Phoenix Wisdom: inspiring stories of transformation and triumph over suicidal ideation

"You don't have to stay where you are." - Pamela Topjian

In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom Podcast, host Janet Sandberg speaks with Pamela Topjian, a former nurse turned hypnotherapist, who shares her profound journey from trauma to healing. Pamela discusses her experiences with childhood trauma, mental breakdowns, and the importance of therapy in her recovery. She emphasizes the power of storytelling and the n...

In this episode , Janet Sandberg speaks with Lizz Luker, a mother of five and entrepreneur, who shares her harrowing journey through trauma, addiction, and the fight for her children. Lizz discusses her experiences with PTSD, the challenges of being a single mother, and her mission to support other mothers facing similar struggles. Through resilience and determination, Liz has transformed her pain into purpose, advocating for menta...

"Life is a film strip, not a photograph." - Scott MadererIn this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom Podcast, host Janet Sandberg interviews Scott Maderer, a stewardship coach who shares his journey from teaching to coaching, his struggles with mental health, and the importance of mindset in overcoming financial challenges. Scott discusses the pivotal moments that led him to seek help and how he now empowers others to find hope...

"I felt trapped by my past." - Micaiah Gray

In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom Podcast, host Janet Sandberg speaks with Micaiah Gray about her journey through mental health struggles, suicidal ideation, and the importance of faith and support in overcoming adversity. Micaiah shares her experiences from adolescence, including the challenges of growing up in a tumultuous environment, her turning points in seeking help, and how she ...

This episode is part of #Podcasthon 2025. Podcasthon.org is about convincing as many hosts as possible to dedicate one episode of their show to a charity of their choice and to release these episodes simultaneously, in a coordinated effort from March 15-21, 2025, creating a massive and international wave of inspiring audio content.

The objective? To raise awareness for a huge number of charities worldwide. This year, 1,675 podcasts ...

"Nothing is one way forever." - Tatiana Szulc

In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom Podcast, host Janet Sandberg speaks with Tatiana Szulc, a trauma and somatic wellness coach. Tatiana shares her personal journey through complex trauma, suicidal ideation, and the importance of healing the nervous system. She discusses her experiences with dissociation, the impact of her environment on her mental health, and the significance of findi...

"This isn't love, this is manipulation." - Darla Ridilla

In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom podcast, host Janet Sandberg speaks with Darla Ridilla, a relationship coach who shares her transformative journey from a traumatic marriage to a place of empowerment and healing. Darla recounts her struggles with suicidal thoughts, the impact of emotional abuse, and the importance of support from other women. She emphasi...

"Even in darkest moments, light exists." - Liz Buggy

In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom Podcast, host Janet Sandberg speaks with Liz Buggy, a life coach from Australia, who shares her journey through trauma, suicidal ideation, and the importance of seeking help. Liz discusses her experiences with counseling, the transition to coaching, and the significance of recognizing and preventing burnout. The conversation emphasizes resilie...

In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom Podcast,Janet Sandberg speaks with Debi Roberts, CEO of theOLLIE Foundation, about the critical work they do in mental health and suicide prevention. The conversation covers the foundation's mission, the complexities of suicidal ideation, the impact of medication on mental health, and the importance of open discussions about these topics. They emphasize the need for better resources and awarene...

In this episode, Janet Sandberg interviews Deborah Leblanc, who shares her harrowing journey through childhood trauma, suicide attempts, and the loss of loved ones. Deborah discusses her transformation from a victim of abuse to a successful keynote speaker and clinical hypnotherapist, emphasizing the importance of resilience and finding purpose in life. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of hope and the potential for healing, ...

In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom podcast, host Janet Sandberg engages in a heartfelt conversation with Andy Grant, an author, coach, and energy healer, who shares his profound journey through the darkness of suicidal ideation to a life filled with purpose and healing.

Andy talks about his struggles with suicidal thoughts beginning at a young age, revealing the pain of childhood trauma, family dynamics, and the weight of gener...

In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom podcast, host Janet Sandberg sits down with the courageous Mary Burmeister, a physical therapist and empowerment coach, who shares her powerful story of transformation from the brink of despair to a life of purpose and resilience.

Mary opens up about her harrowing experience in 2011 when she faced overwhelming grief from her father's death and the pressures of a messy breakup as a college seni...

In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom podcast, host Janet Sandberg is joined by the resilient Rachel Coleman, an author, speaker, and adventurer who shares her incredible journey from the depths of suicidal ideation to living a life filled with purpose and passion.

Rachel opens up about her childhood struggles with sickle cell anemia and growing up in a conservative environment while grappling with her identity. She candidly discu...

In this episode, host Janet Sandberg welcomes Jeremy George, a TEDx speaker and founder of BucketMatch, who shares his transformative journey through suicidal ideation and the profound impact of living a deliberate life.

Jeremy opens up about his experience with suicidal thoughts beginning in April 2019, despite having what appeared to be a successful life in New York City. He discusses the challenging realization that achieving s...

In this episode of the Phoenix Wisdom podcast, host Janet Sandberg is joined by the inspiring Dr. Jeannie May, a board-certified physician with expertise in geriatrics, hospice, and addiction medicine. Dr. Jeannie shares her profound journey from battling lifelong depression and suicidal ideation to discovering the transformative power of breath work.

Dr. Jeannie opens up about her early struggles with mental health, including a ...

In this episode, host Janet Sandberg welcomes Katherine Knight, a compassionate caregiver, coach, and advocate for those navigating the challenges of dementia. Katherine shares her transformative journey from overwhelming despair to becoming a coach for others facing similar struggles.

Katherine opens up about the emotional turmoil she experienced while caring for her mother and mother-in-law, both diagnosed with dementia. She rec...

In this episode, Janet Sandberg welcomes Stu Morris, a passionate advocate for neuroplasticity and cognitive health.

Stu opens up about the pivotal moments in his life, including the impact of his grandmother's dementia, the loss of his father, and his own struggles with physical and emotional pain. He recounts how these experiences fueled his passion for helping others through the science of neuroplasticity and how he found stren...

In this episode, Janet Sandberg welcomes Kevin Palmieri, a dynamic podcast host and self-proclaimed "ultimate cat dad." Kevin shares his profound journey from a seemingly successful life plagued by insecurity and suicidal ideation to finding fulfillment in podcasting and personal growth.

Kevin opens up about the pivotal moment when he realized that external success did not equate to internal happiness. Despite having a high-paying ...

In this episode, host Janet Sandberg welcomes Justin McSweeny, a passionate interviewer, philosopher, and advocate for understanding the human experience. Justin shares his journey from a tumultuous childhood and teenage years marked by depression and suicidal ideation to a life of curiosity and philosophical inquiry.

Justin opens up about his early struggles with self-destructive behavior and substance abuse. Despite these challen...