My guest today is Bryn Miller is a adolescent psychotherapist who turned parent coach after a decade of working with adolescents with eating disorders. She loves working with adolescents and with parents. She believes in involving parents in the treatment of teens for the best outcomes (with research to support the findings). Bryn brings high energy and a bit of humor to her work. Her signature 5-step framework parenting program is designed for parents to get concrete skills to get calm, confident and connected.

Parenting is hard. Parenting a teen or young adult with a mental health issue - eating disorder, anxiety, depression - can feel downright impossible. And, the truth is, our young people are struggling now more than ever before. (Just ask the CDC.) You are not alone.

You have spent sleepless nights on Google. You have listened to all the podcasts you could find. You may even have gotten your child a therapist. You've done so much to help them...but you feel - no, know - there is more you can do. You are sick of feeling like you have to sit on the sidelines when you know you could be an asset to your teen in tough moments. You know you could help. You just need a little guidance, some compassionate support and concrete skills.

Website: https://brynmillercoaching.com

For additional resources visit us at: https://robbies-hope.com

Follow us on Instagram (robbieshope1), YouTube (robbieshope), and Facebook (robbieshope2018)

My guest today is Allison Mallory. Allison is a Mental Performance Consultant and case manager at Colorado University in Boulder, CO. She works in the Psychological Health & Performance Department with D1 student athletes. Alli is also working with Boulder Buffs a student-athlete peer advocacy group for mental health. Boulder Buffs promotes mental health and wellness through education and support for student-athletes. Their program focuses on the 3 R’s: Recognize, Respond, Refer

When it comes to athletes of all levels, we traditionally think of physical health as the top priority. Coaches want their players in peak physical shape at all times so that they can perform to the best of their ability–yet, many fail to think about the effects that mental health has on an athlete’s game. With collegiate sports in particular, athletes are balancing school, social life, and this time-consuming and physically draining job of playing a sport. College athletes are going through all of this while dealing with many other personal issues at such a young age. This overload of activities at the same time can cause a person to “crash,” and collegiate sports don’t take this into account. They are so focused on what the athlete can do for the college and how much money they can make that they often disregard what they can do for the athlete.

While professional athletes face the pressure of an oftentimes international audience, college athletes must balance similar pressures, all while maintaining their lives as normal college students. In addition, athletes are less likely than other college students to seek help. One study shows that around 33% of all college students will experience serious mental health struggles, such as depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. Among this group, around 30% seek help through college resources. However, of college athletes experiencing mental health struggles, only around 10% seek help. College athletes are ordered to be mentally tough so often that they never seek help when they face a true issue because they don’t want to show weakness or vulnerability.

Website: https://cubuffs.com/sports/2018/10/5/bolder-buffs

For additional resources visit us at: https://robbies-hope.com

Follow us on Instagram (robbieshope1), YouTube (robbieshope), and Facebook (robbieshope2018)

My guest today is Andrea Davis. Andrea Davis is a former secondary ed teacher turned screen-time navigator and youth advocate. She is the founder of Better Screen Time, where she shares family-tested ideas from the tech trenches as a mom of five. Her mission is to help parents take the slow tech road.

Andrea is the author of Creating a Tech-Healthy Family and is certified by the Digital Wellness Institute. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, and USA Today. Her website, betterscreentime.com, received the Linda & Richard Eyre ‘Family Is’ Award. Most recently, she helped her local school district design a ‘Team Approach to Technology’ and adopt a phone-free policy.

Andrea and her husband, Tyler, live in beautiful Hood River, Oregon, where they love spending time outdoors as a family.

As technology has become more integrated into teenagers’ lives, the time spent in front of screens has continued to rise in the United States. High levels of screen time have been linked with adverse health outcomes, including poor sleep habits, fatigue, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Based on research in 2024 there may actually be good news on the horizon when it comes to how much time our teenagers are spending on their screens. Currently, more than half of US teens spend an average of 7 hours and 22 minutes of daily screen time. Considering the amount of sleep teenagers need, that's almost HALF of their waking hours.

But all hope isn't lost. We're finally seeing a decrease in the average screen time for teens for the first time, well—ever. After almost a decade of increases in daily screen time and then a giant spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, we're finally beginning to see a downward trend in how much time teenagers spend on their phones and other devices.

Website: https://www.betterscreentime.com

For additional resources visit us at: https://robbies-hope.com

Follow us on Instagram (robbieshope1), YouTube (robbieshope), and Facebook (robbieshope2018)

My guest today is David George Brook. David – That Gratitude Guy, has been a speaker, coach, and best-selling author for over 25 years. He is a former Nordstrom store manager and managed in the corporate world for over 30 years. His published works include “That Gratitude Guy’s Daily Gratitude Journal”, “Monday Morning Minutes: 100 Messages of Gratitude”, “Six-Word Lessons to Embrace Gratitude” and a number of other books on gratitude. He was recently featured in Forbes and Costco Connection magazines, and travels nationally and internationally to deliver this important message.

“My Story: How I Became “That Gratitude Guy”

My entire life has been one of overcoming tragedies and traumas. What had been a relatively idyllic childhood, started to unravel at the age of 16 when my parents got divorced and I was forced to testify against my father. My mother had struggled with depression and was diagnosed as having a manic-depressive disorder.

My father took his life, my mother died of cancer, and I lost many other family members and friends. I unfortunately inherited some of my mother’s manic-depressive disorder and have continually struggled to manage my state.

On September 29, 1998, my wife Dana, died of a prescription pill overdose at the age of 38 years old. I found her on the floor early that morning. My son Connor was four and my older son Kyle was 14. I had watched Dana struggle over the past four years with three trips to rehab, countless relapses, and a trip to jail for prescription fraud. Prior to her death, she drained our entire savings account to pay for her addiction. Later that day, I came to understand very clearly why people take their life. I decided right then, I never would. Connor and Kyle had already lost one parent. I needed to raise them.

In the aftermath of her death, I was forced to close my business and we lost our home to foreclosure. I had no money and was close to a bankruptcy. Most days I could only manage to stare at the ceiling. That lasted for the better part of 2 years. My support group, that I attended weekly, helped a great deal. But I still needed something to help me. After jumping from one job to another, I slowly started to rebuild my life. I took additional jobs and spent very little. Connor and I lived in a small apartment and shared the one bedroom.

So, I decided in December 2013, to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a motivational speaker, teacher, and coach. I discovered the amazing power of gratitude. I proceeded to find out everything about this powerful mindset, and how it could transform your life. I have never looked back and feel so blessed to hear every week how much I have changed someone’s life. Always follow your passion, and it will most likely become your purpose in life.”

Website: https://thatgratitudeguy.com

For additional resources visit us at: https://robbies-hope.com

My guest today is Renee Middleton, the Executive Director of the Cheynne Frontier Days Foundation. Renée has thirty years of experience in both marketing and management with Taco John’s International, Unicover Corporation and Sierra Trading Post. In addition to her marketing career, Renée has been in the field of nursing since 2018. She is a RN who works on the Oncology Floor at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. In addition to her volunteer work with CFD, Renée has participated as a volunteer at the Davis Hospice Center, was a Foundation Board Member of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and as a Board Member of the Cheyenne Symphony Board.

“We use the Frontier Grounds and our Frontier Nights Stage to host all of Cheyenne's highschools graduations in May. This year we gave a yellow feather and the attached card to all high school grads. No one is immune to or hasn't been touched by suicide, and yet it continues to take our loved ones, our neighbors, and the list goes on unfortunately for all ages.”

Cheyenne Frontier Days is tackling suicide awareness and prevention with a new campaign aimed at individuals attending and participating in their events. The campaign encourages people to “reach out to a Pick Up Man or be a Pick Up Man for someone in need.” People contemplating suicide are directed to the new nationwide 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline. Individuals who see friends, family members, or neighbors struggling with mental health are encouraged to reach out.

“Our western culture of independence and self-reliance may inhibit people from seeking help, or people from offering help,” Tom Hirsig, CFD CEO said. “In rodeo, we call the Pick Up Man a lifesaver in the arena. Every cowboy knows the Pick Up Man is out there to help, to give a hand. And the athletes do not hesitate to reach out for help. We want everyone to use that example in their lives.”

Website: https://foundation.cfdrodeo.com/project/pick-up-man-campaign/

For additional resources visit us at: https://robbies-hope.com

Follow us on Instagram (robbieshope1), YouTube (robbieshope), and Facebook (robbieshope2018)

My guest today is Laura Mahony, a specialist in Neurofeedback. Laura's educational background includes a Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling and is Board Certification in Neurofeedback. She has undergone extensive mentorship under esteemed figures such as Jay Gunkelman and John Demos, further enhancing her expertise. Notably, Laura's commitment extends beyond professional milestones; she has supported first responders as an intern at South Metro Fire and Rescue, showcasing her compassion and dedication to healing. As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Colorado and achievement in board certification in neurofeedback (BCN), Laura continues to showcase her hunger for continued education to ensure gold standard care. Currently, Laura is pursuing her qEEG-D designation.

Neurofeedback is a modality where you can change the well worn neuropathways that holds you back, to new neuropathways that allow a mentally flexible and self-aware state. Anxiety, depression, fogginess, poor sleep, symptoms associated with PTSD, ADD and more can all block you from feeling your best and is frustrating and can feel hopeless at times.

Our brains communicate through brainwaves, which affect our perception, mood, sleep, and state of being. Brainwaves are patterns of neural activity that create thoughts, behaviors, actions, and emotions. By measuring the electrical activity in the brain, we can identify when brainwaves are too strong or weak, impacting symptoms. Neurofeedback helps the brain adjust its activity, improving brainwave power and returning to an adaptive state. This process is like updating software on a computer to ensure proper functioning. Consistent updates help the brain learn and regulate physiology, promoting overall well-being.

For additional resources visit us at: https://robbies-hope.com

Follow us on Instagram (robbieshope1), YouTube (robbieshope), and Facebook (robbieshope2018)

My guest today is Michelle Maikoetter, Director of Special Projects at Neurosequential and Chief Program Officer at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. For over 30 years, she has worked with youth and families in various settings including domestic violence/sexual assault, juvenile justice, after school programming, and wilderness programming.

Since 2007, Michelle has been a leader at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in Texas, one of the largest nonprofit residential childcare facilities in the United States. Housed in the middle of the campus is a “special purpose” school - Boys Ranch Independent School District, educating K-12 students. Currently serving as their Chief Program Officer she has led the organization’s transformation from a behavioral modification program into a healing, trauma-informed community. Working collaboratively with Boys Ranch ISD has galvanized these efforts

The Neurosequential Network develops and disseminates innovative programs and practice to improve life for children, families and communities. The Neurosequential Model is a developmentally sensitive, neurobiology-informed approach to clinical problem solving. The model, developed by Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD, is not a specific therapeutic technique or intervention. It is an approach that integrates core principles of neurodevelopment and traumatology to inform work with children, families and the communities in which they live.

Website: https://www.neurosequential.com/ourteam

For additional resources visit us at: https://robbies-hope.com

Follow us on Instagram (robbieshope1), YouTube (robbieshope), and Facebook (robbieshope2018)

My guest today is Emily Cherkin, a former middle school English teacher and parent of two, Emily Cherkin, MEd., The Screentime Consultant, witnessed the simultaneous rise of technology use for school, and smartphone and social media use for kids. Today, Emily consults with parents, offers school presentations and professional development training, and writes about parenting and screentime to bring her tech-intentional approach to as many people as possible.

Emily’s work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, The Today Show (twice), the BBC, Good Morning, America, and more. Chuck Norris has quoted her. Emily is also a co-founder of The Student Data Privacy Project, a group dedicated to protecting children’s data and privacy in schools. Emily's book "The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family" is an Amazon bestseller and available everywhere books are sold.

Website: Http://www.thescreentimeconsultant.com

https://hopefull-conversations.simplecast.com/episodes/tech-intentional-family

For additional resources visit us at: https://robbies-hope.com

Follow us on Instagram (robbieshope1), YouTube (robbieshope), and Facebook (robbieshope2018)