Warriors Unmasked

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90. You Are Your Own Super Power! With X-Men's Lenore Zann Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

As kids, we all dream about having superpowers and achieving great things like our favorite cartoon heroes. As we grow older, we realize that life on TV shows or in a comic book is much easier than living in the real world…

Life can be hard and downright unfair, but that doesn't mean your childhood self had it all wrong. You can still be superhuman and achieve levels of greatness you didn't know were possible! But don't take our word for it; why don't you hear it from a real-life superhero? Hit play to meet Lenore Zann!

Lenore Zann is an award-winning actress and first burst onto the entertainment scene at 19 with an unforgettable performance as Marilyn Monroe in the rock opera HEY MARILYN! This led to a long career as a professional actress and singer in Film, TV, Theatre, and Radio. Her voice has become synonymous with the iconic Rogue of the 90's X-Men animated series, which she is currently bringing back to life in Marvel Studios' new X-Men 97 series scheduled for release on Disney + in 2023.

In our opinion, what really makes Lenore a real-life superhero is not the characters she plays on tv, but the battles she has won and the giants she has slain behind the scenes in her own life. As the story goes for many young people in the Hollywood limelight, Lenore found herself addicted to alcohol and unable to love herself.

During our conversation, you'll hear how Lenore Zann turned her life around, how she is helping others do the same, what it was like in the early days of her career, her experience growing up in a foreign land, how she fell into drugs and alcohol and so much more!

This rare look into Lenore's story is bound to take you from happiness, empathy, compassion, and sadness to feeling hope, encouragement, love, compassion, and completely empowered. If you enjoy this conversation, send this episode to a friend that you think would benefit from it!

More Of What's Inside:

The real power of empathy
Asking for help is the only way
The healing power of AA
How Lenore Zann learned to love herself
Lenore Zann's upcoming album
Life lessons Lenore's late niece taught her
The best thing you can be is YOU
How to unleash your superpowers
How Lenore creatively processes
And much more!

GUEST INFO:

Instagram: @lenorezann
Twitter : @zannlenore
Facebook (to follow): Lenore Zann

LINKS:

Episode Minute By Minute:

0:02 A look into today's episode
1:42 Thank you to today's sponsors
3:26 Get to know Lenore
10:00 When Lenore decided to get sober
16:41 When Lenore just wanted to end her life
22:34 The importance of helping others
26:01 Learning how to love yourself is a journey
31:56 The 3 steps you can take to transform your life
38:12 When Lenore's success story started
45:20 A look into Lenore's new book
53:23 Lenore's advice for everyone listening

89. Divine Transformation Is Available To Everyone! With Rob Lohman Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

Anyone can transform their life. Yes, including the most messed up addict you can think of.

Welcome to episode 89 of Warriors Unmasked! Today Chuck sits down with suicide survivor, recovering addict, professional coach and speaker, bestselling author, radio and podcast host, and mental health advocate Mr. Rob Loman.

Rob has a powerful testimony that only a supernatural intervention could start to explain. In this episode, Rob share his journey of drinking from the age of 14, being a full-blown addict at 21, to now being sober for 21+ years. How does something like this happen? Hit play to find out.

As many addiction stories go, unfortunately, substance abuse isn't the only problem that the addict deals with when they are reaching for a drink or grabbing for a needle. More often than not, they are struggling with darker underlying issues like suicidal thoughts and actions, depression, and more.

After finding himself at rock bottom, he attempted suicide one evening in an effort to make the pain all go away. Thankfully, the attempt was interrupted by his loving dog and Rob made the decision to live and find healing.

Rob would agree that DOG spelled backward being GOD is no coincidence in his story. During our conversation, Rob will share why he believes that God is the answer to our problems and why He is the real reason why he was able to turn his life around.

Fast forward to today, and Rob is helping people worldwide find hope, identity, and purpose. There is so much waiting for you in this episode, we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did! To reach out to us here at Warriors Unmasked or any of our guests, check out the lists below!

PS:

We know this time of year can be hard for many. If you ever need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to reach out.

More Of What's Inside:

How addiction can start at a young age
New age medication and why more questions need to be asked
Steps Rob started to take to get clean
A look into Rob's business "Lifted From The Rut."
How some people are addicts just because of the friends they keep
Rob's experience with marriage and divorce
There is someone who can take away the pain
Free recourses for sobriety and turning your life around
How Rob got into Podcasting and media
And much more!

GUEST LINKS:

LINKS:

Episode Minute By Minute:

1:37 Thank you to today's sponsors
4:16 Get to know Rob Lohman
8:47 How bad habits start to develop
17:00 The true importance of finding purpose
19:37 The three things in life that matter
24:35 When Rob hit rock bottom
32:00 How God transformed Rob's life
37:28 All things in your story will work out
44:11 How to find who you really are
52:38 The #1 thing Rob wants you to hear

Guest Bio:

Sober since 2001 after a suicide attempt, Rob helps peoplefind FREEDOM from substance abuse and feeling "stuck in a rut" to living a transformed life. He does this by sharing his testimony, Interventions, Coaching, Speaking, and being the host of both Beyond The Bars Radio and Addiction,Freedom & Faith Podcasts.

Rob has been through the wringer, AND continues to press on! A true overcomer. His life transitions include alcohol and drug addiction, gambling addiction, divorce, bankruptcies, mental health, suicide ideation, prison, recovery entrepreneurship, and life transformation.

Rob's drinking career started at age 14 which lead to some very dark places in his life. The climax of Rob's drinking career happened on June 7, 2001, with a suicide attempt interrupted by the compassion of his dog Jake. Upon a divine intervention, Rob was freed from his substance abuse addiction which began a rollercoaster ride in recovery…to which Rob has yet to take another drink or drug since that day.

Rob invests in the lives of those wanting to see positive change, whether it is coming out of addiction, life transition, or just wanting more for their lives. He is a dynamic speaker who shares an extremely powerful journey of persistence, faith, and inspiration. Rob is also the Bestselling Author of The Addiction Intervention Book.

88. You Are Not Weak! A Journey of Mental Health and Toughness with Christy Warren Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

You need to hear this today - Just because you struggle doesn't mean you're weak!

If we could shout this message from every rooftop we would. If you have listened to Warriors Unmasked for any amount of time, you know that Clint and Chuck have a passion for helping people regain their mental health and share powerful stories of mental illness, courage hope, and perseverance from incredible people around the world.

Every episode has something special but this episode has to be one of our favorite conversations to date. After over 80+ incredible episodes that may sound like a big statement, but we know you'll feel the same way!

Hit play to hear our conversation with the one and only Christy Warren. Christy Warren is a retired fire captain, retired professional paramedic triathlete, podcast host, and mental health advocate. During our conversation, Christy lets us in on her journey from hitting rock bottom, to being diagnosed with PTSD and feeling like a total failure, to transforming her life and becoming a greater Warrior.

Today is a special episode that is hard to fully capture in mere words. One of the things that makes Christy's journey so impactful for us is that Christy's life was changed and she found the will to live after finding Clint's book and realizing she wasn't alone.

Because Clint shared his story, Christy found the courage to share her story. This is what our show is all about! We truly believe that the more we share our stories and our struggles in an authentic way, the faster the world can start to heal.

To connect with and share your story, reach out to us via the links below!

More Of What's Inside:

Why most people drink alcohol to help alleviate pain
Chrisy's experience as a first responder
What it's like to have PTSD
We are incredibly strong as humans
Christy's daily self-care routine
How Clint's book is impacting the world
The ripple effect of telling your story
Why we think this is one of our best episodes
You are not alone!
And much more!

LINKS:

Episode Minute By Minute:

0:02 What's in today's episode
1:36 Thank you to today's sponsors
2:40 Get to know Christy Warren
4:02 How Clint changed Christy's life
10:10 Christy's time as a first responder
18:50 When Christy hit rock bottom
24:49 Christy's EMDR therapy
28:00 Mental health in the first responder world
32:12 PTSD is a physical injury
41:40 A look into Christy's new book
45:45 All things work together for good

87. Training Your Brain To Withstand Almost Any Trauma with Brian Slade Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to episode 87 of Warriors Unmasked! Today Chuck sits down with Mr. Brian Slate!

Brian will take a deep dive into his journey of being deployed to Afghanistan, thinking he was getting a light deployment to his plane being hit twice by enemy forces on his first mission. His powerful story is nothing short of heroic.

This episode is bound to take you from intrigue, and wonder to hope, understanding, and complete empowerment. Hit play to hear how his time in the Armed Forces equipped him with the mental framework and practical healing techniques anyone can use in their journey of overcoming trauma and PTSD.

Whether you are a veteran yourself or if you have never seen a day of combat, Brian's story is one we can all relate to. 5 months before he was deployed to Afghanistan, Brian married his first wife. It didn't take long for their relationship to go south as Brian started to identify unhealthy mental health issues with his new bride.

Not even the traumatic time he spent in active war could have prepared him for the pain and trauma that awaited him during their impending separation and divorce. Relationship wounds are something we all deal with from a young age, but how we respond is what matters most.

During our conversation, Brian shares the "chair flying" technique and how you can use it to prepare for tough situations and avoid adding any potential or additional pain and trauma in your life and relationships. This one tip can start making the world a better place for everyone!

You'll also hear our thoughts on the importance of gratitude, how to become a more empowered person, how Brian used strategic compartmentalization and so much more! To learn more about Brian, or any of the guests we have on the podcast, follow the links below! If you enjoy this conversation, send this episode to a friend that you think would benefit from it.

More Of What's Inside:

Brian Slade's second string deployment to Afghanistan
Brian's exact thoughts during a near-death experience
The Art of a Teflon Mind and posttraumatic stress
How do you focus on the enemy at hand?
Life with a spouse with mental health issues
The importance of meditation and visualization
The importance of strengthening your mental fortitude
Do you ever feel like there was a bigger purpose to your life?
And much more!

GUEST LINKS:

CLEARED HOT

LINKS:

Episode Minute By Minute:

3:00 Get to know Brian Slade
8:20 Brian's time in combat in Afghanistan
13:30 How Brian responded to a near-death experience
16:50 Healing PTSD techniques Brian Discovered
21:30 Pain and trauma can happen to all of us
24:28 Prepping for trauma and strategic compartmentalization
29:31 How to use the chair flying technique
40:00 Stress inoculation and how to use it
45:04 How to stay in an empowered state
53:14 The importance of gratitude

86. A Guide To Self-Care and Self-Love with Happiness expert Rita Farruggia Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to episode 86 of Warriors Unmasked! In 2022, it's clear to most people that self-care and finding ways to de-stress should be more of a priority for all of us.

But where do you even start? This is a question many of our listeners and people we coach ask us on a regular basis. That's why we wanted to take a full episode to find an answer!

Of course, we didn't want to have such an important conversation alone, we had to go to the expert…the happiness expert! Hit play to meet the lover of life and CEO and founder of Happy Being Well, Rita Farruggia!

She is a self-care and happiness expert and mental health advocate. During our conversation, you'll hear about her journey from growing up an innately spiritual kid with parents who struggled with PTSD and functional alcoholism, and how that led to her involvement in toxic relationships in her adult years.

Learn the practical steps she took to completely cleanse her life from toxic relationships, bad energy, negative soul patterns, and habits plus more. This episode is bound to take you from deep interest and curiosity to enlightenment, self-love, hope, and complete empowerment.

You'll also learn about how you can start meditating longer, tips and tricks for adding positive habits to things you're already doing, an easy way to have less stress and anxiety plus so much more! Whether you feel like a self-development pro, or if all of this is totally uncharted territory for you, this episode is packed full of simple advice that can help transform your life!

If you enjoy this conversation, spread the good vibes! Send this episode to a friend that you think would benefit from it and follow the links below to reach out to us and connect more.

More Of What's Inside:

We can't always just be all about our spiritual journey.
Tolerating toxic relationships and normalizing it
How to better navigate the world and culture
How to start enjoying spending time alone
The benefits of self-care and self-love
Rita's #1 tips on how to have better mental health
The effects of living with anxiety and confusion
The mental health crisis on our hands
Chuck's journey with meditation
And much more!

GUEST LINKS:

happybeingwell.com

Meditation Made Easy E-Guide

Resources

LINKS:

Episode Minute By Minute:

0:02 A look into today's episode
1:37 Thank you to today's sponsors
3:04 Get to know Rita Farruggia
8:04 What life was life for Rita growing up
16:00 How to cleanse from toxic people
20:04 The importance of being in silence
27:20 How to get better at meditation
30:16 The positive results of self-care
36:45 How Rita added positive habits to her day
37:37 How to grow in higher levels of consciousness

85. The Healing Power of Laughter and Comedy with Mike Cotayo Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

They say the darkest of stories can have a silver (and hilarious) lining if the right comedian gets their hands on it…we think today's guest would agree!

Welcome to episode 85 of Warriors Unmasked! Today we sat down with the one and only Mike Cotayo. Mike has been captivating audiences for over 20 years through his stand-up routines that are heavily centered around his own personal pain and story.

To this day, he struggles to use the left side of his body and, like many a suffering artist, has a voice textured by years of succumbing to the struggles of drug addiction, alcoholism, and an uncompromising diagnosis of HIV. He says that comedy and tragedy often go hand-in-hand so why not use his story to bring joy to others!

Mike will take a deep dive into his journey from being in a car accident at 18 months and being diagnosed with cerebral palsy to winning the Apollo in New York City. You'll also hear how contracting HIV at age 24 sent him into being a full-blown addict at age 25 to ultimately turning his life around one laugh at a time.

This episode features the ups and downs of addiction and how anyone can get sober if they are determined enough to make it happen. His style is the perfect blend of high-energy, quick wit, and genuine encouragement.

We hope this show brings you joy and lifts your spirits. Mike has a beautiful way of allowing others to laugh at even the deepest pains or toughest moments in their lives. If this conversation brings you a new level of healing we would love to hear about it! Reach out to us or our guests via the links below.

More Of What's Inside:

How Mike became a stand up comedian
Mike's struggles with depression and anxiety.
Mike's first relapse in 2002
Incorporating mental health/illness into stand up
How anger is a secondary emotion, not a core emotion.
Mike's tips for managing anger
Mike's tips for managing anxiety
Why we all need more laughter in 2022
And much more!

GUEST LINKS:

Website - Home | Funny Man Mike

Twitter - https://twitter.com/FunnyManMike76

Facebook - Mike Cotayo-Comedy at its Crippling Best

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/funnymanmike76

Tiktok - Visit TikTok to discover profiles!

LINKS:

Episode Minute By Minute:

0:02 A look into today's episode
1:25 Thank you to today's sponsors
2:18 Get to know Mike Cotayo
5:44 Everyone needs a little more laughter
9:00 A look into Mike's stand-up comedy journey
14:29 What made Mike get sober
21:35 Turning your personal pain into healthy comedy
25:11 What typically triggers relapses
29:00 Mike's tips for staying mentally healthy
37:16 The power of taking a deep breath
42:48 Final thoughts and advice from Mike

84. Overcoming Breast Cancer and Finding Purpose with Marva Bailer Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

Welcome back to Warriors Unmasked! Fair warning, this episode could have gone on for at least four more hours. It feels like 40+ minutes is just scratching the surface of what today's guest has to offer. When you're left wanting more, don't say we didn't warn you! Be sure to check out the links below to find more ways to connect with anyone from our podcast episodes.

Today we welcome breast cancer survivor, successful Tech Executive, Technology Association of George's Leader of The Year for large enterprise, author, and mother, Marva Baylor Marvel! This episode will take you from sadness, heartbreak, compassion, and empathy to being transformed by hope, awareness, happiness, and complete empowerment.

Marva infuses positive energy with her recent, real-world perspective gained through her career as a sales and marketing leader, from startups to blue chip brands, including IBM, Amazon, and Splunk. Currently, in her role at Twilio, Marva serves as vice president of revenue for the social impact company.

She is a true professional and has wisdom everyone can learn from. However, what makes her journey even more inspiring is how she overcame breast cancer and is helping others find hope and real solutions who may find themselves in a similar situation.

We can all agree that no one ever wants to hear the "C word" - Cancer. However, for Marva, this topic came with several past traumatic events. After losing her Mother, Father and many other loved ones to Cancer the diagnosis hit her hard.

Hear how she rose to the occasion, educated herself about treatment and options, and used her skill of asking great questions, and her gut feeling to find her best path for healing. Hit play to hear the full story!

More Of What's Inside:

How cancer changed every for Marva
What it's like to have radiation
A look into Marva's professional history
Why it's so important to take the spotlight off yourself
Mental health during the 45 days of radiation.
Marva's renewed purpose and risk profile
Healing from past pain and trauma
The importance of your existence
Why the world needs YOU!
And much more!

GUEST LINKS:

LINKS:

Episode Minute By Minute:

0:02 A look into today's episode
1:35 Thank you to today's sponsor
4:35 When Marva got the diagnoses
16:16 What makes cancer so complex
22:00 Marva's treatment journey
29:47 Clairvoyant experience with radiation
34:00 Life after healing for Marva
43:33 It's time to take off your mask

83. The Facebook Narcissist: Understanding The Effects of Social Media with Lena Derhally Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

In 2022, it's no secret that social media may not be all it's cracked up to be…

Today we are going to take a little bit of a different approach. Typically we highlight stories of people that have battled through mental health issues and come out the other side by great perseverance and courage. In this episode we're going to talk about some of the things in today's society as it relates to social media and the effects it has on our kids, young adults and even older generations.

We couldn't imagine tackling such an important topic without the one and only Lena Derhally. Lena is a licensed psychotherapist certified in Imago Relationship Therapy and the author of the book "The Facebook Narcissist" where she takes a deep dive into narcissism and the role of social media and the decline in global mental health.

This episode is bound to take you from frustration, sadness and anger to feeling hope, a little more educated, completely aware, and totally empowered. If you have kids or know someone who is a parent, we invite you to share this episode with them! By the end of our conversation, you'll see why we need to help spread the word to protect and serve the younger generations.

Even though there is a dark underbelly to social media, that doesn't mean that using technology to connect with people is a bad thing. We are so thankful to have a podcast like this! We aren't kidding when we say it's a true honor to spend time with you each and every week. If you want to connect more, we would love to hear from you. Reach out to us or Lena via the links below!

More Of What's Inside:

Important conversations you need to have with your kids
What has changed most in the last 100 years
Likes and comments have nothing to do with your personal worth
Life is more than just what you look like physically
The definition of narcissism and how it shows up in culture
The exodus of social media from the most secure and grounded adults
How social media relate to people in their 40s and 50s
And much more!

GUEST LINKS:

LINKS:

Episode Minute By Minute:

0:02 What's inside this powerful conversation
1:26 Thank you to today's sponsors
3:16 Get to know Lena Derhally
4:36 Why Lena started studying narcissism
10:15 Everyone wants to be loved
14:22 The unstable standard of beauty in 2022
21:40 How to navigate social media with your kids
27:55 The true effects of social media
43:00 Life is all about connection and relationships

82. From Tragedy To Testimony: Turner Syndrome Awareness with April Fore Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

Trigger warning: In this episode, our guest shares her journey with the loss of her unborn daughter. If you or someone you love has recently experienced a miscarriage or the tragic loss of a child, please feel free to skip this episode during your healing process. We have 80+ other powerful conversations to enjoy at www.warriorsunmasked.com

Welcome back to another episode of Warriors Unmasked! Today while Clint is out changing the world, Chuck sits down with author, mother, and woman of extraordinary faith, April Fore. April will take a deep dive into her journey from living a fun life as a nanny to finding out she was expecting a child of her own.

It wasn't long after the exciting news that April found herself at the Doctors office for a routine checkup where she would learn her future daughter had Turner Syndrome. (A Chromosomal disorder in which a female is partially or completely missing an X chromosome)

This devastating diagnosis would ultimately result in the loss of her unborn daughter…

However, the story does not end there. Through the power of prayer, her faith in God the creator, and the understanding that all things, even the deepest pain of losing a child could result in a beautiful testimony if she did not give up and stay in her pain and depression.

Hit play to hear the exact steps April took to turn her tragedy into a testimony, how you can help spread awareness of Turner Syndrome, practical ways to heal and build your faith and so much more! To learn more about April, and how her daughter's legacy is changing lives all over the world, or to connect with us follow the links below!

More Of What's Inside:

How April managed her anger with God
Finding the good in any situation
The true power of prayer
Pain can have a beautiful purpose
We are all God's children
Turner Syndrome Awareness
Letting others have their own healing journey
A look into April's next book
Have faith even if it looks bad
And much more!

GUEST LINKS:

LINKS:

Episode Minute By Minute:

0:02 A look into today's episode
1:28 Thank you to today's sponsors
2:24 Get to know April Fore
5:26 When April heard the diagnosis
12:23 The importance of staying active
21:00 Handling life after the loss of a child
26:16 Overcoming depression and bad coping habits
33:00 We are all perfect just the way we are
37:33 How April learned to love after loss
44:55 The importance of feeling your feelings

81. Heroic Impact: Why Others Need You To Pursue Your Dreams Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

What if following your dreams is even more important than you thought?

That's a reality today's guest has found to be true.

On today's episode of Warriors Unmasked, we introduce you to the one and only Steven H. Manchester. The word "hero" doesn't seem to cut it when describing this man.

After returning home from a difficult military tour of duty in "Operation Desert Storm" in 1991, Steven stepped back behind the walls of a Massachusetts penitentiary where he battled each day as a prison investigator.

Needless to say, there was great negativity in his life at that time, and very little opportunity to heal from his wartime demons (or pursue his dreams of being a published author.) Shortly after, he got away from the noise of life to find inner peace.

From there, he fulfilled his dream of becoming a writer, and now countless lives have been positively impacted through his works! That's why it is so important for each of us to pursue the dreams and passions of our hearts. Can you imagine the impact we could make?

Hit play to learn more about his criminal justice career, his time in the United States military, a look into his family life, and more. This episode is bound to take you from feeling hurt, empathy, heartbreak, and discouragement to being full of honesty, hope, encouragement, peace, and completeness.

To connect more with Chuck, Clint, or Steven, follow the links below!

More Of What's Inside: