Above Ground Podcast

Gerrad R. Bohl says that he lives with suicidal ideation . Gerrad expresses his ideation is a visitor, that makes a stop under extreme stress and huge life changing situations. Gerrad has been living with these intruders since he was ten years old. This week he shares his story with us to wrap up September, and #suicidepreventionawareness month.

Gerrad R. Bohl is our guest this week on Above Ground Podcast for our last InnerView of September. Gerrad is an author, model, actor and dancer. Gerrad shares candidly his struggles with not only suicidal ideation, but his experiences as part of the LGBTQ+ community in a state like Montana. 

Suicidal ideation comes in two forms; active or passive. Active ideation is when an individual has the feeling and a plan. Passive is having the feelings, but not a plan. Yes, children as young as nine or ten can have these feelings also. Sadly, according to a Stony Brook University Hospital's post, Are suicidal thoughts common?, as many as six million Americans have had thoughts of ending their lives. 

Gerrad, shares how important it is for someone to have connection in their lives, even just one, can make a huge difference. Gerrad shares the story of how his parents, just kids themselves when they had him, had a tough go. Addiction, constant moving and the fact that he was an overweight, effeminate child, led Gerrad to feelings of not being safe and not wanting to live. 

We often judge our thoughts. When we live with something as stigmatized as suicidal ideation, we may judge our thoughts as dark and bad. This in turn has the affect of us, often viewing ourselves in the same light. A dark light. 

Gerrad focused his artistic talents to write, Good Oliver Dooley and the Palace of Keepers, his first fantasy novel that is a space that Gerrad wanted to inhabit. Good Oliver Dooley represents what Gerrad aspires to be. His characters are magnified versions of himself. 

Gerrad just released book two of the Good Oliver Dooley fantasy,  Good Oliver Dooley and the Quest to Save Hobcomney. Gerrad shares hope and light within the lush, Clovercomb Mountains of Northern England. Oliver Dooley goes on a journey of discovery and learning. Oliver fights for his life, just like Gerrad has done.

Gerrad is currently getting out of Montana. Book two of the Good Oliver Dooley series was just released. Please find Gerrad at the links below:

https://www.gerradrbohl.com

https://www.facebook.com/gerrad.bohl.9

https://www.instagram.com/gerradbohl/

https://twitter.com/gerradbohl

Thank you for listening to our final show of September and suicide prevention and awareness month. Above Ground Podcast has dedicated the month of September to this worthy cause and topic since our establishment in 2019. We appreciate everyone listening and visiting our online domains. 

Until next time, get well be safe, stay ABOVE

Our first repeat guest is back with a new ring, a new book and she is helping us elevate peer support. Valery Brosseau is back and the first time she asked us, is it in the blood? But now she is screaming the way out is through.

 We continue with our suicide prevention series with a bad ass story of how Valery went through and has a book of her poetry “through”. She has a lifetime invitation here at AGP and after listening to her you will understand why. 

Congratulations to her and Shane on their recent marriage. We wish them both all the best.  

It’s expensive to be crazy,  jokes Valery Brosseau. About what the cost is to have a mental illness, and run your own business. Val is a self contained creator of sorts. More humor and levity is necessary when combating stigma and allowing for people to see someone they might view differently. 

The universe will come together when you represent what the universe wants to reflect in you, expounds Val., In Through, her first poetry book, she opens up her hope chest and displays it in the rawest of view, for the world to see, to judge.  But judgement don’t matter when you are a black belt in karate and a purple in Brazilian jujitsu. I told you, she kicks ass. 

If you need one person or five people to pick you back up, there is no shame in any of that, expounds Brosseau. Self compassion she views as a key ingredient in healing and moving forward.  Setbacks will happen it is inevitable. The best response is to take a deep breath and explore your body, your mind. We are fallible. We are human doings. 

Little moments of joy and being able to find those moments she acknowledges is the second key to getting over a setback. The only path we have is to move forward.  Val was recently excepted into a Master’s of Social Work program and is pursing her dreams. Val says… “expressing is better than impressing.”

Valéry Brosseau can be found at

https://www.valerybrosseau.com

Val's book of poetry, Through, is available from Amazon.

Thank you for listening to another week of Above Ground Podcast. Sunday September 25th is the 2022 Out of the Darkness Walk for RITA. Taking place at the Saratoga State Park at 9am. Sign up with this link TO SIGN UP

Please come and join us in celebrating the lives of the lost and the survivors who carry on their memories. Walk to raise awareness and end the stigma surrounding suicide and mental illness overall. Sign up now and join us on Sunday. 

Please continue to share and follow us at all our links. Please support Nippertown.com, our partner in community and in platform. 

Until next week, get well, be safe, stay ABOVE

Our first repeat guest is back with a new ring, a new book and she is helping us elevate peer support. Valery Brosseau is back and the first time she asked us, is it in the blood? But now she is screaming the way out is through.

 We continue with our suicide prevention series with a bad ass story of how Valery went through and has a book of her poetry “through”. She has a lifetime invitation here at AGP and after listening to her you will understand why. 

Congratulations to her and Shane on their recent marriage. We wish them both all the best.  

It’s expensive to be crazy,  jokes Valery Brosseau. About what the cost is to have a mental illness, and run your own business. Val is a self contained creator of sorts. More humor and levity is necessary when combating stigma and allowing for people to see someone they might view differently. 

The universe will come together when you represent what the universe wants to reflect in you, expounds Val., In Through, her first poetry book, she opens up her hope chest and displays it in the rawest of view, for the world to see, to judge.  But judgement don’t matter when you are a black belt in karate and a purple in Brazilian jujitsu. I told you, she kicks ass. 

If you need one person or five people to pick you back up, there is no shame in any of that, expounds Brosseau. Self compassion she views as a key ingredient in healing and moving forward.  Setbacks will happen it is inevitable. The best response is to take a deep breath and explore your body, your mind. We are fallible. We are human doings. 

Little moments of joy and being able to find those moments she acknowledges is the second key to getting over a setback. The only path we have is to move forward.  Val was recently excepted into a Master’s of Social Work program and is pursing her dreams. Val says… “expressing is better than impressing.”

Valéry Brosseau can be found at

https://www.valerybrosseau.com

Val's book of poetry, Through, is available from Amazon.

Thank you for listening to another week of Above Ground Podcast. Sunday September 25th is the 2022 Out of the Darkness Walk for RITA. Taking place at the Saratoga State Park at 9am. Sign up with this link TO SIGN UP

Please come and join us in celebrating the lives of the lost and the survivors who carry on their memories. Walk to raise awareness and end the stigma surrounding suicide and mental illness overall. Sign up now and join us on Sunday. 

Please continue to share and follow us at all our links. Please support Nippertown.com, our partner in community and in platform. 

Until next week, get well, be safe, stay ABOVE

“How can I be thinking about suicide, when I preach suicide prevention!? queries  Andrew Leece on episode one hundred seventy of Above Ground Podcast. For our second Suicide Survivor September InnerView.

Our guest this week is, Andrew Leece. Andrew is a Board Member and Treasurer for the Capital Region Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,  Andrew is also, the co-chair of 2022’s AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk for RITA , on Sunday, September 25th at Saratoga State Park and he lives with passive suicidal ideation. 

Andrew Leece is a friend of the show, but he is also considered a personal friend. Andrew’s story is of the tallest engine that could.  Standing at 7’2. Andrew’s height equals the strength he possesses as a man with a mental illness to overcome his negative voice to end his life and receive the help he needed to save it instead. 

Andrew takes us through his crisis from a lucky appointment with his prescriber, which lead to treatment. From inpatient to outpatient and back into the world. Touting the help he received  from Four Winds of Saratoga, NY. 

“The work on your{model railroad} layout is never done and neither is the work on yourself” emphasizes Andrew. Andrew uses his love of model railroads as a positive coping skill and the momentary relief for his mental health. Andrew's life and       Train Kept A Rollin', because of his ability to ask for help, his treatment and his support system. 

If you or someone you know needs help immediately dial 911. If not in immediate danger, go to the nearest Emergency Room. Dial the new 988 Crisis and Suicide Hotline, 24 hours a day. Call your Primary Care Physician. Inquire with your employer about your EAP program, if you have one available. Seek out a peer group for your diagnosis or one that you feel would serve you. 

Andrew shares with us the struggle with his diagnosis. The roller coaster he rides and tries to hold on to daily. Andrew says thank you to some folks he states were integral in his recovery. Andrew speaks on the importance having the language to talk about your emotions, needs and feelings. Here is a good place to start with Byron Katie's List of Emotions. These lists are the best on the internet and her website The Work is a great place to start your journey of healing. 

Andrew is a dedicated Board Member and Treasurer of the Capital Region Chapter of AFSP. Sunday September 25th 2022 at Saratoga Spa State Park is AFSP Capital Region                  2022 Out of the Darkness Walk for RITA, with the walk starting at 10:30am. Andrew and Above Ground Podcast will be there for our third RITA. Come out and support, remember and celebrate the spirit of those we have lost. 

September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. 

Thanks for listening to Above Ground Podcast. Please continue to like, share, rate, review, follow and friend. Until next time 

get Well, be Safe, stay ABOVE. 

Since we established this pod in 2019, Above Ground Podcast has dedicated the entire month of September to Suicide Prevention and Awareness month. We share stories of survival. Attempt survivors, loss survivors and the dedicated individuals who help those make sense of an event that many see as not making sense. 

Our first guest this month is Kathleen Myre. Kathleen was a curator and editor for the I’m Possible Lemonade Stand 3 book. A series of books by Josh Rivedal (ep.144) and his I’m Possible Project. Kathleen became empowered to voice her truth after seeing Josh perform his one man show about depression and suicide. 

Kathleen survived a suicide attempt and is using her pain for empowerment. Kathleen found so much benefit for writing her first story for the first Lemonade Stand, she wanted to continue being an advocate and become co-curator for Lemonade Stand 3. 

Kathleen has worked with Carl Waggett (ep.114) on his Facebook Live show PTSD Bunker Gear for Your Brain.  Another friend of Above Ground Podcast, Rob Learhen (ep.94) wrote his story for Kathleen’s curation. 

Kathleen heralds the beach, writing , EMDR and therapy as tools for keeping her going. Kathleen’s family are her biggest supports and she loves riding on the back of her husband’s motorcycle.  

Please order the Lemonade Stand 3 to read all the incredible stories of resilience and hope. 

Tomorrow, Thursday September 8 at 6pm AGP will be set up at Spitzie’s Harley Davidson 1970 Central Ave. Albany, NY 12205. This is their Bike Night Finale with live music, food and Above Ground Podcast. Stop by and say hi to Tim!!!

Thanks for listening to Above Ground Podcast. Until next week get well, be safe , stay Above.

"Life is a three lane highway", says Pieter Van Winkle. The right being reaction. And, being creative and proactive in the left. In certain seasons of our lives we are shifting lanes. In others we are blasting on down the road. Life is a highway, leave yourself an out. 

It's time to get under the hood and get a tune up with Men's Coach, Pieter Van Winkle. Pieter is a Coach and Group Facilitator. Pieter believes in an examined life and taking responsibility for what you bring. This includes pulling the engine, boring out the heads, putting on a new carb with enough motor breath to kick yourself into gear. 

Pieter takes us through what seeking our truth as men is with our souls. Pieter likes being uncomfortable. Many of our problems stem from a lack of attachment and fear. The stories we tell ourselves is the fuel that makes our motor run. Make sure the give you juice. 

Peace and happiness our not the destinations. If they are, you always end up searching. Searching leads you further away from where you are heading. We need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It's like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Pieter can be found on the web at https://www.pietervw.com

Please come to Hangar on the Hudson in Troy at 6pm tonight, For the Love of Steven; a benefit for awareness of International Overdose Awareness Day 2022 (IOAD22) For the Love of Steven will have live music and raffles. AGP will be there with a resource table. $20 suggested donation. Hope to see you there. 

Special thanks to Nippertown, Kevin Maloney, Will Halem and Jordan Caslin. 

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

Scalpel, clamps, forceps, saw….  Grab your instruments and wash up because this can get dirty. This week we dissect honesty. Being honest with ourselves and with others.

At the end of the day you are the one that controls you. At the end of the day you need to be your greatest advocate. While searching for your truth you may find opposing truths. Your values may be questioned and you may not like what you hear but there are solid truths that are based on facts. Heal and grow,

Get to know yourself-What is your truth? Are you being honest with your self?  If your wish is for others to be more honest maybe the best way to handle it is by leading with example. Maybe by healing your wounds you may realize better ways to adapt and handle yourself. Realize the boundaries of your lane and know your limits. You are not the judge and jury on anyone else but yourself. Be respectful and be safe. Be open and be honest.  TPP

Thanks for listening to Above Ground Podcast this week. Will and TPP are so grateful for the support. Please come visit us this Saturday August 27, 2022 at the Summer on Central Concert Series at 2:00pm. The event takes place in the parking lot of the Linda at 339 Central Avenue Albany, NY 12206. This is the final week and is the Nippertown Final Four show. 

Then Wednesday August 31st, 2022 AGP will be at the Hangar on the Hudson 675 River Street, Troy, NY 12180

For the Love of Steven a For the Lost benefit to raise awareness of International Overdose Awareness Day (#IOAD2022).

Live music, raffles, awareness and remembrance. 6PM doors with a suggested $20 donation. Please come out and support this cause. See you there. Get well, be safe, stay Above...

Obituaries that read, 'died suddenly', often mean the individual written about died in a stigmatized and often shameful manor. Think suicide, or our topic this week, substance abuse and overdose death. This week's 518 guest, Sarah Lyn, discusses addiction, grief and loss, For the Love of Steven.

Our guest this week is Sarah Lyn. Sarah shares the story of Steven. Steven was the father of her daughter and two other grown children. Steven was a gifted and talented artist, father and friend. When Steven kicked Sarah in 7th grade, she knew he was special. Steven lived with ADHD, depression, anxiety and chronic pain. Steven died from a fentanyl overdose.

The CDCs National Center for Health Statistics indicates there were an estimated 100,306 overdose deaths here in the States as of April 2021. Steven's story is weaved into those numbers, but like every stat, there is a person and someone who loves them not seen in those digits. 

Kids pop pills these days. A false belief is that if it is in pill form and looks like medicine they see in their cabinets at home, its ok. Take Purdue Pharma. They knew this shit was addictive, but their business model was all about the bottom line. Addiction is a terrible disease, yet it's peddled to us everywhere. 

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more than morphine. It was developed for pain management of cancer patients and delivered via patch. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is linked to the most recent rise in overdose deaths. A street drug with heroin like effects, it is often added to other drugs for its potency and addictive nature.

For the Love of Steven is a benefit concert on Wednesday, August 31st at Hangar on the Hudson in Troy, NY with doors at 6pm. Featuring live music by Curious Comet, RaisinHead, and Lizzie and the Makers.

A silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and community awareness brings us together for this time to remember and time to act. Above Ground Podcast will be there with resources for addiction and mental health. 

Thanks for listening to this episode. Please continue to share, review, friend, follow and buy coffees. We appreciate it. Until next week get well, be safe, stay Above...

Resistance will hold us back. It can also drown you. When you fight the water, we expend all our energy treading. Where as, if you give into the water and trust, it will push you up. Be like water my friend, before we sing, Pull Me Under.

What's up everyone. This is one hundred sixty five of Above Ground  Podcast. This week the guys are riffing on resistance, whether your stuff brings everyone down while you help another. The guys talk about their love of pop-pop popcorn. 

When you need insight into your own journey outside voices do not hold the same loudness as does your own. The only catch is, you have to pay attention. You must go inside, be silent. The world is spinning without me. 

Listen you must, or lose you will-Yoda.

During the course of mental illness, a wreckage can be left behind. Intentional or not. Hurt people, hurt people. Until, you decide to not hurt anymore. Until you set the intention, and step into your energy. 

At times the spiral comes on so slow, it just gets behind you at the crosswalk. Slides in behind and then takes you over until you start isolating, avoiding. Self-care if not for the right reasons, can be a negative. Its like eating too much pizza (You can't eat it every meal, but I would every day). 

Thanks for listening to another week of Above Ground Podcast. A huge thanks to Nippertown, Pogo Beard Company, WAMC, and Upstate Punk Rock Flea Market. Hope to see you all out and about at the WAMC Summer on Central Concert Series, Saturday, August, 27, 2022 at the Linda WAMC's Performing Arts Center. 

A special happy 30th anniversary to Dream Theater's July 1992 Atco Records release, Images and Words.  

Until next week get well, be safe, stay ABOVE

“Anger is the response, when attachment doesn’t get what it wants,” says our guest the Venerable Robina Courtin. This week, Robina helps the guys understand what the Buddha can teach us about mental health and our views of the world around us. 

The Buddha was an expert of the mind. The mind being the cognitive process of learning about our thoughts, emotions, and feelings. Via self awareness and mindfulness we can start to unpack ourselves and that’s when the real work begins. 

We can mold our minds into any form we choose. We spend our lives often changing the outside in order to make us feel good on the inside.  Learning to reinterpret all that happens  allows us to reconfigure the way we see the world.  We must learn to observe all the thoughts and take back our power in order to be in charge of our lives. The Buddha helps us see, this is possible.

You may not be able to change the outside, but you can change the inside. The first step is for you to believe it’s possible. Your body and your speech are the servants of your mind, not the other way around.  You can’t change anyone but yourself. No more mindless headlock. 

The Venerable Robina Courtin has been an ordained nun of the Mahayana Tradition since 1978. You can find Robina Courtin  be  at the links below:

https://robinacourtin.com

https://www.facebook.com/robinacourtin

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZZvRQmnXU5SrxRFyHBM9UQ

https://twitter.com/RobinaCourtin

Thanks for listening to Above Ground Podcast

Until next week, get well, be safe, stay Above