In today's episode, we discuss the dangers of social media and how we interact with it.

By the end of this conversation, we hope listeners understand the tricks being played on users to get them to spend more attention than they should with their devices. Though this podcast centers around the negative aspects, we discuss ways to use these platforms more productively.

Feel free to share your thoughts and insights about how you view social media and what you think are possible solutions to function better!

Darin Davidson is an orthopedic surgeon. Darin founded Darin Davidson MD Consulting, which seeks to improve everyone’s health and wellness by integrating holistic principles within the traditional medical model. We can obtain the greatest well-being by combining the best available knowledge and evidence from all fields that contribute to human performance and wellness, such as medicine, psychology, sleep, nutrition, and exercise.

Jonathan Lubecky served in the United States Marine Corps from 1995 to 1999. Following the tragedy of 9/11, Jonathan joined the North Carolina National Guard and was deployed to Iraq. Upon returning home, Jonathan started experiencing nightmares and flashbacks. He developed a crippling PTSD, which was complicated by his head trauma. PTSD culminated in five suicide attempts. That should have been successful after its final suicide attempt with nothing left to lose. He enrolled in experimental MDMA therapy. The treatment eliminated his suicidal ideation and reduced his PTSD by 50% and his depression by 70%. Currently, Jonathan is the MAPS veteran and government affairs liaison.

Andy Vasily is an educator who wants to push his understanding of teaching and learning to a deeper level.

This conversation is a continuation of our first conversation you can listen to here. The first conversation covered Andy’s experiences related to travel, recovery, and connection. In this conversation, we expand on Andy’s inner exploration, starting with darkness in his life and experiences. Andy shares what works for him to keep the darkness from overwhelming him. We expand on the ideas of self-discovery and reflecting on your journey to help guide others on there own.

Ben Kapolnek shares the unfiltered story of his ongoing struggle with anxiety, depression, and trauma. From early childhood, he has tried to paint a picture of his thoughts. Ben's story is emotional, not only because he's one of my closest friends, but for every person like Ben, countless others share in this mental anguish. We hope that as we share more stories like this, we can begin a healing process for more and more people. For those who don't understand what it's like to have an invisible battle in your head. As a way to work this muscle, when you pass someone on the street, please take a moment and reflect on the fact that they are battling something that you know nothing about.

In this episode, our guest is Rachel Thomas. Rachel shares her story about a former boyfriend named Tyler who became a heroin addict in high school had a downward spiral into homelessness and prison. Rachel shares how the story has evolved and dealt with it over the last ten years. Tyler was found by Chicago based photojournalist Chuck Jines who captured some of Tyler's (who went by the street name Shaggy) experiences during homelessness that fills in the gaps from what Rachel share with us. I highly recommended you check them out, but viewer discretion is advised.

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Claudia Skowron. Claudia is a Mental Health Therapist specializing in adolescents and young adults. In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover many areas of mental health and ways of helping. One place we talk about is how the culture's openness has started to remove the stigma of speaking out about our mental battles. Aside from her work as a Therapist, Claudia is an avid traveler, usually somewhere else in the world every other week.

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Diana Fornaris. Diana grew up in Elk Grove Village, IL, and studied Therapeutic Recreation and Spanish with a minor in Psychology at The University of Iowa. To complete graduation, she moved to Baltimore, MD, for a Dual Child Life & Therapeutic Recreation summer Internship at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. Upon completion, she worked as a full-time Child Life Specialist in the Infant and Early Childhood Unit at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital for a year and a half. Although rewarding, the job grew to be something she found emotionally challenging. On top of that, she was battling severe depression and anxiety, later to find out it was bipolar type 1 disorder.

In this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Brian Peters.  Brian was a member of seven-time Grammy Award winner Paul Wertico's band for ten years. Plays 15 instruments, has played over 3600 gigs, has released 19 solo records and produced an additional 41, has worked as an audio engineer for 20 years. Co-hosted a radio show on WLFM 87.7 FM. Published 29 video games and pieces of software. Worked as an independent filmmaker and film composer, has worked in the biomedical field for 8 years, and has invented 10 brand new analog audio effects and designed their respective circuits and manufacturing processes, including a circuit once reviewed as "the best low noise buffer/eq circuit ever designed" and "the single most important secret weapon for an electric guitarist".