Dr. Fidele Sebahizi – Life From the Ashes
Overcomers Overcoming
Dr. Fidele Sebahizi grew up in a poor African village, living and surviving an ethnically motivated massacre in a United Nations refugee camp of Gatumba in Burundi, Africa. Fidele overcame life obstacles as an immigrant in the United States to achieve the American dream. He became the first immigrant to join and work for the Abilene Police Department (APD) in Texas as a police officer and the first member of his ethnic group, the Banyamulenge, in the United States to serve the American community in such a capacity. While working for the APD, Fidele earned multiple degrees: a B.A. in Creative...
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Michaela Cox Episode 2 – GRACE Through Grief
Overcomers Overcoming
Michaela Cox was born blind and widowed early by the love of her life in her second marriage. She is now a single mother and author. She is a multi-published author and speaker. She writes on various passionate topics and often takes from her life experience and journey. She is the author of five series, including 'Take a Sip, Take a Breath and Go...' series on motherhood, "Before the Clock Strikes Midnight" series on parenting and leaving a legacy for our babies, "Scripture, Spirituality and Our Culture" on our faith, beliefs, scripture and our culture, "We the People - Defining and...
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Lisa Lynch Episode 1 – My Journey of Recovery
Overcomers Overcoming
Lisa Lynch’s journey to recovery began after she was in a boating accident and suffered a spinal cord and pelvis injury that left her dependent on a wheelchair. She soon learned that sand and wheels don't mix well. She also learned that she didn’t think she could enjoy the beach life any longer. Her 13-year (as of this writing) healing journey took her on many different paths. She discovered solutions to enjoy life again and get back to the water. Lisa's Beach Highways was formed in 2019 to offer accessibility/inclusion to those who love the salt life! She is an advocate and her vision is...
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Dr. Christopher Scott Wyatt Episode 2 - Adapting to Talented Neurodiverse People
Overcomers Overcoming
Dr. Christopher Scott Wyatt is an autistic self-advocate and father of two neurodiverse daughters. He earned a doctorate researching online education and writing instruction for students with autism spectrum disorders. His experiences living with physical and neurological differences shape his parenting. Dr. Scott consults with schools, businesses, and non-profit organizations on issues of autism, neurodiversity, and active inclusion. Parenting Neurodiverse children — those with ADHD, autism, sensory processing issues, and learning disabilities — presents challenges. As a diagnosed...
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Paul Granger Episode 1 – I Prayed for and “Claimed” a Different Result
Overcomers Overcoming
Paul Granger describes his emotions and learning from his life experiences of enduring a stillborn childbirth and job termination from a toxic ministry experience. He and his wife prayed fervently for God to restore or create a heartbeat for their child in the womb of his wife. They prayed for and “claimed” that God could and would make a heartbeat. That did not happen. So, did God not hear or not care about their prayer? This resulted in a time of deep introspection from which they gained insights into God and oneness with Him. Following that experience, he experienced a job termination...
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Jordan Wilson - Winning the War Through Surrender
Overcomers Overcoming
Jordan Wilson is a modern-day prodigal son. He was raised in a Christian family with wholesome values. He felt somewhat protected and isolated from the world at an earlier age. Accordingly, he thought he needed to experience the world by engaging in different life events. That included drugs and alcohol. Through his mother’s prayers and fasting and his revitalized life in Jesus Christ, he developed a tenacious attitude to reverse his addiction and live his life for Christ. That transformation began on March 27, 2016 (his dad’s birthday). He chronicles his past life and his transformation...
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Donene Taylor Episode 1 – Roping Your Obstacles
Overcomers Overcoming
Donene Taylor is a Professional Author and Speaker who delivers energizing, fun, inspirational, and motivational presentations to many different organizations and teams. She joined the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association in 1998 and became a Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Champion Tie-Down Calf Roper in 2016. Donene is also a 4-time WPRA Mountain States Circuit Champion Tie-Down Calf Roper. At 14, she dreamed of becoming a World Champion Tie-down Calf Roper in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. She had many ups and downs. She stalled at times, but she never...
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Dr. Matthew Zakreski Episode 2 – Neurodiversity and Career Coaching
Overcomers Overcoming
Matthew “Dr. Matt” Zakreski, PsyD, is a high-energy, creative clinical psychologist and professional speaker who utilizes an eclectic approach to meet the specific needs of his neurodivergent clients. He is proud to serve the Gifted community as a consultant, a professor, an author, and a researcher. He has spoken over 400 times worldwide about supporting neurodivergent people. Dr. Zakreski graduated from Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology (IGCP) in 2016. He co-founded The Neurodiversity Collective, which provides therapy, IQ testing, coaching, and...
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Scott and Randy Baker Episode 1 – Becoming Aware of Unconscious Behaviors
Overcomers Overcoming
Scott and Randy Baker met when they were 16 and married in 1997. Through their marriage journey, they are learning to adapt to each other as they each learn to adapt to and be aware of their childhood culture. Scott is reserved, while Randy is outgoing by personality type. Randy reminisces about her childhood experiences and her response to her encounters. As frequently happens, our past and its adverse consequences become a part of our subconscious behavior. Those subconscious thoughts can dominate our current thinking. We carry those thoughts into our marriage and other relationships until...
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Alan Lazaros – Achieving Success and Fulfillment
Overcomers Overcoming
Alan Lazaros is a business coach, consultant, trainer, and speaker specializing in helping businesses maximize their growth, impact, and profitability online. He believes in a heart-driven approach to inspiring, motivating, and educating others on what is required to reach the next level. When he was two years old, his father passed away in a car accident. At age 26, after getting into a nearly fatal car accident himself, he questioned everything he was doing in life. It was a moment of comprehensive introspection to determine his worth and direction. He asked who he was and the choices he was...
info_outlineKelly Tuttle became a brain injury survivor in 2015 after her car T-boned another car that had pulled out in front of her. She thought she would shake off the crash and continue with her life.
The next day, her co-workers said she wasn’t talking coherently. So, she saw her doctor, who said she had a concussion, and she should be better in two weeks. Months later, she was living with a stranger in her head; she felt alone and lost. She didn’t like this stranger; she was rude and impatient, had the focus and attention span of a gnat, couldn’t remember anything, was irritable, and slept a lot. She couldn’t arrive on time for appointments or even plan a birthday party. She spent too much money and got into financial trouble. It was terrible to live with her, but over time, she realized she was not a stranger, but she had gotten a “new” brain. She spent years after her car accident seeking help to recover through a neurophysical therapist and speech therapist. She discovered the role of physical medicine, rehabilitation doctors, and behavioral optometrists in caring for brain injury patients. These specialists taught her how to live and work with sound and light sensitivity and chronic fatigue. As time passed, she got better and got to know the new “me.” She is not the same person she was before her brain injury. Her personality and values changed. She became like a sloth rather than the energizer bunny she was before her brain injury. Her traumatic brain injury marked the beginning of a new life and a personal journey of self-discovery. Her brain injury led her to change her career, write a book, and become a brain injury advocate. Her brain injury recovery has been long and challenging, but she likes the new “me” and her new brain. She shares her story so others know there is hope and they are not alone. You can learn more about Kelly in her book After the Crash: How to Keep Your Job, Stay in School, and Live Life After a Brain Injury.