Peace Love and Bring a Bat

FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING: JOANNA PIXLEY ON TRAUMA, FORGIVENESS, FAITH & BECOMING WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE

What happens when your earliest memories are filled with abuse, fear, and survival—but you refuse to let those experiences write the ending of your story?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Joanna Pixley, mother of four, entrepreneur, former ministry leader, wellness coach, author, and speaker whose testimony is rooted in trauma, resilience, forgiveness, healing, and faith.

Joanna shares an intensely personal journey that began with severe childhood abuse and eventually led her through addiction, family estrangement, ministry, marriage, divorce, serious illness, single motherhood, homelessness, entrepreneurship, and a completely different understanding of God.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How childhood abuse shaped Joanna’s ability to trust
• Why she left home at only 15 years old
• The spiritual experience she says completely shook her worldview
• How a call from her sister led her into a church she never expected to enter
• The moment Joanna became convinced God knew her personally
• Why forgiveness became one of the hardest parts of her healing
• How releasing hatred changed her emotionally
• Her years as a pastor’s wife and ministry leader
• Why religious position did not guarantee a healthy marriage
• The medical crisis that nearly took her life
• Why facing death made Joanna realize she had been surviving instead of living
• How she describes rebuilding her health through nutrition, detox practices, prayer, and lifestyle changes
• Why she decided she would no longer allow fear to control her life
• How she raised four children through divorce and instability
• Why trusting God became a daily decision rather than a religious slogan
• The story behind her parenting book Making Disciples
• Why she is finally willing to publicly tell the story she once wanted to hide

FROM NUMB TO ALIVE

Joanna describes becoming emotionally numb as a child after years of violence and abuse.

She stopped trusting people.

She stopped trusting God.

Eventually, she says a spiritual experience forced her to confront questions she had spent years avoiding.

Days later, a sister she had barely spoken with invited her to church.

That decision became the beginning of a completely different life.

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

One of Joanna’s greatest battles was forgiving the stepfather she says caused enormous trauma in her childhood.

She did not pretend the abuse was acceptable.

She did not erase what happened.

Instead, she describes reaching a point where she could finally release the hatred she had carried.

As she prayed:

“I forgive him.”

Joanna says years of bitterness began giving way to something she had barely experienced before:

Joy.

I WAS SURVIVING—NOT LIVING

Years later, a severe medical crisis sent Joanna into surgery without knowing whether she would survive.

She remembers praying:

“Whether I live or die, I belong to You.”

But she also asked for enough life to raise her children.

That moment gave Joanna another realization:

She had spent years surviving.

She had not truly been living.

So she made a decision:

Do it scared.

Face the fear.

Take the step.

Stop waiting for life to feel perfectly safe.

BUILDING A LIFE AFTER EVERYTHING FALLS APART

Marriage ended.

Ministry ended.

Financial security disappeared.

At one point Joanna says she was sleeping in her car while getting hotel rooms when her children were with her.

In one of her darkest seasons, she held onto a message she believed God gave her:

“Don’t forget in the dark what I told you in the light.”

She kept rebuilding.

Today, her children are grown, her health has dramatically changed from those crisis years, and Joanna is finally sharing the testimony she once wanted to keep private.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Joanna’s seed is about becoming the person you were created to be.

Your time is limited.

Your story matters.

The goal is not pretending your past never happened.

It is refusing to let the past keep you from becoming fully you.

Let the work happen.

Heal.

Forgive.

Grow.

And use the time you have.

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #JoannaPixley #PowerOfTestimony #Faith #TraumaHealing #Forgiveness #Resilience #Survivor #Transformation #SingleMom #Healing #Authenticity

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GOD DOESN’T FORGET A PROMISE: OWEN WILSON ON FAITH, LOSS, MIRACLES & SURVIVING THE IMPOSSIBLE

What happens when life takes away what you prayed hardest to keep—and then years later gives you a moment that feels impossible to explain?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Owen Wilson, New Zealand Air Force veteran, aircraft mechanic, pilot, husband, father, and man of deep faith.

Owen grew up in the Solomon Islands as the son and grandson of missionaries. His life has been shaped by faith from childhood—but also by devastating loss, answered prayers, miraculous timing, and one terrifying flight that could have ended very differently.

In this episode, you will discover:

• What it was like growing up in the Solomon Islands
• Why Owen made his parents’ faith his own at age seven
• The heartbreaking loss of his firstborn son
• How grief tested his relationship with God
• Why Owen and his wife chose not to pursue legal action after their son’s death
• The promise Owen believed God gave him about future children
• How his twins were born at only 28 weeks
• The extraordinary Northern Lights moment that became deeply personal to him
• How a routine microlight flight suddenly became a fight for survival
• Why the aircraft engine unexpectedly stopped over mountains and ocean
• How Owen and his friend prayed as the plane descended
• The airstrip that appeared at exactly the right moment
• Why the words “Jesus Is Lord” stopped Owen in his tracks after landing
• How “Truth and Grace” became part of an already unbelievable story
• What investigators later discovered about the plane’s fuel gauge
• Why Owen believes timing—not luck—saved their lives

WHEN THE ANSWER ISN’T WHAT YOU WANT

Owen and his wife were expecting their first child when complications forced an emergency delivery.

Their premature son died shortly after birth.

Owen admits he was angry with God.

He questioned everything.

But eventually, he says he felt challenged to trust God even when the answer was not the one he wanted.

Years later, Owen and his wife became pregnant again.

Before the first scan, Owen told her:

“Don’t be surprised if it’s twins.”

It was.

Their twins arrived at 28 weeks and became what Owen calls miracle children.

I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN

A year later, Owen returned to Canada.

While driving the same road where he had once prayed desperately for a sign during his first child’s crisis, he again quietly prayed.

Then his father-in-law asked:

“Have you ever seen the Northern Lights?”

Owen looked outside.

The entire sky was alive.

For him, the message was unmistakable:

“I haven’t forgotten.”

WE’RE GOING DOWN

Years later, Owen took his friend Grant for a flight in a small microlight aircraft.

The engine suddenly stopped.

They were over steep mountains and deep water with nowhere safe to land.

Owen told Grant:

“Pray hard, because we’re going down.”

The engine briefly restarted, giving them just enough altitude to clear a ridge.

Then it died again.

Directly below them was an airstrip Owen says he had never seen despite years of flying the area.

They landed safely.

Nearby stood a windmill with the words:

“Jesus Is Lord.”

Then they met a young couple named Truth and Grace.

TIMING CHANGES EVERYTHING

Investigators later discovered the aircraft’s fuel gauge had been installed incorrectly.

The plane contained significantly less fuel than Owen believed.

He says if the engine had stopped only a little earlier—or later—they likely would have ended up in the ocean or mountains.

For Owen, the miracle was not simply finding land.

It was being in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Owen’s seed is:

Get to know your Maker before you desperately need Him.

Build the relationship now.

Talk.

Listen.

Trust.

Owen’s journey has taught him that God does not always answer the way we want.

But he believes:

God provides. God remembers. And God does not forget a promise.

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #OwenWilson #Faith #Miracles #Prayer #Testimony #Aviation #NewZealand #Survival #DivineIntervention #TrustGod #Hope

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GOD IS STILL INTERVENING: DANIEL FAZZINA ON MIRACLES, HEALING & THE POWER OF TESTIMONY

What if the hardest moments of your life became proof that hope can survive even when everything feels impossible?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Daniel Fazzina, author, radio host, publisher, and creator of the Divine Intervention book series.

A native Long Islander, Daniel grew up in the Lutheran church and made his faith personal as a teenager. Years later, that faith would be tested through chronic pain, a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, family hardship, and seasons when his world seemed to fall apart.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How Daniel’s faith became personal at age 14
• The back injury he says was suddenly healed during prayer
• His 2002 diagnosis with a grapefruit-sized B-cell lymphoma tumor
• Why doctors warned he might have only weeks or months to live
• The moment Daniel surrendered the outcome to God
• What happened when his halfway-point scan showed no tumor
• How his experience inspired the Divine Intervention series
• What he learned from more than 350 interviews about miracles
• Why suffering does not disappear simply because someone has faith
• How testimony can encourage believers and challenge skeptics
• How the Power of Testimony event came together after years of struggle

WHEN YOU CAN’T FIX YOURSELF

At 27, Daniel was diagnosed with a massive tumor pressing against his pulmonary artery and restricting his oxygen.

He pursued medical treatment, but one night in the hospital he reached complete surrender.

His prayer became simple:

If You want to take me, I’ll go. If You want me to live, I’ll serve You.

Three months into treatment, Daniel says his follow-up scan showed the tumor was completely gone.

A cardiologist later told him there was no scar tissue left behind.

For Daniel, it became more than recovery.

It became a calling.

DIVINE INTERVENTION

After returning to work, Daniel began sharing his story. Coworkers encouraged him to collect other extraordinary testimonies too.

That eventually became Divine Intervention: 50 True Stories of God’s Miracles Today, featuring stories of healing, near-death experiences, conversions, answered prayer, and other remarkable events.

Daniel says he included scans, medical records, and other documentation where possible—not to force belief, but to invite people to consider what happened.

FAITH DOESN’T REMOVE SUFFERING

Daniel emphasizes that faith does not make anyone immune to pain.

His life continued to include divorce, family struggles, caring for his father through cancer, and rebuilding after major personal loss.

Sometimes the miracle is healing.

Sometimes it is finding enough strength to keep moving.

THE POWER OF TESTIMONY

Daniel also shares how the Power of Testimony event on Long Island came together, bringing people from his book together to tell their stories live.

The purpose:

Encourage believers.

Challenge skeptics.

Give people hope.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Daniel’s seed is:

Ask God if He is real.

Be open.

Ask honestly.

Pay attention.

Daniel believes God knows how to meet people personally. You may not receive the answer you expect—but the first step is being willing to ask.

CONNECT WITH DANIEL FAZZINA

Book: Divine Intervention: 50 True Stories of God’s Miracles Today

Look for Daniel’s Divine Intervention radio show, books, and Power of Testimony events.

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #DanielFazzina #DivineIntervention #Miracles #Faith #Healing #Testimony #Hope #Prayer #PowerOfTestimony

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PRONOUNCED DEAD—THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED: JEFF MARKIN ON FAITH, SECOND CHANCES & THE MIRACLE OF LIFE

What happens when your heart stops, doctors pronounce you dead—and somehow your story is not over?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Jeff Markin, whose extraordinary testimony begins with a massive heart attack and a medical crisis that completely changed the direction of his life.

Jeff grew up on Long Island with faith mostly limited to Christmas and Easter. He faced learning challenges, family trauma, the loss of his father, business pressures, divorce, and years of putting work ahead of almost everything else.

Then, on September 20, 2006, everything changed.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why Jeff struggled with faith growing up
• How childhood trauma shaped his questions about God
• Why becoming a workaholic cost him balance in life
• The personal choices that contributed to his downward spiral
• What happened on the morning of his massive heart attack
• How his boss’s decision to send him to the hospital may have saved his life
• Why Jeff has no memory of driving himself there
• What happened after he collapsed inside the emergency room
• Why doctors eventually pronounced him clinically dead
• The prayer that preceded one final attempt to revive him
• Jeff’s description of an out-of-body experience
• Why surviving was only the beginning of his spiritual journey
• How Bible study, community, and asking questions transformed his faith
• The incredible connection between Jeff and his future wife, Tricia
• Why Jeff believes the greater miracle was not returning to life—but finding Christ

ONE MORE SHOCK

Jeff collapsed after walking into the emergency room.

Medical personnel worked to revive him for more than 20 minutes. His body had become cyanotic, and he says he was eventually pronounced clinically dead.

Dr. Crandall left the room—but Jeff recounts that the doctor felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to return and pray for him.

After the prayer, the medical team shocked Jeff one more time.

A heartbeat returned.

Jeff later underwent stents and quadruple bypass surgery.

THE MIRACLE WAS BIGGER THAN SURVIVAL

When Jeff woke four days later, he had no idea what had happened.

Over time, he began hearing the story of the emergency room and asking deeper questions.

Why was he still alive?

Why him?

Who was Jesus?

What did faith actually mean?

Jeff says it took nearly two years of church, Bible study, men’s groups, retreats, questions, and learning before he truly developed the relationship with Christ he had never known.

For Jeff, that became the greater miracle.

GOD WINKS

Years later, Jeff met his wife Tricia through Bible study.

Then came an astonishing discovery.

Tricia had been working as a nurse at Palm Beach Gardens Hospital the morning Jeff died.

Whenever the emergency alarm sounded, she and her coworkers stopped and prayed for the patient.

She had prayed for Jeff years before she ever knew his name.

FAITH TESTED BY FIRE

Jeff’s faith did not remove every tragedy.

Years later, his four-year-old granddaughter Emmy died from brain cancer.

Jeff describes moments like these as storms that force us to decide where our anchor is.

For him, that anchor is Jesus Christ.

Faith does not always explain why something happened.

Sometimes it gives you the strength to keep walking when there is no explanation.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Jeff’s seed is simple:

Don’t wait until your deathbed. Start now.

Find a community.

Ask questions.

Read.

Learn.

Show up.

Build the relationship before the crisis arrives.

You do not have to understand everything on day one.

You simply have to begin.

CONNECT WITH JEFF MARKIN

Jeff’s testimony is also featured in Angel Studios’ Miracle, Episode 8.

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #JeffMarkin #Faith #Miracle #HeartAttackSurvivor #SecondChance #ChristianTestimony #Prayer #Resilience #Community #Transformation #Hope

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FROM HATE TO UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: KAMAL SALEEM ON FAITH, EXTREMISM & CHOOSING LIFE

What happens when everything you were taught to believe collides with an experience of unconditional love?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Kamal Saleem, author, speaker, president of Koome Ministries, and former Muslim who shares an extraordinary personal testimony of radicalization, violence, faith, transformation, and reconciliation.

Kamal describes growing up in a Sunni Muslim family in the Middle East, being recruited into extremist activity as a child, and eventually coming to America with beliefs centered on conflict and ideological warfare.

But a catastrophic car accident—and the unexpected compassion of strangers—challenged everything he thought he knew.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Kamal’s distinction between everyday Muslims and extremist ideology
• How he says radicalization shaped his childhood
• His experiences as a child soldier and the trauma that followed
• Why fear, isolation, and belonging can make young people vulnerable to extremism
• The importance of separating people from dangerous ideologies
• Why Kamal believes America’s constitutional freedoms must protect everyone equally
• How a devastating car accident became a turning point
• What happened when Christians he had been taught to distrust cared for him
• Why unconditional love became impossible for him to ignore
• His account of leaving Islam and embracing Christianity
• Why he now speaks about loving Muslims rather than fearing them
• His hopes for stronger relationships between Jews, Christians, and Muslims
• Why reconciliation must focus on life rather than hatred

WHEN YOUR ENEMY LOVES YOU

After being seriously injured in a car accident, Kamal says he expected Christians and Jews to hate him.

Instead, people cared for him.

A surgeon brought him into his home.

Families prayed for him.

People helped with his medical and financial needs.

They even helped him replace his car.

Kamal describes this as the moment his worldview began to break apart.

He had been prepared to fight hatred.

He was not prepared for unconditional love.

PEOPLE ARE NOT IDEOLOGIES

One of the most important distinctions in the conversation is between individual Muslim people and extremist interpretations of Islam.

Kamal repeatedly emphasizes his love for Muslim people today.

His mission is not simply to criticize what he once believed—it is to reach people he believes may be trapped in fear, extremism, or oppression and show them another path.

His message:

Love people enough to see them as people first.

FROM TAKING LIFE TO GIVING LIFE

Kamal shares a deeply personal Christian conversion testimony, including what he describes as a spiritual encounter after reaching a point of despair.

The transformation changed the direction of his life.

He says:

“I don’t want to take life. I want to give life.”

The warrior mentality that once defined him became a mission centered on teaching, testimony, outreach, and reconciliation.

THE ABRAHAMIC TABLE

Uncle Dave and Kamal discuss their different religious backgrounds—Jewish and Christian—and the shared connection to Abraham.

Rather than using those differences as weapons, they ask a larger question:

How can the children of Abraham sit at the same table?

For Kamal, peace requires honesty about extremism while still refusing to dehumanize entire communities.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Kamal’s seed is ultimately about unconditional love.

People may carry different religions, histories, cultures, wounds, and political beliefs.

But hatred does not have to be the final chapter.

Show people who you are through your actions.

Choose life.

Choose compassion.

Build bridges where others expect walls.

And become a light strong enough to help someone else find their way out of darkness.

CONNECT WITH KAMAL SALEEM

Koome Ministries:
https://koomeministries.com/

Books include:

The Blood of Lambs
Ishmael Redeemed
The Coalition

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #KamalSaleem #KoomeMinistries #UnconditionalLove #Faith #Reconciliation #Extremism #Transformation #ChristianTestimony #InterfaithDialogue #Peace #ChooseLife

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TAKE A BREATH BEFORE YOU BLAME: JOHN HOLLWAY ON POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, RESILIENCE & LEARNING FROM FAILURE

What if the goal isn’t to eliminate stress—but to learn how to work with it?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes John Hollway, senior advisor at the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and senior fellow at Penn’s Positive Psychology Center.

John works at the intersection of law, criminal justice reform, psychology, resilience, and human performance. His work examines how individuals and organizations can learn from tragedy without immediately falling into blame.

In this episode, you will discover:

• What positive psychology actually means
• Why positivity can become toxic when it dismisses real pain
• How breathing helps interrupt fight-or-flight responses
• Why longer exhales can signal safety to the nervous system
• How preparing for predictable stress builds resilience
• Why intellectual humility matters in law and leadership
• What wrongful convictions teach us about certainty
• Why stress is not automatically a bad thing
• How support systems help prevent overwhelm
• The difference between resilience and simply enduring
• Why learning is more productive than blame
• How “fundamental attribution error” shapes conflict
• Why understanding another person’s “why” creates better conversations
• How police departments and communities can learn together after tragedy
• Why trust must be earned through repeated action

A SMILE MAKES A LOUSY UMBRELLA

John uses a Peanuts image to explain toxic positivity:

A smile makes a lousy umbrella.

If it is raining, pretending everything is wonderful does not make the storm disappear.

Positive psychology is not about ignoring adversity.

It is about developing tools, relationships, meaning, purpose, and resilience that help us navigate difficult circumstances without pretending they do not hurt.

BREATHE FIRST

When something unexpected happens, our bodies can quickly shift into threat mode.

John’s first tool is simple:

Breathe.

Slow down.

Make your exhale longer than your inhale.

That physical act can help communicate safety to your nervous system and create enough space to think clearly again.

You cannot always control what happens.

But you can create a pause before deciding what happens next.

LEARN INSTEAD OF BLAME

John’s criminal justice work includes sentinel event reviews—examining tragedies such as wrongful convictions, officer-involved shootings, or deaths in custody.

Instead of beginning with:

“Whose fault is this?”

The process asks:

“Nobody wanted this outcome. So how did it happen anyway?”

That change creates room for honesty, learning, and system improvement.

John compares it to football teams reviewing film after an interception.

The goal is not simply to blame the quarterback.

Study the entire play.

Understand what everyone saw.

Then design a better response for next time.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW

Wrongful convictions have taught John an important lesson about certainty.

Jurors can sincerely believe they reached the correct decision based on the information available—and later discover new evidence that changes everything.

That reality requires intellectual humility.

Be confident enough to act.

But humble enough to admit:

I may not have the whole picture.

UNDERSTAND THEIR WHY

John discusses fundamental attribution error.

When we make a mistake, we usually have an explanation.

When someone else makes one, we may decide they are careless, lazy, stupid, or malicious.

Instead, ask:

Why might this make sense from their perspective?

Understanding does not require agreement.

It creates the possibility of solving a problem together.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

John’s seed is:

Create more space before you dehumanize someone who sees the world differently.

Take a breath.

Ask why.

Listen to their reasoning.

Most people believe they are trying to make life better for the people they care about—even when their approach differs dramatically from yours.

Before jumping immediately to blame, see whether curiosity can move the conversation forward.

CONNECT WITH JOHN HOLLWAY

Find John Hollway through the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice.

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #JohnHollway #PositivePsychology #Resilience #CriminalJusticeReform #Leadership #StressManagement #Wellbeing #IntellectualHumility #Justice #Communication

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RUN THE MILE YOU’RE IN: WILLIAM THOMAS ON LEADERSHIP, RESILIENCE & CROSSING THE STARTING LINE

What if the hardest part of reaching a goal isn’t crossing the finish line—but convincing yourself to start?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes William Thomas, executive coach, leadership educator, retired U.S. Air Force officer, author, and marathon runner based in Singapore.

William spent 21 years in the Air Force before moving into higher education, corporate leadership, coaching, and entrepreneurship. At 42, he ran his first marathon thinking it would be a one-time bucket-list accomplishment.

Nearly 50 marathons later, running has taken him across 17 countries, all seven continents, the North Pole, and even the Mount Everest Marathon.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why William started running at 42
• How accountability turned an idea into action
• Why telling someone your goal can keep you committed
• What his first marathon taught him about preparation
• Why you should “run the mile you’re in”
• How starting too fast can sabotage long-term success
• Why resilience becomes critical when you hit the wall
• What finishing last at the Everest Marathon taught him
• How support from others helps us through difficult stretches
• Why long-term goals create momentum
• How William completed the Marathon Grand Slam
• Why achieving one goal should lead to setting another
• How marathon lessons apply to careers, leadership, business, and life
• Why the starting line can be more intimidating than the finish line
• How William’s experiences became his book Cross The Lines

RUN THE MILE YOU’RE IN

William Thomas learned one of his most useful life lessons through marathon running:

Run the mile you’re in.

If you are at mile four, worrying about mile 25 will not help you.

You need to handle what is directly in front of you.

The same applies to business, relationships, career transitions, and personal growth.

Know where you ultimately want to go—but focus your energy on the next step.

DON’T GO OUT TOO FAST

William learned another lesson the hard way during the Berlin Marathon.

He started too quickly.

By 16 kilometers, his legs were already giving out.

The experience taught him that excitement can cause us to burn energy too early.

Whether you are starting a business, taking on a new leadership role, or chasing a personal goal, pace matters.

You need enough left in the tank for the difficult miles ahead.

LAST PLACE IS STILL A FINISHER

The Mount Everest Marathon became the most physically difficult challenge William had ever attempted.

He completed it in more than 14 hours, finishing the final portion in darkness.

And he finished last.

But that produced one of his most powerful lessons:

The last-place finisher is still a finisher.

William was not there to win.

He was there to complete what he started.

Success depends on knowing what your real goal is.

CROSS THE STARTING LINE

William believes people spend enormous energy thinking about the finish line.

But often the most difficult line to cross is the first one.

Getting off the couch.

Starting the business.

Applying for the job.

Taking the class.

Making the change.

Once you begin, you can learn, adjust, and grow along the way.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

William Thomas’s seed is:

Don’t hold yourself back.

He did not begin running until he was 42.

Today, marathon running is part of his identity.

His reminder is that just because you cannot do something today does not mean you can never do it.

There are already enough people and circumstances in life capable of holding you back.

Don’t be one of them.

CONNECT WITH WILLIAM THOMAS

Connect with William Thomas, PhD on LinkedIn.

Book:
Cross The Lines — available on Amazon.

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #WilliamThomas #CrossTheLines #Leadership #Resilience #Marathon #ExecutiveCoaching #GoalSetting #Accountability #PersonalGrowth #Mindset

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STACK YOUR VICTORIES: RICH LAMONICA ON LEADERSHIP, RESILIENCE & SUCCESS

What if success is less about money or titles—and more about becoming a better human every day?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Rich LaMonica, 22-year U.S. Army veteran, author, leadership mentor, educator, and host of The Misfit Nation.

After four combat deployments and retiring from the Army in 2015, Rich took a full year to reset before beginning his next chapter helping veterans transition into civilian life. Today, he continues training soldiers, writing, mentoring, and sharing lessons on resilience and leadership.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why Rich believes success starts with being a good human
• How his parents and siblings shaped his work ethic and resilience
• Why looking up from your phone can change someone’s day
• The importance of creating personal rules to live by
• Why lifelong reading builds stronger leaders
• How mentors shaped Rich’s 22-year Army career
• Why leaders must meet people where they are
• How training prepares teams for chaos
• Why asking for help is a sign of strength
• How to “stack your victories” every day
• How Rich’s leadership style evolved over time
• Why listening comes before leading
• How The Misfit Nation became a platform for veterans and resilience stories

STACK YOUR VICTORIES

Rich encourages people to create momentum one win at a time.

Something will go wrong.

A plan will fail.

You will drop the ball.

The question is whether that moment defines the rest of your day.

Instead, Rich says to learn from the mistake, make the adjustment, and keep moving.

Today may bring 16 victories.

Tomorrow, aim for 17.

Progress builds confidence.

LEAD PEOPLE, NOT POSITIONS

Early in Rich’s Army career, leadership often meant giving orders and expecting compliance.

Over time, he learned that people respond differently.

Great leaders observe.

They listen.

They learn what motivates each person and identify their strengths.

Rich’s approach became less about proving he was in charge and more about developing people who could eventually take his place.

When your people succeed, the mission gets stronger.

TRAIN BEFORE THE CHAOS

Rich believes preparation matters most before pressure arrives.

Create procedures.

Practice them.

Test them.

Make sure the plan works in the real world.

When things go wrong, strong teams rely on training, trust, and repetition.

That allows leaders to remain calm and work the problem instead of becoming overwhelmed by it.

ASK FOR HELP

Strength does not mean knowing everything.

Sometimes resilience means admitting:

“I need help.”

Ask the expert.

Call the mentor.

Learn what you do not know.

Then use that knowledge the next time.

Rich reminds us that our weaknesses do not have to define us if we are willing to keep learning.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Rich’s final seed is powerful:

Do not make permanent decisions for temporary problems.

Dark days happen.

Take a breath.

Recognize that you are still here.

Reach out to your tribe.

Ask for help.

Keep pushing forward.

You are not weak for needing support.

Sometimes asking for help is one of the strongest things you can do.

CONNECT WITH RICH LAMONICA

The Misfit Nation:
https://themisfitnation.com/

Email: info@themisfitnation.com

Books: 13-Step Guide to Success and Out of the Darkness

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #RichLaMonica #TheMisfitNation #Leadership #Resilience #Veterans #Success #Mindset #Mentorship #PersonalGrowth #MilitaryLeadership

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SHOW UP FOR ONE ANOTHER: MARILYN MORALES ON 9/11, GRIEF, IZZY’S LEGACY & TURNING PAIN INTO ACTION

What do you do when life hands you trauma, loss, and heartbreak—and you still feel called to help someone else?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes longtime friend Marilyn Morales, nurse, 9/11 survivor, author, advocate, and founder of Izzy’s Legacy.

Marilyn has spent her life caring for others. She became a nurse at 17, served as a public health nurse in New York City during 9/11, survived PTSD, endured the devastating loss of her daughter Isabella, and transformed her grief into a mission of service.

Her story is about more than survival.

It is about showing up.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Marilyn’s firsthand experience as a public health nurse during 9/11
• Why she did not initially recognize her PTSD
• How aromatherapy, movement, breathing, and meditation helped her recover
• Why healing requires finding tools that work for you
• Isabella’s battle with a rare form of leukemia
• Why bone marrow and stem cell donor diversity matters
• How a lack of donor matches affects Latino and other underrepresented communities
• Why Marilyn created Izzy’s Legacy
• How the organization supports entire families facing cancer
• Why practical needs like transportation can become critical during treatment
• How Isabella’s siblings were affected by the cancer journey
• Why Marilyn believes we are more alike than different
• What NOT to say to someone who is grieving
• Why words matter when someone experiences profound loss
• How Marilyn turned grief into action

WHEN TRAUMA DOESN’T END WITH THE EVENT

On September 11, 2001, Marilyn was working as a public health nurse near the World Trade Center.

She helped triage people escaping the towers, cared for injured survivors, and witnessed events that stayed with her long after the day ended.

Later came nightmares, migraines, hypervigilance, and paranoia.

Eventually, Marilyn was diagnosed with PTSD.

She began exploring different tools and discovered that aromatherapy helped interrupt her triggers and remind her nervous system:

This is not happening again. I am safe right now.

IZZY’S LEGACY

Years later, Marilyn faced another life-changing trauma when her daughter Isabella was diagnosed at seven months old with a rare leukemia.

Isabella needed a stem cell transplant.

No one in the immediate family was a full match.

That experience exposed Marilyn to another crisis: the shortage of diverse donors in registries.

After Isabella passed away at only 19 months old, Marilyn and her family made a decision.

They would keep talking.

They would keep educating.

And they would keep helping other families.

Today, Izzy’s Legacy supports donor awareness and provides financial assistance to families navigating cancer.

PLEASE DON’T SAY THAT

Marilyn’s book Please Don’t Say That addresses something many people struggle with:

What do you say to someone who has experienced a devastating loss?

One phrase Marilyn wishes people would reconsider is:

“They’re in a better place.”

To the grieving parent, spouse, child, or friend, that may not bring comfort.

Sometimes the greatest gift is simply:

“I’m sorry. I’m here for you.”

Then listen.

Allow people to talk about the person they love.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Marilyn’s seed is:

Show up for one another.

When you see something terrible happening, do not stop at:

“That’s awful.”

Ask:

“What am I going to do about it?”

You may not be able to solve everything.

But you can change one thing.

Take action.

Help someone.

Give back.

And remember that underneath our differences, we all bleed red.

CONNECT WITH MARILYN MORALES

Izzy’s Legacy:
https://izzyslegacyinc.org/

Instagram: @author_morales

Book: Please Don’t Say That

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #MarilynMorales #IzzysLegacy #PleaseDontSayThat #Grief #911Survivor #PTSD #CancerSupport #StemCellDonation #BoneMarrowDonor #Healing #Community #GiveBack

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WORK IS NOT FAMILY: KATIE HADIARIS ON TOXIC WORKPLACES, BETRAYAL & TAKING YOUR POWER BACK

What happens when a job stops feeling stressful and starts affecting your sense of safety, trust, and identity?

On this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Katie Hadiaris, workplace trauma coach, HR professional, former recruiter, and founder of Work Is Not Family.

Katie spent 15 years building a successful career in corporate America before taking a risk and moving into a smaller company. At first, the move felt like everything she had hoped for.

Then the environment became toxic and abusive.

That experience destabilized Katie for nearly two years and eventually pushed her to study workplace trauma, nervous-system regulation, employment systems, manipulation, and recovery.

Today, she helps others understand what happened to them—and how to move forward without abandoning themselves.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why workplace trauma is real
• How toxic environments affect the nervous system
• Why “just quit” is often terrible advice
• Why leaving a toxic workplace does not automatically make you feel safe
• How institutional betrayal destroys trust
• Why people can carry workplace trauma into their next job
• The difference between stress, burnout, and emotional absorption
• Why high performers often absorb everyone else’s urgency
• How childhood experiences can influence workplace behavior
• Katie’s Traffic Lights of Tolerance framework
• How leaders can create psychological safety
• Why coworkers are not automatically family
• How to separate what is yours to carry from what belongs to someone else
• Why healing starts with naming what actually happened
• How one small step can begin restoring your power

WHY “JUST LEAVE” DOESN’T WORK

When someone is trapped in a toxic workplace, people often say:

“Just get another job.”

Katie explains why that advice can create even more shame.

People stay for many reasons.

Income.

Health insurance.

Family responsibilities.

Fear of the unknown.

Hope that things will improve.

And when your nervous system is already overwhelmed trying to survive the current environment, making a major life change can feel almost impossible.

THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS OF TOLERANCE

Katie uses a simple framework to help people recognize what their nervous system is doing.

GREEN — Regulated

You feel safe, calm, connected, clear, and confident.

YELLOW — Activated

Your system detects a threat. You may experience anxiety, anger, frustration, worry, or rage.

Katie suggests releasing some of that energy through movement, shaking out your hands, walking, or long exhales.

RED — Shutdown

You feel depleted, numb, detached, depressed, or unable to engage.

Gentle movement, stretching, walking, swaying, or humming can begin helping the body reconnect with energy.

WORK IS NOT FAMILY

Katie believes work should be understood first as an agreement.

You provide the work you were hired to perform.

Your employer compensates you.

Healthy workplaces can absolutely provide friendship, community, support, and belonging.

But expecting unconditional family-style relationships from coworkers or an organization can create emotional expectations the workplace never agreed to fulfill.

NAME WHAT HAPPENED

Before rushing toward positivity, Katie encourages people to identify their experience.

Was it betrayal?

Gaslighting?

Manipulation?

Abuse?

Broken trust?

A blindside?

You cannot fully process something you refuse to name.

Healing often begins by acknowledging the impact before trying to find the silver lining.

SEED FOR THE MAGIC GARDEN

Katie’s seed is:

You have more control than you think.

You may feel stuck.

You may not know the solution.

But ask:

What is one small step I can take?

You do not need every answer today.

You simply may not know the answer yet.

Keep moving.

Keep learning.

And most importantly:

Don’t give up on yourself.

CONNECT WITH KATIE HADIARIS

Work Is Not Family:
https://workisnotfamily.com/

Find Katie’s coaching and free workplace recovery resources through her website.

#PeaceLoveAndBringABat #KatieHadiaris #WorkIsNotFamily #WorkplaceTrauma #ToxicWorkplace #Burnout #Leadership #NervousSystem #WorkplaceCulture #MentalWellness #CareerGrowth

To support us:

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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547