In this episode of Teaching Journeys, host Dave Roberts speaks with author and journalist Ashley Jordan about her transformative journey through grief and self-discovery.

The Story:

Ashley lost her childhood sweetheart Daniel at age 13—literally on her 13th birthday. Growing up in the Midwest with a culture of "nice on the outside," she buried her grief for 24 years. At 37, while living what appeared to be a perfect life, a spontaneous visit to a psychic medium triggered a tsunami of repressed grief that changed everything.

Key Themes:

• Grief & Loss: How traumatic loss at 13 shaped her entire life trajectory
• The Triggering Event: A medium's connection with Daniel reopened 24 years of buried pain
• Unbecoming vs. Becoming: Deconstructing a life built on external achievements to rebuild one rooted in authentic love
• Shadow Work: Embracing darkness to find light and true aliveness
• Unconditional Love: Daniel's legacy taught her that love exists by virtue of being, not doing

The Transformation:

Ashley walked away from her "picture perfect" life—the degrees, accolades, marriage, and material success—to follow her heart. Today she lives a life built on love rather than achievement, sharing her story through her book "Unhappy Achiever" and her journalism.

Core Message: You are worthy of love simply by existing. Grief never goes away—it just gets different. And sometimes you have to unbecome everything you thought you should be to remember who you truly are.

Ashley’s Bio and Contact Information

Ashley Jordan has done many things throughout her life. She’s

been a feminist activist, licensed attorney, public speaker, and

a stay-at-home mother. Most notably, however, she’s a well-

published journalist with her works appearing in The New York

Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and HuffPost, among

others. Today, she lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her

three children.

Connect with Ashley:

• Website: ashjordan.com

• Book: unhappyachiever.com

• Instagram: @msashjordan

To find out more about Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com

Host Dave Roberts welcomes Martha Glory Kartaoui—author, speaker, mentor, Let Glory Shine TV host, and trauma-informed event facilitator and coach—to The Teaching Journeys Podcast. Martha shares that she was born into a religious cult in Shawano, Wisconsin, experienced years of isolation from extended family, and endured physical, mental, sexual, emotional, and spiritual abuse. At 26, motivated by reconnecting with her sister and learning she was pregnant, Martha escaped with help from an outside supporter she calls “Papa,”. Martha explains spiritual abuse as fear-based control tied to salvation requirements that continually escalate.S he describes her trauma-informed coaching approach and emphasizes the power of group community for healing.. She discusses her book, “Glory Going All In: Cult Survivor to Courageous Warrior,” encouraging readers not to be defined by trauma and to choose healing.

The link to her bio is : https://lnk.bio/MarthaGloryKartaoui

Connect with Martha:

• Book: "Glory Going All In: Cult Survivor to Courageous Warrior" (available on Amazon)

• TV Show: Let Glory Shine (YouTube - Thursdays at 7 PM)

• Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

• Learn about trauma-informed coaching and the Unbound events

To find out more about Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

In this episode of Teaching Journeys, host Dave Roberts welcomes Dr. Kate Lund, a clinical psychologist and resilience expert, for an insightful conversation about building family resilience and thriving through life's challenges.

Dr. Kate shares her personal journey, beginning with her childhood diagnosis of hydrocephalus at age four and the bullying she faced for looking different. These early experiences shaped her passion for understanding people and helping families develop resilience.

The conversation explores Dr. Kate's broad definition of resilience as a lifestyle—integrating daily tools and strategies to optimize wellbeing rather than simply overcoming obstacles. She introduces practical techniques to help families manage stress and shift their perspective.

She discusses her two books: Bounce, which outlines seven pillars of resilience for children, and Step Away, focused on resilient parenting strategies.

A highlight of the episode is Dr. Kate's heartwarming work with her therapy dog, Wally, at Seattle Children's Hospital. She shares touching stories of how Wally brings comfort to children facing serious medical challenges, demonstrating the powerful role animals play in healing and resilience.

The episode concludes with Dr. Kate's key message: always focus on the possibility on the other side of every challenge, both for yourself and your children.

Dr Lund’s Bio and Contact Information

Dr. Kate Lund is a clinical psychologist, keynote speaker, published author, and resilience expert dedicated to helping individuals and families thrive within their own unique contexts. With advanced training from three Harvard-affiliated hospitals and decades of experience in clinical practice, Dr. Lund specializes in emotional intelligence, stress resilience, and sustainable well-being for parents, athletes, and high performers.

She is the author of Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive in School, Sports, and Life and Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting. Dr. Lund also hosts Resilient Parenting with Dr. Kate, a podcast that explores the science and lived experience of resilience through conversations with parents, educators, clinicians, and leaders.

Known for her relatable, evidence-based approach, Dr. Lund blends clinical expertise with personal insight as the mother of twin boys and while working as a volunteer with her dog Wally as part of the animal assisted therapy program at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Whether on stage, in session, or on the air, she empowers people to step away from overwhelm and step into clarity, connection, and confidence.

Connect with Dr. Kate Lund:

Website: www.katelundspeaks.com

New Podcast: Resilient Parenting with Dr. Kate (launches March 5th)

To find out more about Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com