Bully This - A Hero's Journey
A podcast from two guys who survived hard times, how they got through it and became successful adults, and how you can, too.Astonished by the cruelty and suffering captured by the documentary film “Bully,” Tyler Copenhaver-Heath immediately knew he had to be a part of the solution. But how? His friend, Clifford Starks, also wanted to join the effort, so they started talking about how to help put a stop to the unwanted, intentional, and repeated attacks bullying victims endure: shoving, rumors, name-calling, exclusion, cyberbullying, and more.For the men, the mission is personal. The successful entrepreneurs, ASU grads, and martial arts training partners (Starks is a professional middleweight fighter), grew up knowing adversity. Copenhaver-Heath barely had enough money to get by. And Starks was among the one in five youth in the United States who experience bullying.Acutely aware of the pain, shame, and damage bullying causes, they want children and families to know that there is always help, that there’s always a solution.“It’s maddening to me that any child had to suffer the way Alex Libby and other students did in the documentary ‘Bully’ by Lee Hirsch. Punched. Shoved. Poked. Called names. Isolated. Deeply alone and with his suffering invisible to a school staff that failed him, he withdrew from friends, family, and his grades slipped. He was giving up. Imagine how much sooner children will reach their full potential when they’re full of confidence and curiosity, instead of dread and worry? Helping just one kid hang on through a tough time would be amazing. And if we help one, more are sure to follow. The magnitude of that is awe-inspiring,” Copenhaver-Heath said.The podcast “Bully This” brings the two men together, along with experts in the field, to talk about their individual life experiences, bringing forward proven insights children and families can put to use right away to make a difference. Former bullies and bullying victims alike will share how they made the journey from troubled youth to successful adults, and what it is they think would have made a difference.Statistics link bullying to increased life struggles, including mental health, substance use, poor eating habits, sleep disruptions, and more. They also show bullied kids are themselves at risk of becoming bullies, and that bullies also need intervention – role modeling and tangible skills they can use to build confidence, empathy and meaningful friendships.Not ones to sit on the sidelines, the Copenhaver-Heath and Starks are stepping out of the training ring and onto the airwaves to fight for those who may feel they can’t fight for themselves.“Bully This” brings real-life techniques and inspiration to help young people and their families feel seen, heard, included, experience kindness and gain positive reinforcement – key strategies in bullying prevention.Through their podcast, Copenhaver-Heath and Starks hope to spread resilience one kid, one family at a time, to be voices that uplift and give strength through times of struggle.Stark’s will tell you “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” It’s a favorite quote of his from Robert Scheuller, and one he lives by.“Being great within is about being your very best self and treating others with the respect they deserve. It is also about knowing as a person that you deserve proper respect as well, and to come from a place of love and empathy,” Starks has said.Listen to “Bully This” wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
Episodes
Lisa Arnett's story is a testament to human endurance and the transformative power of advocacy—a narrative we had the privilege of exploring in our latest episode. Her journey through the foster care system, her fight against homelessness, and her triumph over abuse is an inspiring call to action for foster care reform. As we unpack the complexities of a system fraught with challenges, from the 'foster care to prison pipe...
When the melodies we cherish become the very thing for which we're ridiculed, the journey of a musician can be a battlefield of the soul. Shawn Mendes' story of triumph over those who once mocked him serves as the backdrop to our heart-to-heart with the remarkable Lenny J, who sheds light on his own musical voyage, the strength found in unity within the music realm, and the dark shadow cast by online trolls. Drawing from ...
When Taylor Swift turned the scars of bullying into the stardust of stardom, it wasn't just a fairytale—it was a roadmap for triumph. This season, we're kicking off with a bang, celebrating our ascent into the podcasting elite and our recent accolade for Best Co-hosts, all while preparing to unravel the success stories that emerged from adversity's tight grip. We're joined by Ryan Diaz, an MMA dynamo, who throws...
How To Overcome Bullying | Bully This A Hero's Journey Episode 8: Bullied To Hero. Subscribe to our channel for more bullying to motivational success podcast episodes like this. In this eighth, we interview Rachel Weinstock.
Did you ever wish for a hero that never came? Rachel did. But when her hero didn't show she decided she would grow up and be that hero for others.
Miss Rainbow Fairy has a superpo...
How To Overcome Bullying | Bully This A Hero's Journey Episode 7: Bullied To Writer. Subscribe to our channel for more bullying to success podcast episodes like this. In this our seventh episode, we interview Gail Cornwall.
What if you did something in your youth that changed your path forever? In a moment of gaining power, the bullied became the bully, however this experience would have long-lasting effects.
Gail...
How To Overcome Bullying | Bully This A Hero's Journey Episode 6: Bullied To Comedian. Subscribe to our channel for more bullying to success podcast episodes like this. In this our sixth episode, we interview Yasmin Elhady.
Yasmin is the first guest we would bet on over Cliff in the ring. A fiery personality, she is a vehement defender of the bullied people of the world. What the USA channel taught her about living...
How To Overcome Bullying | Bully This A Hero's Journey Episode 5: Bullied To PR Star. Subscribe to our channel for more bullying to success podcast episodes just like this. In this our fifth episode, we interview Rafael Brazon-Di Fatta.
Rafael shares how he went from being a bullied kid in Argentina to a bullied kid in California to a bullied kid in Florida. Rafael had difficulty fitting in until a chance occurrence ...
How To Overcome Bullying | Bully This A Hero's Journey Episode 4: From Bullied To Professional Baseball. Subscribe to our channel for more bullying podcast episodes just like this. In this our fourth episode, we interview Chaz Lopez. In this episode of Bully This, Chaz shares his story of how he went from being a small redhead kid to playing professional baseball. Chaz always loved baseball, although many people had told him h...
How To Overcome Bullying | Bully This A Hero's Journey Episode 3: From Bullied To International Model.
In this our third episode, we interview Kay Jay International Model.
In this episode of Bully This, Kay Jay shares how she went from being a tall girl dodging rocks from bullies to working with some of the best designers in the world. We often look at rare as a thing of value, think rare diamonds or a one-...
In this episode of Bully This, Jessica shares her story of how she went from being "back brace girl" to working with mass shooters. After enduring years of bullying, Jessica used her experiences to make a difference for kids going through what she went through. Jessica has a wealth of knowledge on bullying after working in schools and with kids. Her story sheds light on the fact that sometimes the bullied people have to u...
Clifford Starks started out early in life losing his primary team member, his biological father. This led to a lost sense of support and uncertainty. A large kid, he didn't begin to realize his true power and confidence until later in life. This led to his success as a college wrestler and eventually to a career in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Join us as we walk Clifford through the Hero's Journey; find out ...
Clifford Starks started out early in life losing his primary team member, his biological father. This led to a lost sense of support and uncertainty. A large kid, he didn't begin to realize his true power and confidence until later in life. This led to his success as a college wrestler and eventually to a career in the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Join us as we walk Clifford through the Hero's Journey; find out ...
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