personal power.

Even though we live in challenging times, we can become 'Relentlessly Resilient' as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband, Major Brent Taylor, was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together, and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward.

Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.

Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform, at kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or on the KSL NewsRadio App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

Cohost Conversation: Jennie Taylor on ‘The Brent Taylor Five’ tips for success Apr 19, 2024

Show notes

Jennie Taylor continues to honor her husband’s legacy through programs, scholarships, celebrations, and events with the Major Brent Taylor Foundation. This includes traveling the country to teach business leaders and students Brent’s five tips for success, which he originally gave at his high school's graduation ceremony in 1997 as the school’s student body president. On this special cohost conversation episode of Relentlessly Resilient, she shares these tips and invites listners to create five of their own tips.

Want to learn more about the “BT5?” A leadership workshop, tailored for 7th—12th-grade students, will be held at Weber High School on Saturday, May 4th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch and a T-shirt are included for just $10. Secure your spot now by registering here, or visit MajorBrentTaylor.com to learn more.

Even though we live in challenging times, we can become Relentlessly Resilient as we lean on and learn from one another’s experiences. Hosts Jennie Taylor and Michelle Scharf are no strangers to overcoming adversity; Michelle lost her husband to cancer, while Jennie’s husband, Major Brent Taylor, was killed in the service of our country. Their stories bond them together, and now listeners can join them weekly as they visit with others enduring challenges and who teach us how they are exercising resiliency, finding value in their grief, and purpose in moving forward.

Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.

Survivor Mandi Schill on her postnatal stroke and evolving sense of health Apr 12, 2024

Show notes

Baby and mother seemed to be perfectly healthy when 30-year-old Mandi Schill gave birth to her firstborn son, but three weeks later, she was back in the hospital having survived a stroke. Since that time a few years ago, this Director of Resource Development at United Way of Northern Utah, used her story to help expand Medicaid care for women in Utah from 60 days to a full year post birth. Mandi joins this episode of Relentlessly Resilient to share her story and how health means something different to her now.

Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.

Trauma and disaster management specialist Jeffrey J. Denning on mental and spiritual health Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

Author and trauma and disaster management specialist Jeffrey J. Denning returns to Relentlessly Resilient to discuss the importance of self-awareness and self-wellness. Over his long career as a US Army officer, Federal Air Marshal, police captain, turned counselor and therapist, Jeff has been interested in trauma-informed mental and spiritual health. Today, he discusses five steps to help individuals in crisis find resilience, which is really all of us as we face the stress and disappointments of life. These steps are adequate sleep, healthy nutrition, daily physical activity, positive socialization, and a grateful attitude. The key to active resilience is understanding your identity and purpose and, thus, understanding your worth.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and/or visit them online at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.

Rowena Montoya, creator of the award-winning JulieAnn Caramels, on creating sweetness amid life’s hardships Mar 29, 2024

Show notes

Rowena Montoya didn’t let a harsh childhood hold her back; instead, she chose to seek the better. And even when her life seemed to fall apart decades later, she chose to create something delicious in that darkness. She created “JulieAnn Caramels,” using a recipe and the namesakes her aunts had given her. Now, her award-winning sweets can be found across the Intermountain West and online at JulieAnnCaramels.com. Her premium caramels were first introduced to our hosts when our guest, Aimee Snow, brought them into the studio for her recording. They have immediately become a hit worthy of discovering their story today.

Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.

Cohost Conversation: Six steps to better self-awareness Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

One of the most uncomfortable things in life is facing the faults, and strengths, we have within our individual selves. But this self-awareness can truly be a key to understanding your body, brain, heart, and soul. In this cohost conversation episode of Relentlessly Resilient, Host Michelle Scharf applies her life coaching skills to teach us “Six steps to better self-awareness.” Simplifying self-awareness is as easy as slowing down to breathe correctly, sitting in a quiet place, and reflecting on how you are feeling.

Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.

Listen to the Relentlessly Resilient Podcast regularly on your favorite platform: kslpodcasts.com, kslnewsradio.com, or the KSL NewsRadio App. Join the Resilience conversation on Facebook at @RelentlesslyResilient and Instagram @RelentlesslyResilientPodcast. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

Listener Holly Hall has a “Grand Canyon” of insight after the unexpected death of her husband Garrick Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

When Holly Hall’s husband passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in early 2023, she turned to others for comfort and care. In her pain, she remembered the story of Jennie Taylor’s loss and found our Relentlessly Resilient podcast. Hearing other’s stories of widowhood, perseverance, and their tools of resilience helped her face her first year of loss. Now, she joins host Michelle Scharf to share her journey, along with a unique perspective from a family trip to the Grand Canyon just before her husband's death.

Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.

Utah director of the Department of Veteran and Military Affairs Gary Harter on how forward-thinking and creativity unlock resiliency Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Gary R. Harter is a retired Army Colonel who spent 25 years on active duty and retired from the military in 2005. He has continued to serve his fellow veterans in various governmental roles and is now the director of the Department of Veteran and Military Affairs for Utah. He joins this episode of Relentlessly Resilient to show how forward-thinking and cascading planning can help unlock better human potential. A surprise weapon in his resiliency toolbox is continual creativity, which he has learned while volunteering with productions of the Timpanogos Valley Theatre in Heber, Utah.

Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.

Recovering and resilience after an arteriovenous malformation Aneurysm (AVM) with Kristi Kelley Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

On December 7, 2023, our host Michelle’s grandson was rushed to the hospital in an emergency situation; unbeknownst to his family, the ten-year-old had a circulatory malformation in his brain. This arteriovenous malformation (AVM) had burst, bringing him dangerously close to death as blood flooded his brain; after multiple surgeries and a 40-day hospital stay, he is now home recovering. Michelle turned to TikTok to learn about the issue and seek guidance from others and found Kristi Kelley. Kristi’s AVM ruptured while she was gardening in her 40s. Now, years later, she might have partially lost her eyesight, but in that struggle, she has gained a positive attitude, gratitude for the life and the time she has, and a passion for connecting with others struggling with the impacts of AVM. She joins this episode of Relentlessly Resilient to share her story, guidance, and comfort.

Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.

Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major Garrad Johnston on finding purpose and resilience in serving in uniform, military and law enforcement Feb 23, 2024

Show notes

Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major Garrad Johnston served in Iraq with Brent Taylor in the early 2000s and continued to serve in the military for some three decades total. Now, as he has retired from the army, he puts on a different uniform to serve his community. This time as a police officer in the Lindon Utah Police Department. Johnston joins this episode of Relentlessly Resilient to discuss his military service, addressing post-traumatic stress disorder, and finding purpose, resilience, and light while serving in uniform.

Presented by Minky Couture, makers of the most luxurious and soft blankets with a mission to share comfort and love during the special moments of life.

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