My Independence Report
Episodes
Saturday Mar 05, 2022
Lora DeVore- Author- ”Darkness Was My Candle”
Saturday Mar 05, 2022
Saturday Mar 05, 2022
AN ODYSSEY OF SURVIVAL AND GRACE
Birthed into poverty and violence, my early life was one of extreme vulnerability. I spent long evenings in the spell of neon lights outside the military bases of my childhood where my mother picked up men. My mother prostituted me for the first time at age nine. I found refuge in the world of language, books, music, nature, and the world of Spirit. There were human angels who came into my life, each for a short time, with the face of compassion and whispers that left behind miraculous seeds of hope and the ability to reach out and past the unbearable circumstances of my life, again and again. Institutionalized shortly after beginning college, I would not have survived if not for Sydney, a courageous nurse who fought for my release. When I first began this book, I searched for and then learned from her that the institution I was held in was conducting experimental research. My unwillingness to be compliant and take prescribed pills led to my commitment to the worst state hospital in the Illinois System.As I began writing this book, Sydney and I returned to Elgin State Hospital for a visit and conducted archival research. We discovered that throughout the Cold War our nation used thousands of vulnerable, unsuspecting citizens as research subjects: newborns, institutionalized children, African-Americans, Native Americans, prisoners, mental patients, and our own military. But this book is not just about surviving the impossible, it is about recovery of the soul, healing into wholeness, and the possibility of living a luminous life.
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Dr. John Kruse- Author and ADHD expert
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
Wednesday Mar 10, 2021
ADHD causes more than just distractibility and restlessness. Dr. John Kruse capitalizes on his training in neuroscience and his decades of experience as a psychiatrist to explain how the concept of “executive function deficits” illuminates why ADHD can manifest as impulsivity, inconsistency, spontaneity, emotional volatility, poor follow-through, extreme candor, and troubles prioritizing. We avert tragedies by accurately identifying and treating adult ADHD, yet far too often we fail to recognize the condition.Through his political prominence, Mr. Trump nominated himself to be the poster child for adult ADHD. The President also showcases how we frequently ignore or mischaracterize even florid and daily ADHD-driven behaviors, particularly in individuals who also display other mental health conditions. Recognizing Adult ADHD utilizes information in the public record to demonstrate how Mr. Trump robustly fulfills the objective, behavioral diagnostic criteria for ADHD.Recognizing Adult ADHD explores feedback loops by which sleep, diet, exercise, social media, and Mr. Trump himself, drive our society in evermore ADHD-like directions. Dr. Kruse charts a path for reducing stigma around ADHD and other mental health conditions by delving into the intertwined fields of neuroscience, psychiatry, ethics, and politics. While the frenetic pace and information overload of our ADHD world threatens to submerge each day in new angst, this book adds nuance to help us navigate our lives.John Kruse has practiced psychiatry in San Francisco for the last twenty-five years, after completing both his MD and PhD (Neuroscience) at the University of Rochester. Witnessing an unending stream of undiagnosed adults with ADHD kindled his awareness that our world needs greater understanding of, and empathy for, those individuals with the complex and potentially disabling condition of adult ADHD. Outside of his clinical work, Dr. Kruse enjoys time with his family, runs marathons, bird-watches, and bakes.
Saturday Feb 27, 2021
Denise Byers-Author, "Shattered" Suicide Survivor, Mental Health Advocate
Saturday Feb 27, 2021
Saturday Feb 27, 2021
Denise Byers is a critically acclaimed award-winning author & poet residing in Toronto Canada.
Because Denise is a trauma survivor, her primary focus is to create and publish works that send educational messages of resiliency, empowerment and acceptance, all while entertaining readers.
Denise co-founded DanDeeLion Publishing with her daughter, Danielle Gray.
Friday Feb 19, 2021
Tamura L. Richardson- Mental Health and Domestic Violence Advocate
Friday Feb 19, 2021
Friday Feb 19, 2021
Tamuri LeAnne Richardson, is the owner of TLeanne Speaking Pros LLC located in Vacaville, CA. She is the Proud mother of two children. She has been speaking professionally for 6 years in small to large venues and is pursuing her degree in Communications.
She specializes in the topics of Mental Health, Womens Empowerment, Civil Rights, Domestic Violence and so much more. Tamuri is an International Best Selling Author of "The Power of Why II (Why 28 Women started Online Courses" and “10 Steps to Becoming a Highly Effective Public Speaker”. a She is a Public Motivational Speak, Influential Storytelling Coach and Communications Coach; she lends her expert experience to Corporate, Small Businesses, Non-Profits and Individuals alike.
Tamuri is a Certified Presenter, Speaker for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and a Mental Health Advocate, helping to fight the stigma of mental illness in all cultural communities, but specifically the African American community. Through her presentations she encourages all who are in need to seek the assistance that they need shame-free in order to have a productive, successful life. She is the Chair for NAMI/SF's Black Mental Health Committee
Tamuri is a Toastmasters, Intl member since 2015, She was the 1st Place Winner in the International Speech Area and District division contest in 2018 for her speech “Reinventing Yourself” and the 1st Place Winner in 2019 for her speech “Stand Up and Stand your ground”.
In March 2019 Tamuri’sEssay was selected as a Necessary Read and placed on the website of the Napa Valley Womens March website http://www.womensmarchnapavalley.org/docs/TRichardsonEssay.pdf this is a powerful speech of sisterhood and the consequence of being a woman in America. Her essay was selected out of thousands to represent the voice of this year’s generation of the Woman.
Tamuri is also a Active and Involved member of the NCBW (National Coalition of Black Women) also known as 100 Black Women of the Oakland, Bay Area Chapter, an organization based on the premise of help and support in the community of African American women and girls and to empower them to find their natural strength and voice and with this we assist them in leading a better, productive and successful life.
Tamuri's writes articles that are featured in and that are seen all over the world.
Tamuri has spoken in front of the Senate at the Capital in Sacramento, California as an advocate for mental health change within our communities. She has stressed concerns about legislation to Senators, Assemblymen and Assemblywomen for a better tomorrow.
She is very involved in advcacy work in her own community, she puts her money and service where her mouth is as well. There is a lot of work to be done for a better tomorrow and she knows that all hands need to be on deck to see that change happen. And she is committed to doing so. Her Professional resume and accolades are very long, and she is just getting warmed up.
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JEWISH RELIEF AGENCY, PHILADELPHIA, PA
"Tamuri is a pro. Kind, considerate, well spoken and the ideal expert to train our agency on boosting public speaking skills. I highly recommend her and her book, you can find on Amazon."
Michael N., Interim Executive Director
URBAN STRATEGIES COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CA
"Her recommendations were insightful. I appreciated the outside in perspective."
Hilary C., Director of Resource Development