This topic here feels way too big to even address, dang, it’s huge. Earlier this week I planned a half-hearted attempt to do something about it, but then stopped. With the subject looming overhead, I tried to just move on with my daily activiti

Episode #27: Depression, Breaking the Chains of this Dark Daemon

Mar 25th, 2024 1h 21m

How do we even begin to define depression? Well, from where I sit it appears to be an unsettled emotional state that crosses over into a physical ailment, brought on by a belief of being held down or pushed aside. Under mild conditions we are p

Episode #26: Co-host Shequila Hoye...growing up without a mother, stopping the cycle of generational substance abuse, accidental overdose, the stages of personal change, depression, love queries aftermath, and being better off as a foster child.

Feb 11th, 2024 2h 7m

There is so much adhesive hardship in life, aka trauma. Within this vibrant episode, my dear gal pal Shequila and I discuss substance abuse, poor mental health, and more. Shequila knows the all-consuming grip of addiction too-too well, having w

Episode #25: Free CHAPTER TWO audio reading from the ADDICT book

Nov 26th, 2023 1h 11m

The complete CHAPTER TWO audio recording, read by Roger.CHAPTER ONE can be found in the previous pod episode #23. Chapter Two excerpt:(a poem) Mirror-Mirror Why Do You Hate Me So?Yes I see, yes Mirror I see the glass is clear yes I see…Yet Mir

Episode #24: LIVE event. Madison communal symposium on substance abuse. Nov 15, 2023 Madison Wisconsin

Nov 21st, 2023 1h 59m

Over 100 friends packed the room, and in excess of 250 joined the FB livestream. Without discussion, we sit amidst an opioid and fentanyl epidemic. National suicide rates have reached true crisis levels. Alas, addiction and poor mental health

Episode #23: Free CHAPTER ONE audio reading from the ADDICT book

Oct 8th, 2023 35m 16s

A read-aloud of chapter one from the new book. Partial text:My scars represent my best lessons…my stumbles hurt me, while teach me. Growing into the learned weathering of up’s and downs, aka residing in the middle, this my greatest challenge aw

Episode #22: Leaving the shitty life behind, all of it...the self-doubt, the depression, the drugs, and instead...the hope, the faith, the dreams, and the sunshine. PLUS, a book reading.

Sep 30th, 2023 30m 51s

Attempting to begin my life anew, I recognized the biggest challenge is overcoming the worst parts of myself. Beginning to claw my way up and out of that shitty hell, I found the need to silence the defeating voice in my head and go, just go. D

Episode #21: Writing a book with Sarah Young...losing weeks of writing...starting over...staring down life's trauma...printing...binding...hybrid publishing.

Jul 31st, 2022 1h 14m

Coach Sarah and I discuss the might of the written word…and what about the value of our stories shared anyway? Both regarding the writer awhile the reader, we consider the realities of publishing our life’s experiences…personal and professional

Episode #20: WTF is going on? Stuck...depressed...needing change...wanting a new life...well then, how? Here I get real...hyper-real, and bare all. I hold back nothing.

Jul 26th, 2022 26m 1s

Stuck? Needing change? Wanting a new life. Well then, how?Here I get real. Hyper-F'ing real and bare all. I hold back nothing.Is it possible to get something else out of life...is it possible...is it really?Could I try something different? Coul

Episode #19: Co-host Charles. Keeping his sanity as a black man in America experiencing homelessness...mental health...Jim Crow...and mass incarceration.

Dec 30th, 2021 1h 51m

Charles won conference three times as a wrestler in high school and went on to wrestle in college. He graduated with a management degree from University of Wisconsin and achieved success in corporate America before getting divorced and experien

Episode #18: Co-host TJ. Self-reinvention...OxyContin...Heroin addiction...recovery & overdose...Len Bias Law prison time...finding our way.

Oct 28th, 2021 2h 6m

This one goes deep and fast: addiction, recovery, overdose, and self-reinvention. TJ and I are both addicts and share some of our experiences. Comparing ourselves to ourselves, not others. Find our purpose, our personal truths, some blabber abo

Episode #17: Hard times...depression...darkness...suicide. Possibilities...sunshine...hope...getting up. All that is the Rollercoaster Puzzle Game, aka life.

Sep 26th, 2021 21m 20s

I am engaged in a battle to make my own life. We all are. I attempt to live more like I desire, and less like I do not. We all do. Our frightening memories haunt us, we bleed quarts from past pains. The chain of yesterday is incarcerating, drag

Episode #16: Co-host Matt Halpern. Rockstar drummer for PERIPHERY...deep thinker...avoiding a drug addiction...parental problems...master of intentional living.

Jun 24th, 2021 1h 37m

Matt Halpern, an incredibly savvy and accomplished businessman at the well-versed age of 38, ridiculously focused and disciplined since four years old, and hyper-talented with almost every one of his varied pursuits. As legit rockstar drummer w

Episode #15: Co-host JT Frank from Consequence of Habit podcast. Alcoholism...is there more to my existence than I'm living right now?

May 11th, 2021 1h 54m

Episode 15 features JT Frank, on loan from his podcast show “Consequence of Habit”. JT challenges us all with his statements, “Is there more to my existence than I’m living right now?” and that we are “Harming ourselves by making ourselves fee

Episode #14: Co-host Brian Ehrlich from SOULCRAFT podcast. Living with intention and truth.

Apr 30th, 2021 59m 51s

Living with truth and intention. Brian Ehrlich and I discuss a multitude of deep life topics during this recent chat on his SOULCRAFT podcast. We may miss the opportunity to stay balanced in the middle of our life's struggles, either in conflic

Episode #13: In between the hardship is goodness...behind the clouds is the sun.

Jan 28th, 2021 23m 4s

This episode is dedicated to my buddy Tyler and my friend JP. Two amazing young men, with endless possibilities but currently struggling to find their way… My heart goes out to you guys and all the guys and girls like you… It’s hard, it’s alway

Episode #12: Co-host Spencer Ploessl. The River of Life...business branding, marketing, and social media...simplifying life...prioritizing life paths.

Jan 25th, 2021 2h 17m

The River of Life, Episode #12 with co-host Spencer Ploessl.If you have never listened to our podcast before, I will give a brief overview: my varying co-hosts flip a coin that decides who asks the first question. We then go back and forth and

Episode #11: Co-host Speedy Pete Laubmeier. Doing right by his family, helping others, and off-road motorcycle racing.

Dec 3rd, 2020 1h 59m

I am thrilled to welcome Speedy Pete Laubmeier as my co-host for episode #11. Speedy Pete is one of the deepest and most caring humans I know. Pete always puts his family first, then helping others second, and third, his dirt bike motorcycle. S

Episode #10: Co-host John Stamstad. One of the most pioneering and accomplished ultra-athlete on the planet. Depression...addiction...alcoholism...re-inventing thyself, and trying to be mindful of it all.

Oct 25th, 2020 2h 10m

There are people who run and/or cycle, and then there are runners and cyclists.There are runners and cyclists, and then there are racers of those two demanding sports.There are racers running and cycling who are competitive, and then there are

Episode #9: Co-host Dennis Dodson. Part two conclusion after his 2,500- mile bike ride fundraiser.

Oct 17th, 2020 1h 36m

There are those people who are thinkers, and then there are others who are doers. Dennis Dodson is both, but there have been many ups and downs along the way. With a master’s degree in Cultural Sociology and enough life adventures to fill a sma

Episode #8: Co-host Dennis Dodson. Part one after his 2,500 mile fundraiser bike ride to Washington DC benefitting for Native causes. Trauma...life hardship.

Oct 5th, 2020 1h 40m

Dennis and I reconnect after his 2,500-mile bike ride where he attended the BLM march in DC and raised money for Native causes. Dennis speaks of the multiple levels of adventure he had as well as a few ugly moments along the way. But he is home

Episode #7: Co-host Ray Petro. Self reinvention...living a new life from a wheelchair as a quadriplegic. Addiction...Cocaine...alcoholism...carpentry...Ray's Indoor Mountainbike Parks...making a difference...making friendships that last.

Aug 27th, 2020 1h 32m

We all face our own trauma. There is no measurable comparison of pain. I started this podcast show to openly discuss the harsh realities of life rarely spoken of. Ray lived a happy-go-lucky life in his younger years, but his alcohol and drug ad

Episode #6: Co-hosted with Sarah Young. Integrity, personal truths, lies, work, and happily ever after.

Aug 14th, 2020 1h 49m

We discuss our collective ability to have conversations, engaging with others who hold different views, and the concept of divine discontent.Much of the talk focuses around integrity and truth as we push and strive to succeed, both for the bene

Episode #5: Co-hosted with David Tambeaux. Mental health...kids...work crap...home crap...living our best damn life.

Jul 31st, 2020 2h 12m

Episode #5 features my co-host and Baltimore buddy, David Tambeaux. We discuss taking a head-on approach to life, relationships, and work, as well as the critical nature of a solid foundation of truth and great communication. David shares his s

Episode #4: Co-host Laird Knight: Vietnam...Heroin...Alcoholism. Sharing our purpose to the world. TRUE LOVE: fact or fiction? Pushing through the pain and trauma to our best lives.

Jul 23rd, 2020 1h 54m

My co-host Laird Knight is a husband, father, works as a realtor in Morgantown, WV USA, he invented 24-hour mountain bike racing in 1992, and he is in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Laird grew up as an Army Brat to a father who was a Vietnam c