Barry Adkins lost his 18 year old son, Kevin, to alcohol poisoning on the day that Kevin moved out on his own. Since Kevin's death, Barry has made it his mission to educate others about the dangers of alcohol abuse. After the loss of his son, Barry walked 1,400 miles from Arizona to Montana with Kevin's, ashes in his backpack. Barry has shared his story with well over 150,000 students and parents. He’s also the author of the book “Kevin’s Last Walk: A Father’s Final Journey With His Son.”

Barry's website: https://kevinslastwalk.com/

Order the book: https://www.amazon.com/Kevins-Last-Walk-Fathers-Journey/dp/1936539055

Kevin's Last Walk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinslastwalk

Kevin's Last Walk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/KLWpublishing

Silverladder website: https://silverladder.com/blog/

My story (Shane/host): https://silverladder.com/blog/?page_id=963

Intro voice-over artist: Lisa Long

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988

Crisis Text Line: Text "Home" to 741741

Mental / Behavioral Treatment Locator: https://findtreatment.gov/

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Brandon and Breanna Vales of Red Light Rebellion discuss the work they do to prevent sex trafficking through education, inspiration, and connection.

Brandon and Breanna's bio:

Breanna started Red Light Rebellion in 2010 during her senior year of high school after learning that her age group was the primary target for sex trafficking. Since then, she has served in aftercare programs for survivors both in the United States and Cambodia, as well as developed digital and live education programs resulting in direct prevention to sex trafficking.

After marrying Breanna in 2013, Brandon joined Red Light Rebellion to leverage his story of battling a 15+ year porn addiction and create a dynamic demand prevention program to help others break free and prevent the next generation of buyers of sexual exploitation. Together Brandon and Breanna are a dynamic force, not only providing powerful awareness information, but entertaining the 77,000+ people RLR has reached with over 2,900 high-energy, multimedia and interactive live presentations.

Red Light Rebellion TAKE ACTION link mentioned during the episode:

https://www.redlightrebellion.org/takeaction

Red Light Rebellion Website:

https://www.redlightrebellion.org/

RLR Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/redlightrebellion

RLR Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/redlightrebellion

RLR TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@redlightrebellion

RLR YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@redlightrebellion

Silverladder website: https://silverladder.com/blog/

My story (Shane/host): https://silverladder.com/blog/?page_id=963

Intro voice-over artist: Mark Bradford

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988

Crisis Text Line: Text "Home" to 741741

Mental / Behavioral Treatment Locator: https://findtreatment.gov/

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, therapist Deana Kahle shares her work as a counselor for first responders as well as her incredibly powerful personal story of addiction and recovery. From trauma to triumph, Deana uses her personal experience alongside her professional knowledge to help her truly connect with and help heal the first responders with whom she works.

Deana's Bio:

With over 14 years as a mental health professional, Deana Kahle holds a masters degree in counseling psychology and is a licensed psychotherapist in California. As an instructor and wellness advocate primarily serving first responders, she brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to the conversation. Currently serving as executive director of a large organization that champions first responder mental wellness, she is passionate about fostering open discussions, breaking down mental health stigmas, and providing practical tools for resilience. Deana brings a deeply personal perspective to the concept of the wounded healer. She's excited to share not just clinical insights but also her own stories and reflections to inspire and connect with listeners.

Deana's website: https://copshrink.com/

Deana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copshrink/

Deana's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Copshrink

Silverladder website: https://silverladder.com/blog/

My story (Shane/host): https://silverladder.com/blog/?page_id=963

Intro voice-over artist: C. Neil Williams

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988

Crisis Text Line: Text "Home" to 741741

Mental / Behavioral Treatment Locator: https://findtreatment.gov/

Send us Fan Mail

Nationally certified mediator, coach, and author Vanessa Hancock wants parents to be the first people their kids come to when they need help, not the last. She joins us on this episode for a conversation about family communication and connection, and how parents can become a trusted outlet for their kids.

Vanessa's website: https://truestlifeconsulting.com/index.php

Vanessa's book: https://www.amazon.com/Mean-Real-Clean-Functional-Relationship/dp/1982262354

Vanessa's Bio:

"I draw on my background in parenting, business, education, and coaching to inspire people to see things in new ways that totally shift their energy, actions and results. I am often told by my clients that I have made the most impact in their lives in the shortest amount of time-- after they had already tried everything else.

My ability to show families how to bridge communication gaps and to truly understand each other is my greatest strength. I speak everyone's language and can easily translate between family members who have a love for each other, but who have lost their ability to connect and to work as a team. I come into families' homes and easily create a safe environment for everyone to talk and to also be truly heard by each other.

I love to show parents how to create healthy relationships with their teenagers and young adults, and ultimately, with themselves. I want the parents to get to be the first person their kids turn to when they need a trusted adult, not the last. My one-on-one work with teenagers and young adults is efficient and effective, creating motivation and results beyond what is normally possible via traditional methods.

I attended Arizona State University, where I earned my BS in Business, Supply Chain Management, Barrett Honors College, 2000. I also earned my Post Baccalaureate in Secondary Education from ASU and studied graduate-level courses in Applied Communications from NAU. I taught high school and community college level courses and found my passion for teaching and inspiring others. She has led dozens of large groups of parents and teens and coached hundreds of people of all ages to get impactful results that changed the trajectory of their lives.

I raised five kids whom I had with my first spouse, as a stay-at-home/homeschooling mom. We took in two more kids when they were teens after they lost their parents in a tragedy. I divorced after 15 years, remarried, and had another child. After one more divorce, I finally learned to understand myself and my needs for peace and a healthy environment. She has learned "the hard way" about boundaries, self-love, alignment, acceptance, and faith.

My casual style is my secret to getting anyone to open up and to feel comfortable making new ideas and taking new actions. Nothing formal, clinical, or judgy here."

Silverladder website: https://silverladder.com/blog/

My story (Shane/host): https://silverladder.com/blog/?page_id=963

Intro voice-over artist: Lisa Long

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988

Crisis Text Line: Text "Home" to 741741

Mental / Behavioral Treatment Locator: https://findtreatment.gov/

Send us Fan Mail

Brian Sanders is a recently retired Homicide Lieutenant from a large metropolitan police department in the South. His previous assignments include patrol, Patrol Training Officer, Proactive District Teams, Gang Suppression Unit, Drugs and Vice Unit, Aggravated Assault Unit, Homicide Unit, and Intelligence Center, where he led monthly gang intelligence meetings for the region and developed an internal team of gang intelligence detectives. Brian Sanders served as a homicide detective then returned to the unit as a team sergeant then was promoted to lieutenant over the Violent Crimes Sections (Homicide Unit, Robbery Unit, and
Aggravated Assault Unit). In that assignment, Lt. Sanders was responsible for 6 sergeants and 30 detectives.

During his years as a detective, he served two of those years on a special assignment attached to the Career Criminal Unit conducting a joint R.I.C.O. investigation with the F.B.I. which yielded the dismantling of DGF Bloods, convicted members in two murders, and earned an award from the director of the FBI. He has a B.A. degree in Psychology and graduated magna cum laude.
While obtaining his degree, he earned his membership in Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. He is also a former sergeant of the United States Army (Infantry).

During his years with police department, he debriefed hundreds of gang members (Bloods, Crips, Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings, Vice Lords, Surenos, etc) and developed many into sources and informants. He has developed multiple courses on gang identification, gang investigations, and gang informants ranging from 8 hours to 40 hours of instructional time, trained hundreds of law enforcement
officers, as well as conducted numerous gang presentations at gang intel meetings and conferences.

He is a former writer for Skillset Magazine where eighteen of his articles were published under the penname “B.C. Sanders.”

He currently hosts the podcast, “The Disruptors with Brian Sanders” in which he interviews bands, undercover investigators, gang members, reformed N*zi skinheads, authors, mercenaries, and more. He is also the co-host of “NIGHTSHIFT with Andrea Up Late.” Both shows are on all listening platforms
and Youtube.

Recently, he was featured in James Patterson’s national best seller, WALK THE BLUE LINE, a nonfiction book sharing experiences of cops across the country. His interview was utilized in the section titled, “B.C. Sanders.”

Brian's Website: https://thedisruptorswithbriansanders.com/

Disruptors Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QiNmgm8Z5MgQDAzHa6FeI?si=765b5cb1b9674adf

Disruptors Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_disruptors_podcast/#

NIGHTSHIFT Podcast with Andrea Up Late (Co-Hosted by Brian): https://www.youtube.com/@andrea_up_late

"Walk The Blue Line" Book (features Brian) by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann: https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Blue-Line-left_just-Patterson/dp/0316406600

Albums mentioned by Brian:

Bad Brains - "Rock for Light"

Bad Brains - "I Against I"

Gorilla Biscuits - "Start Today"

H20 - "Thicker Than Water"

Silverladder website: https://silverladder.com/blog/

My story (Shane/host): https://silverladder.com/blog/?page_id=963

Intro voice-over artist: C. Neil Williams

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The preteen and teen years can be a tremendous challenge for girls. But they can also be a time for incredible growth, learning, and empowerment. The difference-maker for young girls is often having a mentor to teach and guide them. Jill Petersen and Mary Frances, founders of Girls Mentorship, are two very powerful difference makers. Their workshops and programs have made a tremendously positive impact on attendees, including many who choose to come back year after year.

This conversation is ideal for parents and grandparents of preteen and teen girls, educators, mentors, and coaches.

Girls Mentorship Website: https://www.girlsmentorship.com/

Girls Mentorship on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsmentorship/?hl=en

Silverladder website: https://silverladder.com/blog/

My story (Shane/host): https://silverladder.com/blog/?page_id=963

Intro voice-over artist: Mark Bradford

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988

Crisis Text Line: Text "Home" to 741741

Mental / Behavioral Treatment Locator: https://findtreatment.gov/

Send us Fan Mail

After overcoming childhood trauma, alcoholism, and a number of other challenges, Micheala Ross' biggest battle was still ahead. Following the loss of her beloved son Samson due to a car accident in late 2023, she was determined to not only maintain her sobriety, but to honor her son's legacy by creating a foundation to serve others in his memory. Live Live Samson has allowed Micheala and the others who lost Samson to transform pain into purpose.

In this episode, Micheala joins us to share her story, Samson's story, and the inspiring work being done in his memory by the organization that bears his name. This conversation will be especially relevant to those grieving a lost loved ones, individuals who have faced childhood trauma, and people in recovery.

Live Like Samson Website: https://www.livelikesamson.com/

Live Like Samson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michealasamson/

Silverladder website: https://silverladder.com/blog/

My story (Shane/host): https://silverladder.com/blog/?page_id=963

Intro voice-over artist: C. Neil Williams

Resources:

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988

Crisis Text Line: Text "Home" to 741741

Mental / Behavioral Treatment Locator: https://findtreatment.gov/

Send us Fan Mail

After getting caught up in an addiction to gambling as a young man, Saul Malek lost time, money, relationships, and nearly lost his own life. In this episode of Silverladder, he tells us how it happened, how he got out, and what works to keep him healthy and free of addiction today. He also discusses the work he does as a public speaker, and shares tips for parents to help keep their kids healthy and balanced.

This comeback story is ideal for those facing gambling addiction or individuals who have loved ones struggling with gambling or any other form of addiction.

Saul's Website: https://www.saulmalek.com/

Saul's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saulmalekspeaking/

Silverladder website: https://silverladder.com/blog/

My story (Shane/host): https://silverladder.com/blog/?page_id=963

Intro voice-over artist: C. Neil Williams

Resources:

Gamblers Anonymous (GA): https://gamblersanonymous.org/

Find a GA meeting: https://gamblersanonymous.org/find-a-meeting/

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988

Crisis Text Line: Text "Home" to 741741

Mental / Behavioral Treatment Locator: https://findtreatment.gov/

Send us Fan Mail