Learn From People Who Lived it

LFPWLI, From a Life He Wanted to End to a Life He Fought for Daily with David Rees

In this episode, you'll hear: 
Why would someone be embarrassed to tell people they are suicidal?
What can you tell us about the mindset of someone who has been told they have a few weeks to live? 
What can friends and family do for someone struggling with mental or physical illness?
On March 10, 2017, David was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukemia. His doctors told him if he didn't start treatments immediately, he would have three to four weeks to live.
Right before his diagnosis, David was working as a youth pastor, had just met the woman who would become his wife and was living his dream life. Shortly after their engagement, he began noticing symptoms and was misdiagnosed a handful of times, but eventually, the correct diagnosis came.
Over the next nine months, he had seven hospitalizations, spent over 100 nights in the hospital, endured four rounds of chemotherapy, received a stem cell infusion, and received 37 blood transfusions. Thankfully, on December 19, 2017, his cancer was in remission.
In the years before his diagnosis, David went through several seasons of depression and struggled with suicidal thoughts that he kept to himself for nearly three years. Eventually, he gained perspective on the long-term impacts of suicide and how it would negatively affect the people around him. He never knew how important the lessons he learned in middle school would be when he was diagnosed with cancer. He learned that leaning on people and relying on loved ones is one of the most important factors in making it through hard times. When he was younger, he felt like he could never tell anyone he was hurting, but when he faced cancer, he found he had to do it, and that was one major factor that helped him stay alive. David tells us there is great power in just being there for people who are struggling. Treating them like people and giving them time where they can forget the struggle and remember what it means to be alive.
There is a lot in life that can't be controlled, so David seized every opportunity to take control of what he could. Whether it was shaving his head when he began losing his hair from chemotherapy or realizing that gratitude is a mindset and cultivating a mindset is also a choice. Sometimes being faced with death is the thing that shakes people into developing a mindset that will help them go forward for the rest of their lives. This rang true for David. Cultivating a positive mindset, learning gratitude, and finding humor in the dark times will serve him regardless of what is happening. Cancer threatened to kill him, but it actually gave him this life he loves so much and a chance to make the most of it. 
“You have to be ready at all times, everyone, to hear those words… Are you prepared if you heard those words today? Are you okay with your life? Are you satisfied with your life? Do you feel like you made an impact?”
In this episode, you'll hear: 
Why would someone be embarrassed to tell people they are suicidal?
What can you tell us about the mindset of someone who has been told they have a few weeks to live? 
What can friends and family do for someone struggling with mental or physical illness?
Follow the podcast: 
Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 
Listen on iHeart (link: https://ihr.fm/3MEY7FM) 
Listen on Spotify (Link: https://spoti.fi/3yMmQCE) 
Connect with the guest:
Dr. Frank Bevacqua
Resources:
Battles & Blessings: My Experiences with Cancer by David Rees
Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper
Connect with Mathew Blades: 
Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades
Instagram - instagram.com/MathewBladesmedia/ 
Facebook - facebook.com/mathewbladesmedia/ 
Website - learnfrompeoplewholivedit.com/
Additional Credits:
LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson

A couple of show announcements for you

First up, hope you will enjoy your Memorial Day. Instead of a new release on this holiday I wanted to make sure you were aware of some of the things we are doing here at LEARN FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVED IT.  
First up - July will be INTIMACY month here on the podcast. We will sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick and hash out everything from:
What is intimacy?
What do I do if I lose it?
How can I get it going?
Plus week is just for you. We want to know what questions you have surrounding sex, intimacy, connection, etc.
 
The other thing I want to make sure you are aware of is our podcast series being recorded from the Durango Detention Center. This powerful podcast series aims to get good information to the kids inside the system and let them see someone who overcame the obstacles and put their life back together.  It's one of my favorite podcasts to record because of the room, the people and the stories.
 
We've release 3 so far I'd love for you to tell me what you think.  
 
Click this LINK to the podcasts. 
 
Follow the podcast:
Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h)
Listen on iHeart (link: https://ihr.fm/3MEY7FM)
Listen on Spotify (Link: https://spoti.fi/3yMmQCE)
Connect with Mathew Blades:
Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades
Instagram - instagram.com/MathewBladesmedia/
Facebook - facebook.com/mathewbladesmedia/
Website - learnfrompeoplewholivedit.com/
Additional Credits:
LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson
 
 
 

LFPWLI, Define sudden cardiac death, Mathew Blades and Dr.Todd Hurst

As mentioned today's podcast is my recording with Dr. Todd Hurst, my cardiologist. He has a podcast about heart health and what we can do to prevent most of the things that kill us. That is very interesting to me because as some of you know my father died in my arms of a heart attack at 47.
I have always wanted to sit down with a cardiologist and discuss that event, and what I can do to make sure my own children never witness that same.  
So today we get to have that chat on the "The Healthspan Podcast" with your host, Dr. R. Todd Hurst.
 
His show notes and links below:
In today's episode, we have an insightful conversation featuring Arizona celebrity Mathew Blades, Dr. Hurst, and Rielyn Hoffman, discussing heart health, personal stories, and the importance of preventative measures. Mathew Blades shares his own heart-wrenching story, emphasizing the significance of awareness and understanding of heart-related issues.
Throughout the discussion, they explore the role of CPR and defibrillation, silent heart attacks, and emotional impact of heart health experiences. They also share incredible personal stories and reflections on pain and dying during a heart attack, as well as the importance of proactive heart health care.
At 00:04:34, Mathew Blades shares his personal story. At 00:13:20, the importance of CPR and defibrillation is discussed. At 00:23:53, they talk about how heart attacks can be silent. At 00:29:56, the conversation delves into the emotional impact of heart health experiences. At 00:39:06, the incredible save of a retired Marine colonel is shared. At 00:41:12, they reflect on dying and pain during a heart attack. At 00:42:29, they emphasize the importance of proactive heart health care.
Find his new insurance based practice here: https://www.healthspanmd.com/
 

LFPWLI, Lawyer Johnson There’s no deadlines on dreams

*The following podcast was recorded inside the Durango Detention Center
Welcome back to another episode from the DDC. Today we are going to be treated to Lawyer Johnson and his journey. When he was 8 years old a trusted family friend molested him. That event forever changed his trajectory. After facing 200 years in prison a meeting with his mother snapped things back into shape. He vowed to make a change and never looked back.  
Things you'll here:
The after effects of being molested 
Escaping prison and watching America's Most Wanted
Setting down ego and stepping into something bigger than yourself
Connect with Lawyer Johnson on linked in here
Lawyer Johnson company here
Follow the podcast: 
Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 
Listen on iHeart (link: https://ihr.fm/3MEY7FM) 
Listen on Spotify (Link: https://spoti.fi/3yMmQCE) 
Connect with Mathew Blades: 
Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades
Instagram - instagram.com/MathewBladesmedia/ 
Facebook - facebook.com/mathewbladesmedia/ 
Website - learnfrompeoplewholivedit.com/
Additional Credits:
LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson