Above Ground Podcast

Missing pieces of the puzzle can cause it all to fall apart.  You can create new puzzle pieces. Connecting the pieces can make a beautiful picture. The displaying of the picture takes epoxy, a frame and care. One misstep can cause the pieces to fall, and when falling to pieces, is it a piece that we are missing or have we put pieces together in the wrong order?

This week on episode one hundred eighty nine the guys discuss the pieces of the helping yourself puzzle. Putting yourself back together is a do it yourself, no one is going to save you project. The wisdom to be gained is outside, but integrating it is an inside job. Just like gasoline is only potential power and unless you pour it into a combustion engine it won’t do what it is intended to do. 

This we week we also mention the fine art of kintsugi. This technique of repairing broken pottery is an extension of the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, the philosophy of finding the beauty in transience, imperfection and simplicity. This great article from the blog, The Conversation will help you understand. 

Some questions to ponder this week; what pieces are you missing? What pieces no longer fit? Is ignorance really bliss when the pieces are falling apart? What do you recognize that no longer fits and are you ready to create new pieces? Does healing ever end?

Thanks for listening to episode one hundred eighty nine of Above Ground Podcast. We appreciate you listening . Please support our endeavors by sharing, reviewing and following. You can also support us at these upcoming events. 

Saturday February 4, 2023 Will is opening for Black Belt Jones, Psychomanteum, Same Old Rat at the Fuse Box 12 Central Avenue, Albany, NY. Doors at 7pm $10 support local music. No support, no scene. 

Sunday March 5, 2023 at the Sages Circle 443 Saratoga Road, Glenville, NY Nippertown's premier metaphysical boutique hosts, Timothy ‘TPP’ Parent and his book discussion and signing event at 6pm. 

TPP's book, Never Underestimate the Power of You, is a help yourself book because life is a DIY project.

Hope to see you out there in support of mental health. Until next week get well, be safe, stay Above.

Suicide is devastating. The aftermath often pulls apart loved ones, and their communities. Loss gives way to grief, guilt and even shame. Time can help you heal, but if you are not mindful, you can lose yourself. 

This week Above Ground Podcast speaks with Donna Thomas. Donna, along with her husband Bobby and daughter Shannon are the founders of James’s Warriors. James's Warriors is a non profit organization that provides resources and education to change the way mental health is perceived in the public and to reduce the stigma surrounding and preventing suicide. 

“You don’t just lose a child you lose the future”, says Donna Thomas. Donna speaks candidly about the loss of her son James. Her approach is authentic and heartfelt. She and her team speak to schools all over New York State. She provides a sense of peace and a mother's love. 

During her presentations she is raw and real. Donna shares the real story with her student listeners. Her students a presented with a coping kit that contains helpful items to allow for a break, knowing that we need comfort. "No one wants to think their child will die by suicide", expresses Donna. There is a disconnect between people who do not understand why someone chooses suicide. In those individuals who choose suicide, there is a pain that won't end and our lost only want that pain to end. 

Some facts about suicide. There is a death by suicide every 11 minutes. From the years 2000-2017, there was a 41% increase in suicide rates for ages 15-25 and was the 3rd leading cause of death for this age group. According to the CDC more than 90% of people who attempt and survive never go on to die by suicide, however. These stats are from the CDC, AFSP and OMH of NY. 

If you are interested in learning more about suicide prevention and volunteering please check out the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and their Talk Saves Lives and More Than Sad programs. Please go to the Suicide Prevention Center of NY State to find tools, resources and information to support the effort. 

If you are in a crisis please dial or text 988. For TTY users dial 711 then 988. Dial 1-888-628-9454 for our spanish speaking friends. Vets text 838255. 

We thank Donna and all our guests past and future. Thanks so much for listening this week and please check in every Wednesday for a new episode. Until next week get well, be safe, stay ABOVE.

The view of ourselves is shaped by many things. It is formed by our nurture. It is exacerbated by culture. It can elevate our egos or destroy our self esteem. Social media escalates the self-hate war with weapons of mass distraction and the algorithims only feed you a steady diet of doubt, fear and lack.  Is it any wonder that so many of us our walking around with a low self opinion? I don’t think so. Let’s open the meat jacket and see. 

Welcome to episode one hundred eighty seven of Above Ground Podcast. This week we riff on low self opinion, where it could start, how we can face it and create self esteem. This week’s title was inspired by non other than Henry Rollins and the track from the Rollins Band album, the End of Silence. That’s us here, silent no more. When Henry screams,” unable to express the pain of your distress, you withdraw deeper inside,” takes you by your shirt and throws you into the pit of self knowledge. But, in order to get to the philosopher’s stone we need introspection and a language to describe what it is we are really searching for. Let’s get in the circle and do the work. 

Thanks to everyone that came out Sunday to our first Mental Health Peer Meet-Up at the Sages Circle in Glenville. Nippertown’s premier metaphysical boutique, mind, body, spirit shop. We will be meeting again on Sunday February 19, 2023, at 1pm. Jamie is an incredible force, spirit and has created a sanctuary for the soul. Stop in to the store at 443 Saratoga Rd (Rt.50) Glenville, NY for all your spiritual tools. 

TPP is doing a discussion and book signing for, Never Under Estimate the Power of You. A DIY book for the ultimate DIY project, YOU. Join us on Sunday February 12, 2023 at 6pm in Glenville. Grab a copy and connect. 

Last week’s guest, Jean Trewhella of Movement-Insights at 100 Saratoga Village Blvd. Suite 10, Ballston Spa, NY 12020, is offering a free class in January to mental health professionals. Use the code “Movement and Health” when signing up. 

Thanks for listening and supporting mental. Until next time get well, be safe, stay Above.

“Connection is the opposite of addiction” says Jean Trewhella. The connection through the ceremony of dance is undeniable in many native cultures. Ceremonial dance is used to commemorate important events or to show praise. Jean Trewhella embodies ceremony and this week takes you on a journey to connect and dance the night away. 

Jean’s journey through grief and using movement as process started when she was a child. Losing her non-binary child, Ty, to suicide five years ago, taught Jean just how important her connection and love of dance was. Jean was surrounded by her dance family when she received the call about Ty's death. Jean needed to have an official prescription to dance. That way she was sure to keep dancing, to keep moving. Because she needed to keep moving. We needed her to keep moving. 

Jean Trewhella started Movement Insights to share the healing power of dance. Jean opened the doors at 100 Saratoga Village Blvd. Suite 10 Malta NY during the pandemic in 2020. Jean a engineer by trade, uses the healing art of dance to get us in touch with our own bodies and out of our minds. To emphasize healing through a ritualistic physical form of release. 

Journey Dance is a modality that allows the participants to get out of our heads. The gifts of grounding, freedom, sensuality, emotion and release are just some of the benefits to letting go and getting into our bodies. This type of dance and movement is facilitated rather than taught. Dancing without mirrors allows for a non-judgmental environment to reveal, recover and re-discover our natural and intuitive movement.  

This Sunday January 8th join AGP at the Sages Circle 443 Saratoga Rd, East Glenville at 1pm for our first Mental Health Meet-up Peer Group of 2023. We have not been able to do any of these following the pandemic and we are grateful to team up with Nippertown’s premier metaphysical boutique and sacred space to bring us together to talk about mental health. Come for conversation, connection and community. This is a peer run, peer led group and is not intended to take the place of professional or medical help. 

Return on Sunday February 12th at 6pm for an evening Discussion and Book Signing event with Tim (TPP) Parent to promote his new book, Never Underestimate the Power of You. Life is a DIY project and this is a DIY book. Join TPP if you are curious about healing and don’t know where to begin. Attending will be a step in the right direction. 

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode. Support the show with buying a coffee for the guys to help keep the conversation and connection going. Hope to see you Sunday if you're in Nippertown and until next week get well, be safe, stay ABOVE

This week we exit stage left from 2022 and look ahead to 2023. Wrapping up the holidays and the year with episode one hundred eighty five. Staying above is our goal and there are many keys to maintaining the ability and strength to stay. Look back, but don't move back. I am above, as are you. But, together we are stronger. 

Above Ground Podcast is tearing off the last episode of this calendar year and blazing ahead. I am Above, from the Swedish melodic metal band In Flames, is part of the soundtrack to our last three hundred sixty five days and this is the feeling we've been waiting for. 

Please drop by the Sages Circle on Sunday January 8, 2023 at 1pm for our Mental Health Meet Up Group. 443 Saratoga Road, Glenville, NY 12302. Sages Circle is Saratoga County's premier metaphysical shop and mind, body, spirit center. Sages Circle, fosters spiritual growth through a wide variety of workshops, yoga classes, psychic readings, reiki, meditation, metaphysical supplies, and much more! Check out their offerings on their website. 

Thanks for listening and until 2023 get well, be safe, stay Above.

Jamie the Mind Tradie was on a journey he embarked on at the age of sixteen. "I was a conscious teenager." Overcoming a tremendous amonut of childhood trauma. Then losing his eyesight in his mid-twenties. Jamie was a tradesman who has been on a mental health hero's journey. Jamie is going to be happy. Jamie has made a mantra out of those words before sight was not available. Building minds with trade,psychology and the art of living like a Mind Tradie.

Jamie Usher lost ninety percent of his vision, yet gained full sight into himself. In our conversation we cover how the man was built out of survival and learned how to thrive. Jamie is a 1:1 coach and is finishing his course work to become a licensed Psychologist. Jamie uses movement for mental health and posts videos for us to consume on the_mind_tradie.

Check out Jamie on the web or find his podcast. 

Thanks for listening to another episode of Above Ground Podcast. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to everyone. Until next week get well, be safe and stay Above...

It’s that time of year again when we welcome the ho-ho holiday spirit back into our lives. We run ragged trying to fill stockings with glee yet leave ours full of coal or worse, empty. This week the guys tackle the most wonderful time of the year and offer some tips for whom the jingle bells toll. 

Welcome to episode one hundred eighty three of Above Ground Podcast. The holidays leave many of us full of anxiety and dread. Our eardrums are taken over earlier every year by the sounds of Christmas. We have totally forgotten the Thanksgiving holiday and go right from Halloween into what seems an endless sleigh ride into the exhaustion and debt blizzard. If it’s not the wish lists that drive you to more eggnog than normal, it’s the current price of everything. From gifts to our mental health the costs are steep and you will pay for it all year long. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving you stress. 

If you find yourself feeling lonely, stressed and exhausted there are things we can do to fight off Rudolph's angry antlers. Take a time out for your self. If you find overwhelm under the tree, take a walk. Remind your mind that this too will pass with the snow and cold. Cherish the moments of peace when the kiddos drift off to dream of sugar plums dancing on your head. 

According to Boston University, ten million people are effected by SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder). SAD is a type of depression that starts in the fall and amplifies in the winter. These symptoms tend to resolve in spring and are resolved fully by summer. One way to fight the winter blues is to serve the community. Go out and serve food at a shelter, raise funds for an underserved population or cause. There are no shortages of toy drives, 501(C)3s or ways to help in Nippertown or anywhere you hang your stockings with care. 

Try not to be a Scrooge and isolate during this winter wonderland. Get out and skate, sled or snowshoe to your nearest favorite hot cocoa spot. Don't let the season be the reason your alone. Close your laptop, log off your Instaface and go people watch. Feel the stress melt away while you watch everyone else roast their chestnuts in line paying for things they can't afford, for family they hate the other three hundred and sixty four days of the year. Start your own traditions, adopt an elf like Willard and spread Xmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear. 

With the sincerest gratitude we are so thankful for all of you this year. Above Ground Podcast will turn four in 2023 and we are as giddy as a child on Christmas morning hoping for a Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and not a pink bunny costume. And if you are hoping for that pink bunny costume that's cool too. No judgement here. If you're searching for that perfect gift for that certain someone stuck back in an era before men talked about their emotions or were man enough to admit they had any, check out TPP's new DIY manual, Never Under Estimate the Power of You. You can buy the guys a coffee or send Nippertown a few bucks to help spread the news of the 518 music and art scene. They also help AGP by putting up our content. Send the gift of music to someone who needs to overcome the despair and mayhem of the ghosts of Christmas past. Make your yuletide bright and take us with you in your earbuds for that last minute Christmas Eve shopping binge and to all get well, be safe, stay Above.

"If I don't grieve in a healthy, active way, it will be a second death for me", says author, Judi Merriam. Judi's middle son Jensen, took his life December 23, 2011. When Judi couldn't find a book to help her along her grief journey she started the painful process of writing one. As the mother of not only Jensen, but two other children, Judi had no choice but to start the healing process. Judi's writing helped her do the work to emerge from the darkness with the help of grace. 

Episode one hundred eighty two of Above Ground Podcast this week deals with suicide and grief. Judi Merriam channeled the pain of losing her middle son, Jensen, into a memoir entitled, Empty Shoes by the Door. Judi's desire is to shine a light of hope into the lives of those who grieve, especially parents who have lost children to suicide. The journey of grief is such an individualized and singular road to walk. Speaking our truth allows us to move forward. "When we pretend it's something it's not, we can't heal", says Judi. Running away from the darkness constantly doesn't allow us to see the light. 

Shock carries us in the aftermath of a suicide loss. "Shock allows us to function, at first, when we don't know how to function." and Judi says it took about the first five months for it to wear off. This gave way to being angry. Anger didn't last long once Judi admitted how angry she was and allowed it to run it's course. People often do not recognize the carnage of a suicide death. Telling someone that their loved one is in a better place or that there is a plan for it can do more harm than good and often leads to a harder healing process. Judi will be missing her son until she dies and the holidays remind her of the loss with the empty place at the table. 

We often cannot make sense of something senseless. No longer asking why and constantly searching for answers, has given way to finding peace without all the answers. Jensen was a creative force and his dream was to be a professional animator. Jensen showed no signs that his life would end by this choice. We need to understand that dialoguing about suicide does not put an idea in someone's head. Quite the opposite, actually. So don't be afraid to ask if you suspect anything. 

Judi credits her memoir coach Marion Roach, for guiding her along the creative path and helping her craft a tribute as well as a guide to dealing with the grief of losing someone to suicide. Judi speaks her truth and is willing to sit in the ashes and brokeness of what's left behind with you should you want to reach out to her via her website. Check out this Schenectady Gazette article written about Judi and Empty Shoes by the Door. 

Thank you for listening to another week of Above Ground Podcast. Please continue to share, rate, review, subscribe and have open conversations about mental health. Everyone has mental health. Buy us a coffee to keep the show rolling. Check out TPP's new book, Never Underestimate the Power of You. 

Don't forget to drop by and see us at Upstate Punk Rock Flea Market on December 18, 2022 at Empire Live, downtown Albany. 

Until next time get well, be safe, stay ABOVE.

Someone tried to tell me something, don’t let the world bring you down, but nothing can do me in before I do myself. We are often our own worst enemies. Chris Cornell knew that at his core, his lyrics identify it, so  lets blow up the outside world and save it for the ones we can help. 

This week Above Ground Podcast drops episode one eighty one. Inspired by Soundgarden and their track from the 1996 album, Down on the Upside. Blowing up the outside world can help your cause and set you free. It can also hinder your growth. 

We are taught to fear the outside world. We are told it’s a dangerous place. We are force fed a steady diet of us versus them and to wall your kingdom off.  Blowing up the ideas of separation and division never sounded better at this point in the journey. The question is, is it too late to save ourselves? If it were, we wouldn’t be doing this. 

Thanks for listening to episode one eighty one. Please grab TPP’s new book, Never Underestimate the Power of You.  Tim’s DIY book about your ultimate DIY project, you!  

You can find Will’s single Memoir (Despair & Mayhem) on YouTube, Apple Music,  Spotify and everywhere you get your digital tunes. 

Please continue to follow us on Nippertown and all our socials.  You can always show us love in the form of coffee. Buy us a Coffee and help us bring our ideas to more ears that need to hear them. 

Thank you once again for your support. Until next week get well, be safe, stay ABOVE…

Someone tried to tell me something, don’t let the world bring you down, but nothing can do me in before I do myself. We are often our own worst enemies. Chris Cornell knew that at his core, his lyrics identify it, so  lets blow up the outside world and save it for the ones we can help. 

This week Above Ground Podcast drops episode one eighty one. Inspired by Soundgarden and their track from the 1996 album, Down on the Upside. Blowing up the outside world can help your cause and set you free. It can also hinder your growth. 

We are taught to fear the outside world. We are told it’s a dangerous place. We are force fed a steady diet of us versus them and to wall your kingdom off.  Blowing up the ideas of separation and division never sounded better at this point in the journey. The question is, is it too late to save ourselves? If it were, we wouldn’t be doing this. 

Thanks for listening to episode one eighty one. Please grab TPP’s new book, Never Underestimate the Power of You.  Tim’s DIY book about your ultimate DIY project, you!  

You can find Will’s single Memoir (Despair & Mayhem) on YouTube, Apple Music,  Spotify and everywhere you get your digital tunes. 

Please continue to follow us on Nippertown and all our socials.  You can always show us love in the form of coffee. Buy us a Coffee and help us bring our ideas to more ears that need to hear them. 

Thank you once again for your support. Until next week get well, be safe, stay ABOVE…