Shows
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: All In The Family - Parenting in 2020, Part 2The panel of parents, composed of Hope for the Day staff, volunteers, and Agents of Impact will discuss all these topics and much more while discussing what 2020 has been like so far as a parent, while also looking forward to 2021 and beyond.Our guest host this week is:-Rick Osowski: Founder/Host of Anthologies of Hope, Hope for the Day SurrogateOur amazing guest Moms this week include:-Frank Reichert: Hope for the Day Project R.E.D. Team Champion, Navy Veteran & Parent-Doug & Mary Mendralla: Hope for the Day Agents of...2020-10-021h 50
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: All In The Family - Parenting in 20202020 has been a roller-coaster of a year that no one could have anticipated! With stress, surprises, detours, and cancellations around every turn, it's been a difficult year for everyone. Even more so for parents, as they have navigated the initial cancellations and closures due to the COVID-19 outbreak, racial justice, police brutality, the stress & anxiety that comes with any back-to-school season, as well as also welcoming new members to their households.The panel of parents, composed of Hope for the Day staff, volunteers, and Agents of Impact will discuss all these topics and much more while discussing...2020-09-251h 13
Anthologies of HopeAmanda OsowskiWe have our first return guest to our long-form interviews, who also just happens to be the guest host of last week’s live Conversations Cafe event! That guest host, and our returning guest this week, is my amazing wife, Amanda Osowski. Recorded prior to COVID lockdowns, quarantines, and precautions going into place, we sat down in early March to talk about the first 10 months of parenthood, what we expected, what we didn’t expect, the highs, the lows, and what we would change if we could.Which takes us to exactly what Amanda is doing about it...2020-09-231h 20
Anthologies of HopeEmily FaganI sit down with Emily Fagan this week, as we were introduced through previous Anthologies of Hope guest and current Hope for the Day BFF Joel Frieders, when both he and Emily attended a community event that was organized by Congresswoman Lauren Underwood and Congressman Joe Kennedy III - one in which Emily was brought in to share the story she shares with us today!Emily is an accomplished classical musician, specializing in the Oboe, based out of Aurora, Illinois. She dives into what makes the Oboe an amazing orchestral instrument, how and why she chose to...2020-09-0956 min
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Body Modification - Tattoo TalesPhysical alteration, such as a tattoo or piercing, is referred to as body modification, but this term is actually much broader than you’d think. And while this broad category can include many other things, this week’s episode focuses on the images and words people have chosen to adorn their bodies with through the art of tattooing and the personal stories behind them.Our amazing guests this week include:-Joel Frieders, Hope for the Day's Director of Public Policy, 86 The Silence Champion, Alderman, & Father -Becca Milligan, Hope for the Day's Marketing and Events Director...2020-09-041h 22
Anthologies of HopeAmanda RaffenaudWay back in the beginning of February 2020, I caught up with one of my favorite humans on the planet for a much needed conversation and you will hear why in this episode!Amanda Raffenaud resides in Orlando, FL and is a mother to two sons, a writer, a Professor, a PhD Researcher, a Certified Yoga Teacher, and a Mental Health Wellness advocate. Throughout all of that you will hear in our discussion how important each of those aspects of Amanda’s life are as she currently battles Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer like a warrior, as well as be...2020-09-021h 03
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Christmas in August - Poverty is Violent 10KThis past July, Coffee, Hip-Hop, & Mental Health successfully fed 1,000 families. With the support of their local and national community - including Sip & Savor Coffee House, Hope for the Day, Sip of Hope Coffee Bar, and many others - the Poverty is Violent food drive was able to reach about 5,000 individuals! We are now committed to gifting 10,000 families with a week's worth of groceries and a year's worth of resources as a community. It'll be Christmas in August and while poverty is violent, food is love.Conversations Cafe is (usually) a monthly live podcast recording at Sip of...2020-08-2845 min
Anthologies of HopeChristopher LeMarkI am very grateful and appreciative of the fact that I get to bring our listeners an amazing conversation today with Christoper LeMark, the founder of Coffee, Hip-Hop, & Mental Health - an amazing organization that has pivoted during the time of COVID to fighting hunger on the Southside of Chicago through multiple “Poverty is Violent” food drives throughout the summer.The timing of this episode is very important as the largest event of the summer, Christmas in August, is happening this weekend, August 28th, 29th, and 30th at the CSO Multiplex on 47th Street in Chicago.I...2020-08-261h 22
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: What's Shaking Your Bottle? - Coping with COVID In The Coming School YearWith so much discussion about what to do for American families and their school-aged youth as fall approaches, this week's episode brings a panel of educators and parents to share some of their experiences as of late. We address the harsh realities of COVID, the need to insure the health and safety of our communities for both teacher and student, and of course, developing strategies for coping with all the pressure.Our amazing guests this week include:-Adam Hill: Bulls Entertainment, High School Band Director, & Father-Michelle Thompkins: Founder of The Corner Store Chicago...2020-08-211h 25
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Transgenerational Trauma - The Burden of Inherited PainTransgenerational trauma refers to trauma that passes through generations and in this week's episode, we discuss a wide variety of experiences from a panel of guests ranging from individuals whose ancestors were slaves to experiences of indigenous people, down to the nuanced experiences of immigration.Our amazing guests this week include:-Shawn Imitates-Dog, Lakota -Mia Park, Actor, Producer, + Yoga Instructor, Chic-A-Go-Go-Kamau “Maui” Jones, Echo Theater CollectiveConversations Cafe is (usually) a monthly live podcast recording at Sip of Hope Coffee Bar featuring education and open forum dialogue on the intersections of Ment...2020-08-141h 30
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: It Only Takes One, Part 2 - RefocusIn this week's episode, we are joined by Hope for the Day's Team Thrive program leader, Sarah Moss, as we follow up on the "IT ONLY TAKES ONE" pledge. Also joining us this week, Breathe for Hope instructors Nichol Somers and Britt Kaplan, talking about the inaugural sessions of the program. We dive into a deeper conversation around stress and supporting decompression going into the school area and the uncertainties around it.Conversations Cafe is (usually) a monthly live podcast recording at Sip of Hope Coffee Bar featuring education and open forum dialogue on the intersections of...2020-08-0747 min
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: What Does Better Look Like? - Part 2Our episode this week rejoins the discussions made hyper-visible in the protests triggered by the murder of George Floyd. The historic momentum galvanized to challenge systemic racism demands that we identify and clarify the problems and impacts. We can sustain this momentum by pushing towards tangible change.As we upend racist policies, what are the policies and systems that support an anti-racist system? What does a better society look like institutionally?Our new & returning guests this week include an amazing panel of individuals, offering much needed perspective, insights, and expertise:-Adam Hill: Bulls...2020-07-242h 06
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: The Cookout - Food & Mental HealthThis week's episode, titled “The Cookout - Food & Mental Health”, celebrates cookout season with a panel of guests from Hope for the Day's 86 The Silence program and the greater Chicagoland food + beverage community. We are also joined by individuals working on food relief efforts to support communities during these challenging times, including The Community Kitchen, from a group of industry workers, and Community of the Future, from a group of creatives coming together.We change it up in this episode, as Mike Vinopal, Hope for the Day's Director of Education hosts our amazing panel of guests this week...2020-07-171h 33
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Spark the ConversationThis week's Conversations Cafe episode explores a myriad of treatment options, including plant medicines (cannabis, mushrooms, etc.), as well as alternatives like ketamine treatments for depression and harm-reduction for individuals living with substance-use disorders. Our panel includes community members and professionals discussing these often unknown but available options for healing and management.Our guest panelists this week include Alia Reichert, Nature’s Grace & Wellness, Hope for the Day Spark The Conversation Champion; Michelle Thompkins, The Cornerstore Chicago, Hope for the Day Agent of Impact; Dr. Cresencia Felty, Naturopathic Doctor, Certified Nutrition Specialist; Allison Herman, Hope for the Da...2020-07-102h 04
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Understanding Dual Diagnosis, Part 2This week's Conversations Cafe episode revisits the topic of Understanding Dual Diagnosis and its intersection with mental health, featuring Twist Out Cancer and cancer survivors with lived experience. We also announce a community TwistShop collaboration and continue encouraging our communities to take the "IT ONLY TAKES ONE" pledge to proactively take care of themselves this Summer.Our guests this week include Jackie Carmody, LCPC, ATR-BC, TwistShops for Twist Out Cancer; Jan Vinopal, Cancer Survivor; Scott Kanski, Cancer Survivor & Hope For The Day Staff; and Sarah Moss, Team Thrive Champion and Hope for the Day Agent of Impact.2020-07-031h 51
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: It Only Takes OneThis week's Conversations Cafe episode re-introduces you to Hope for the Day's Team Thrive & the leader, Sarah Moss. We also announce the new "IT ONLY TAKES ONE" pledge to encourage our communities to take care of themselves. We are also joined by Brittany Kaplan and Nichol Somers - Agents of Impact who have created their own yoga & mindfulness class, Breathe for Hope, based on Hope for the Day‘s core philosophies.Conversations Cafe is (usually) a monthly live podcast recording at Sip of Hope Coffee Bar featuring education and open forum dialogue on the intersections of Mental He...2020-06-261h 31
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Learning the LifelineThis week's Conversations Cafe episode reflects on a recent episode of DANA BEING DANA, a television show that airs on the Naperville, IL community TV channel NCTV17. It was dedicated to suicide prevention, and featured Hope for the Day, along with a number of other community members who shared clinical expertise, lived experience insights, and their work in advocacy.We also dive into understanding the work that goes into supporting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and what it takes to work the other end of the phone from the inspirational Roger Breisch. Roger is an outspoken suicide...2020-06-191h 02
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: What Does Better Look Like?This episode continues the discussions made hyper-visible in the protests triggered by the murder of George Floyd. The historic momentum galvanized to challenge systemic racism demands that we identify and clarify the problems and impacts. We can sustain this momentum by pushing towards tangible change. As we upend racist policies, what are the policies and systems that support an anti-racist system? What does a better society look like institutionally?Our guests this week include an amazing panel of guests, offering much needed perspective, insights, and expertise:•Aaron Coleman - Beatkeepers Instructor & Hope for th...2020-06-122h 13
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Where Do We Go From Here?Following the death of George Floyd, and the largest organized civil rights protests in United States history, Carl Evans, Hope for the Day's Senior Director of Operations, leads a discussion this week on systemic racism, the possible next steps needed as individuals and communities to confront it, and the overall impact to your mental health (both as an individual and as a community member). Please join us for this much needed conversation, and continue to fight for justice for our black friends, families, and community members.Conversations Cafe is (usually) a monthly live podcast recording at Sip...2020-06-0554 min
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: 86 The Silence - Peervention for the Food & Beverage IndustryThis week's episode brings us the official launch announcement of 86 The Silence! Hope for the Day's Project 86 The Silence is the targeted Peervention program for the Food & Beverage Industry. This episode coincides with the public announcement of 86 The Silence and features a panel of Hope for the Day's Surrogates and Agents of Impact that have put in time and energy alongside us, designing mental health education and outreach programming specifically for the food & beverage industry.Guests this week include Trevor Rose-Hamblin, Head Brewer & Co-Founder of Old Irving Brewing Co.; Jeannine Wise, Culinary Assistant to Chef Rick Bayless...2020-05-291h 14
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Project R.E.D. Team - Peervention for Military & First Responder CommunitiesThis week's episode brings us the official launch announcement of Project R.E.D Team! Hope for the Day's Project R.E.D. Team is focused on mental health challenges for those who commit their lives to the safety and health of the community. It is Hope For The Day’s mental health education and outreach program, designed by peers from the military, first responders, law enforcement, health and their families.R.E.D. is an acronym Hope for the Day has appropriated to stand for...Reminding Everyone Deployed…IT’S OK NOT TO BE...2020-05-221h 57
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Welcome to Mental Health MonthFor our first episode of Mental Health Month, this episode features a panel of Hope for the Day's Agents of Impact and staff from both HFTD HQ & Sip of Hope Coffee Bar to discuss practical strategies for being proactive with mental health for ourselves & others we care about within our spheres of influence, including a preview of HFTD's programming variants. Guests this week include Michelle Piraino, MSW & Barista at Sip of Hope; Joel Frieders, HFTD's Director of Public Policy, 86 The Silence Champion, Alderman, & father; Ryan Shannon, HFTD's Director of Project R.E.D. Team, Navy Veteran, & father; David Bacso...2020-05-151h 43
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Understanding Dual DiagnosisRecorded on the eve of May, and the beginning of Mental Health Month, this episode focuses on understanding dual diagnosis and its intersection with mental health. Guests this week include Hope for the Day Agents of Impact Marlo Reyes, host of Caguamas & Dramas, and Hilary Kniss, as well as special guests Mike Vinopal, musician and Hope for the Day's Director of Education; Erin Dunbar, Sip of Hope Coffee Bar barista; Amanda Osowski, founder/owner of Heartfelt Beginnings - Infertility, Antenatal, and Postpartum Doula Services; and Rick Osowski, Hope for the Day Surrogate and founder/host of Anthologies of Hope.2020-05-081h 55
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Ask Us Anything (Coping with Collective Trauma)This week's episode features a panel of Hope for the Day's community of mental health professionals, along with members of the Conversations Cafe production team, answering questions submitted by the community. Guests this week include Claudio Rivera, Psychologist at Lurie Children's Center for Childhood Resilience; Latania J. Franklin, Therapist at Sista Afya Community Mental Wellness; Christina Bravo & Kris Lundgren, Hope for the Day Agents of Impact.Conversations Cafe is (usually) a monthly live podcast recording at Sip of Hope Coffee Bar featuring education and open forum dialogue on the intersections of Mental Health within our communities. This...2020-05-011h 47
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: What Gives You Hope? - Part 3April's episodes will feature interviews with some of Hope for the Day's Agents of Impact & Partners in Prevention discussing the new reality we find ourselves in and the impact on our communities from their intersections. Guests this week include artist Cristi Lopez; Kelin Hall, Therapist - YWCA; Juliette Goldstein & Michael Ray, Boston Bulldogs Running Club Coach; and Megan Murphy, The Kindness Rocks Project.Conversations Cafe is (usually) a monthly live podcast recording at Sip of Hope Coffee Bar featuring education and open forum dialogue on the intersections of Mental Health within our communities. This education programming is...2020-04-241h 32
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: What Gives You Hope? - Part 2April's episodes will feature interviews with some of Hope for the Day's Agents of Impact & Partners in Prevention discussing the new reality we find ourselves in and the impact on our communities from their intersections. Guests this week include Megan Tress, Advanced Practice Nurse, PCC Community Wellness; Aaron Coleman, Beatkeepers Instructor, Chicago Music Exchange, & Musician; Big Gidz Evans, Dark Matter Coffee & Musician; and Veronica Padilla, author of Gentle Mentals.Conversations Cafe is (usually) a monthly live podcast recording at Sip of Hope Coffee Bar featuring education and open forum dialogue on the intersections of Mental Health within...2020-04-171h 38
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: What Gives You Hope?April's episodes will feature interviews with some of Hope for the Day's Agents of Impact & Partners in Prevention discussing the new reality we find ourselves in and the impact on our communities from their intersections. Guests this week include Nancy Bartosz, Hope Travels Champion & Teacher; Kate Smith, creator of One Woman Hamlet; and Adam Hill, father, high-school Band Director, and Director of the Chicago Bulls Stampede drumline.Conversations Cafe is (usually) a monthly live podcast recording at Sip of Hope Coffee Bar featuring education and open forum dialogue on the intersections of Mental Health within our communities...2020-04-101h 28
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Marching on Together, Part 2Due to current events and actions taken to ensure appropriate public health measures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope for the Day is going virtual with Conversations Cafe for the next few months! The same great programming that you could participate in at Sip of Hope Coffee Bar will now be streamed live to YouTube each week instead! You can still listen to each episode right here on Anthologies of Hope to keep the conversation going in your preferred podcast app. Be sure to follow Hope for the Day on all the social platforms to follow along for a great...2020-04-031h 10
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Marching on Together, Part 1Due to current events and actions taken to ensure appropriate public health measures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope for the Day is going virtual with Conversations Cafe for the next few months! The same great programming that you could participate in at Sip of Hope Coffee Bar will now be streamed live to YouTube each week instead! You can still listen to each episode right here on Anthologies of Hope to keep the conversation going in your preferred podcast app. Be sure to follow Hope for the Day on all the social platforms to follow along for a great...2020-03-271h 43
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: KornWelcome to our first super-special bonus Conversations Cafe episode of 2020!Hope for the Day’s Founder & CEO, Jonny Boucher, sits down with Brian Welch and James Shaffer…you may know them better as Head and Munky from the band Korn! We caught up with the guys when their tour rolled into Rockford, IL recently and, in partnership with HFTD’s Partner In Prevention - Live Nation - we provided a live pop-up Conversations Cafe experience to a select group of VIPs prior to the guys taking the stage. Jonny, Brian, and James dive into how stigma has impact...2020-02-2627 min
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Me, Myself & IThis month's episode, titled "Me, Myself, and I", focuses on validating all lived experiences, bringing you conversations with a few of Hope for the Day’s Partners in Prevention and Agents of Impact.Our guests this week include:•Amy Sumpter, comedian and co-host of Shaped Podcast.•Latania Franklin, therapist with Sista Afya Community Mental Wellness.•Rocky Callen, author of the soon to be published book, “A Breath Too Late”. The Conversations Cafe is a monthly live podcast recording at Sip of Hope Coffee Bar featuring education and open forum dialogue on...2020-02-211h 13
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: You Are Not AloneThis month's episode, titled "You Are Not Alone”, features interviews with the following Hope for the Day's Partners - Big Brothers Big Sisters Chicago, Center on Halsted, and Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Greater Chicago (aka DBSA).Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago is an affiliate of the oldest, most respected mentoring organization in the United States. They are a mission-driven, performance-based organization that is professionally managed and provides high-quality 1:1 mentoring services to over 2,100 children in Metro Chicago and their families across four counties: Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties in Illinois and Indiana.Ce...2020-01-241h 53
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: Hope for the HolidaysThis month’s episode, titled “Hope for the Holidays”, features interviews with Hope For The Day Agents of Impact and Partners in Prevention doing amazing work to start the conversation in their own way, breaking the silence on mental health together as a community through their various talents and passions.Our guests this month include:-Mike Vinopal, Director of Education for HFTD, sitting down one-on-one with Caleb Jennings, one-half of Kambs Jennings Group - an amazing Partner in Prevention with HFTD.-Agent of Impact, Kate Smith, creator of One Woman Hamlet, an extra specia...2019-12-201h 52
Anthologies of HopeMental Health Minute with Ryan StollMy friend, Dr. Ryan Stoll, PhD, joins us this week to bring us the first Mental Health Minute episode - one which we hope to be a series of episodes that will bring you plenty of bite-sized tips and tricks for how you can improve your mental health by bringing you some practical knowledge that would otherwise be sequestered in research and academia.As you’ll hear on the episode, Ryan’s background is in Clinical Psychology with a focus on anxiety and depression, as well as Entrepreneurship. You’ll hear throughout the episode how these seemingly two di...2019-12-181h 29
Anthologies of HopeJonny BoucherThis week's guest is Jonny Boucher, founder and CEO of Hope for the Day. If you’ve been listening all season long, and caught Joel Frieders’s episode to launch the season back in October, you already know the charisma & energy that Jonny brings to any conversation. So I was super excited to capture some of that for all our listeners.You will hear just how much music is a part of Jonny’s life, how that has inspired him since his youth, became his passion in young adulthood, and still is a beating part of his heart...2019-12-111h 16
Anthologies of HopeAlexander HayneAnyone that knows me, knows that I love Magic. That’s not close-up, “pick a card” magic. No, the trading card game that I fell in love with over 20 years ago, Magic: The Gathering has brought me more in life and has helped to build me as a person more than I will ever truly be able to give it credit for. Because of that, anything I can do to highlight & help the game and the Magic community, I jump at the chance. So when my worlds collided on World Mental Health Day to see a blog post w...2019-12-0458 min
Anthologies of HopeConversations Cafe: November to RememberThis week's Conversations Cafe, titled November to Remember, features interviews with some of Hope for the Day's Agents of Impact and Partners in Prevention doing amazing work to start the conversation in their own unique ways, breaking the silence on mental health together as a community through their various talents and passions.Guests this week include:•Leo Fotos: Executive Producer of TRU - A MUSICAL FOR MENTAL HEALTH, which just closed its run at Stage 773 right here in Chicago•Kidd Riot: Independent Pro-Wrestler and HFTD Agent of Impact.•Meghan Crisp: Occupational Therap...2019-11-291h 18
Anthologies of HopePie, Pie My DarlingI am so excited to bring Heather Bodine-Lederman to you this week. If you are not familiar with her by name, you may be more familiar with the successful vegan bakery Pie, Pie My Darling, which she built from scratch right here in Chicago.Heather is in the process of opening her storefront on the edge of Chicago’s West Town and Ukranian Village neighborhoods, while continuing to bake a ridiculous amounts of cakes, brownies, cookies, and other vegan baked goods with her team to keep the lines staying strong out the door!Heather is a...2019-11-271h 02
Anthologies of HopeSarah ColbertSarah Colbert joins us this week and discusses her trip to Heart Camp in detail, but more importantly, the journey up to that point that led her make the decision to attend.Throughout our conversation, we cover a topic that hasn't been touched on much throughout any of our Anthologies of Hope episodes so far - the aspect of mental health and the professional workplace. We have a pretty frank conversation about what it’s like to work in an environment that is detrimental to your mental health, how big of a difference it makes to work in...2019-11-071h 07
Anthologies of HopeMental Health MediaThis week's episode is all about the mental health boom and the language of mental health making its way into all sorts of the media that we consume regularly and for self-care. Rick dives deep into movies, television shows, stand-up comedy, podcasts, books, and Enneagram resources that have been discussed on Anthologies of Hope so far, detailing the background of what they mean to him or the individual guests from each episode.We hope that some of these resources are helpful for you to laugh, learn, escape, and thrive; as well as also look forward to hearing...2019-11-0725 min
Anthologies of HopeRick OsowskiThis week's guest is…the host, Rick Osowski. It’s always weird to figure out what your "elevator pitch" might be. Similarly, it’s always difficult to get all your story out within a few minutes when someone asks “what brought you to the mental health movement?”.Instead of overlaying his story on top of his guest’s each week, he was saving it for when he’d eventually get to his own turn. Rick covers his experience with the effects of suicide at an early age, as a young adult, and late 20s, along with walking through a numb...2019-11-071h 24
Anthologies of HopeAmanda OsowskiThe conversations continue this week with Amanda Osowski, not only another member of the Heart Camp family, but a member of Rick’s actual family...his wonderful wife. They cover all of Amanda's mental health journey to date - including the impacts of death at an early age, the impacts of suicide when not much older, the benefits of an intensive outpatient program when therapy or counseling are not enough, as well as their more recent infertility struggles and IVF journey.It was very surprising to both when they discovered a similar stigma and silence around IVF, as...2019-11-071h 15
Anthologies of HopeKimJumping back into our traditional interview format, Kim joins us this week and her story is arguably the most powerful story we have been empowered to share on Anthologies of Hope so far. Through Kim’s tumultuous mental health journey, we see a robust toolbox that she has developed over the course of that journey - from a “fake it until you make it” game face, to therapy & counseling, to the use of more integrative mental health practices like an intensive outpatient program (IOP).Her story is a powerful one and a constant reminder that it is comple...2019-11-071h 06
Anthologies of HopeEric AdamsThis week is all about breaking the mold! We talk with Eric Adams, a bearded and tattooed Professional Mental Health Counselor from Delaware with a heart of gold. We cover the ins and outs of what it means to be a Mental Health Counselor both professionally and personally, including how scheduling plays a major role in his self care. Eric's story of how he ended up getting to Heart Camp truly gave Rick goosebumps, so make sure to pay attention for that!Anthologies / Rick Osowski / Hope for the Dayhttps://www.auxchicago.com...2019-11-071h 04
Anthologies of HopeKatie MumperKatie Mumper joins us this week for another exciting conversation around mental health, writing, and overcoming addiction. Katie is a Whovian, a Penn State superfan, a 4 on the Ennegram, and currently in charge of Social Media for TWLOHA. So we have some back to back continuity with folks doing grass roots, hands-on work with one of our favorite mental health organizations!Rick had a blast talking with Katie as she’s another one of our guests that has a great grasp of her story, where it was most difficult, where she fought for the light, where she ne...2019-11-071h 01
Anthologies of HopeSarah MessaliIf there’s one word that Rick would use to describe his guest this week, Sarah Messali, it would be “warrior”. Once you hear her story, you’ll understand why. Grateful he got to sit down with Sarah in LA at Heart Camp, and then again sightseeing, and having the hard conversations at the same time over the summer when Sarah visited Chicago.From being a Breast Cancer & BRCA Previvor to a weightlifting badass to an unstoppable writer/blogger/author, Sarah’s story and voice is one you’ll definitely want to follow along with.Anthol...2019-11-0646 min
Anthologies of HopeBrit BarkholtzFrom the moment Rick read Brit’s Twitter profile full of shared interests, he knew this conversation was going to be a great one. They touch on some powerful tools and perspectives for those in the audience that may be questioning the value of therapy in their own mental health journey, as well as the validity of a current therapist relationship. As you’ll hear, Brit is a licensed therapist and gives some great insight onto overcoming the awkwardness of those first therapy visits.Anthologies / Rick Osowski / Hope for the Dayhttps://www.auxc...2019-11-061h 06
Anthologies of HopeAnna JohnsonWelcome to the first episode of Anthologies of Hope! Anna Johnson joins Rick this week to share her mental health journey, why community is so important to her, and how working on her mental health has made her a better friend, a better daughter, and a better nurse.Anthologies / Rick Osowski / Hope for the Dayhttps://www.auxchicago.com/anthologies-of-hopehttps://www.anthologiesofhope.com/https://www.instagram.com/anthologiesofhope/https://www.facebook.com/anthologiesofhope/https://www.instagram.com/rosowski/https://www.hftd.org/2019-11-0647 min
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 57: Runaways, Royal Rumble, and Ron FunchesThis week, our hosts jump back into the thick of things and discuss how some of the favorite pastimes may have in fact passed them by. Then, Rick & Don dig into a Royal Rumble preview, Marvel's Runaways on Hulu, and Ron Funches' recent comedy special, Giggle Fit.
Recommendations & Mentions:
Don's The NES Page series - Chasing Nostalgia
Chasing the Magic
Swapping Bits
2019-02-081h 26
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 56: Super Sad BrosThis week, Rick and Don get to the bottom of the age old question... why is everyone else in love with Super Smash Brothers except our hosts? And what can they do about it. They also jump into a little bit of video game forecasting with the expectation of some new releases for the Nintendo Switch in 2019, like Firewatch and Mortal Kombat 11.
Recommendations & Mentions:
Firewatch Is Mine - via YouTube
2019-01-111h 11
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 55: Back From JapanThis week, Rick and Don catch up on Don's recent trip to Japan!!! And his adventure to Savannah Video Game Expo upon his return.2018-12-271h 09
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 54: All In ReviewRick and Don review the all-star independent wrestling show, All In, that took place in the suburbs of Chicago on September 1st, 2019. Go give it another watch and come back for our review!2018-12-031h 03
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 53: Lad of the Rising SunThis week, our hosts discuss Don's plans for his upcoming trip to Japan, what his agenda looks like while overseas, and what he hopes to get out of the trip. Closing out the show, Rick and Don discuss their views on grading collectibles - is it worth it? Is it a waste?2018-10-291h 09
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 51: Stand Back!!!While Don preps for a hurricane with less than stellar enthusiasm, we chat up Don's recent viewing habits, including the underwhelming Hard Knocks, wrestling YouTube series, and nine-tenths of the new Marvel Cloak & Dagger series. There's also plenty of wrestling coverage thrown in from Rick attending a night of Starrcast, the wrestling podcast convention that took place the same weekend as All In, the largest North American independent wrestling event in history!2018-09-271h 40
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 50: SummerSlam & Southeast Game ExchangeThis week it's all about Don's excellent experience at Southeast Game Exchange and how he turned $20 into close to 30 games. Then we pivot into watching the wrestling show of the summer, SummerSlam... or so it was billed. There were some hits, there were some misses, but Rick & Don cover all of them.2018-09-071h 44
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 49: Supercon, Oh My!!!This week we cover Don's Raleigh Supercon 2018 experience. And he has a lot to say about it, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Don also ventured out to the Nippon Club of the Triangle's "NC Japan Summer Festival" in downtown Raleigh to much better results. Rick and Don then close out the show by taking a walk down nostalgia lane and discussing all the old & current non-Magic trading card games they are playing or want to play.2018-08-201h 41
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 48: Comic Con or Bust!!!We catch up on Rick's experience at San Diego Comic Con 2018 and review the big trailers that were released there, including DC Universe's Titans, Aquaman, and Godzilla. Our hosts also catch up on their recent wrestling indulgences and how disappointing the summer of 2018 has been for any excitement whatsoever in WWE programming.2018-08-041h 17
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 47: Meatloaf for the SoulThis week, Rick introduces Donald to the Enneagram and walks him through a quick test to discover his Enneagram type. The Enneagram is "a model of the human psyche which is principally understood and taught as a typology of nine interconnected personality types." (per Wikipedia). Per Rick, it is a wonderful way to understand your personality type further, why you do the things you do, why you react the way you do, and why you have the relationships that you have. It's an insightful look into Donald's brain, so follow along for yourself and see how you map out!2018-07-261h 27
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 46: Money In The BankIt's all wrestling this week, as the hosts recap Rick's experience attending WWE's Money In The Bank 2018 event in Chicago (technically Rosemont), Illinois.2018-07-021h 39
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 41: Where Have All the RPGs Gone?This week kicks off with a preamble to Don's review of Game Informer's "300 Greatest Games of All-Time". Then our hosts go on a search to find the perfect role-playing game for Rick to play on the Switch while on the road. Finally, our own Statler and Waldorf discuss their blockbuster movie fatigue and anti-trailer stance.2018-05-031h 31
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 40: Wrestlemania Results and 2018 time sinks, er Video Games!In a timely manner, our hosts circle back on their Wrestlemania viewing experiences, with some in-depth analysis of how long is too long? Then, after some unexpected Instagram follows, Rick is interested in some new & upcoming Switch releases (Pokemon!), while Donald waxes poetically about some ill-informed "all time gaming lists".2018-04-2354 min
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 39: Media Swap, Part Deux & Wrestlemania PreviewWe're finally back with the back half of our second (annual?) media swap... Rick returns with his experience with Sara Manguso's "The Two Kinds of Decay: A Memoir" and Don spills his feelings on Propaganda's most recent album, "Crooked". Our hosts then close it out and wax poetically on what they hope for from Wrestlemania 34, what they know won't happen, and begin to doomsday prep for the rest of the WWE 2018 year.2018-04-151h 20
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 38: Donald's Guide to Finding a Band's Best StuffIn the middle of an extended media swap, Don drops his knowledge on how to find a band's best stuff - both songs and sounds! Rick and Don put this to the test across multiple genres to see where it succeeds and fails. Once Don's theory is proven, our hosts then turn towards some of the recent and not-so-recent social issues that have been in the headlines.2018-04-131h 19
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 37: Forecasting Fails & Apocryphal DiscoveriesOur hosts circle back on their first annual event, the Magic The Gathering Modern Masters 17 price forecasting bonanza! Covering 10 staples of eternal formats, Rick and Don predicted where these card prices would settle back in Episode 8. Now 365(-ish) days later, after the dust has settled, we see just how accurate our hosts could be! The latter half of the episode covers one of Don's missed opportunities of his childhood, the chance to play DragonRaid with many of his young friends. For those not in the know, DragonRaid is a full role-playing game system, based entirely upon the mythos of...2018-04-051h 30
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 36: NeoGeos & Unlicensed ChildhoodAfter spending a week with his very own NeoGeo cabinet, Don catches us up on the pros and cons, the ins and outs, and the downright fun that comes with having a versatile arcade cabinet in your home. Rick then pivots to the ridiculousness of recent WWE bookings, including Brock Lesnar in Chicago. We close it out with a review of Don's experience at Raleigh Playthrough Gaming Convention, which then blows Rick's mind with an entrance into unlicensed video game clones... You need to hear this to believe!2018-03-141h 17
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 35: Wakanda Forever... and some common senseYou get a Neo-Geo! You get a Neo-Geo! Everyone get's a Neo-Geo! Well, at least Donald is getting one. Our hosts open up about Donald's most recent find and Rick's pizza-flavored nostalgia around the multi-game arcade cabinet. Then it's time for the in-depth and philosophical review of Marvel's The Black Panther. Both our hosts end up going in a direction they didn't expect! Finally, Rick and Don wrap it up with some of the recent current events on the national stage that can't help but be addressed. Hoping for some common sense in government can't be too much to...2018-03-031h 30
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 34: Worldwide Athletic Competition of ExcellenceCovering the nostalgia around snow days and the Winter Olympics, Rick and Don tackle much of their feel-good childhood Winter memories this week. Along with discussing the trials & tribulations of personal growth, persistence, and experience, and how all of this helped to form our hosts as they are today.
Don also previews his excitement and plans for Raleigh's Playthrough Gaming Convention(https://www.playthroughgc.com/), happening the weekend of February 17-18, 2018.2018-02-131h 17
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 33: Super Bowl Champions!Rick reports in from The Upside-Down on the Philadelphia Eagles winning Super Bowl 52. Donald then confirms that Rick is not in The Upside-Down and that actually happened! Our hosts then review the Super Bowl from different points of view, one from someone who actually watched it and one from someone who was just trying to survive it...
Closing out the episode, Rick and Don cover one of the top-five all-time Royal Rumble pay-per-views, including both a Men's and Women's Royal Rumble match. Setting up plenty of storylines for 2018, this event had more than its share of surprises...2018-02-101h 30
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 32: Ravenclaws Speak from the HeartFirst and foremost, we ensure Don admirably survived Snowpocalypse II: The Return of Snowmageddon... or as the rest of the country would call it, some snow. Then we get an update on Don's plans for traveling to Japan as a lead in to the bulk of our conversation. Kicking that off, we have our (completely unsponsored) first mid-roll, where Rick discusses why you need to attend Heart Camp. Once they break it down, Rick and Don get into the rationalization of being a creative person, imposter syndrome, and breaking through your own mental gatekeeping. This one is from the...2018-01-201h 36
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 31: Serendipitous Japanese Arcade MachinesKicking off the year, Rick and Don jump into what they did over their Christmas Vacation... somehow both of them ending up in vintage arcades and playing Japanese arcade machines! Don's experience was a bit more fruitful than Rick's, but both our hosts had some interesting finds along the way.
Rick then covers his experience attending Smackdown Live! when the WWE was in town over Christmas. Spoilers - somebody was bashed in the head with large wrapped Christmas presents...2018-01-121h 16
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 30: The Game of the Year EditionRick and Don wrap up 2017 with a nice little bow, covering Don's 2017 Game of the Year work. There's a hot top three and an honorable mention that is close to Rick's heart. The guys then jump into some discussion around why Psych may possibly be the best show of all time. Or something like that...2018-01-0258 min
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 29: Rick and Don Show - Episode 29No pulling punches this week! After a quick mea culpa on Rick's AJ Styles position, our hosts jump right into The Last Jedi. Plain and simple, there's more to this movie than meets the eye. Which is more than can be said for Donald's 5 in-theather viewing experiences of Michael Bay's original Transformers.2017-12-221h 23
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 28: Rick and Don Show - Episode 28This week Rick and Don preview some of Don's upcoming Game of the Year reviews, along with the current overall fan experience of the video gaming industry. Then they jump into their excitement and anticipation for Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi. Finally, they wrap it up with a discussion of their favorite Christmas vacation memories.2017-12-201h 19
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 27: Rick and Don Show - Episode 27Our hosts open this week discussing some of the recent controversy in the Magic Community and how to approach being a better community member. Then Rick shamelessly plugs some of Donald's recent poetry publications. Rick covers his airplane viewing experience of Spider-Man: Homecoming and the predicament what to watch afterwards! Finally, our hosts wrap up with some of Donald's Black Friday finds for gaming and beyond!2017-12-111h 08
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 26: Rick and Don Show - Episode 26Welcome to our Thanksgiving episode! Well, it's more of a Black Friday episode, but we're still talking turkey. We kick it off with Don diving into his Pokemon Ultra Sun/Moon experiences, then re-previewing his Game of the Year research and festivities. Then we jump into some deep reviews of Black Friday deals and bargains that our video game-focused listeners will not want to miss.2017-11-231h 12
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 25: Rick and Don Show - Episode 25Another bonus episode this week is Don's Epic Comic-Con Attendance. We cover Don's experience at the Bull City Comicon in Durham, NC. We close it out with some discussion on what we're watching... And as of today, that is Marvel's Runaways on Hulu!
Also, Don previews some blogging he'll be bringing to rickanddon.com as well, including Donald Reviews Movies Poorly and Journey to Japan.2017-11-211h 05
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 24: Rick and Don Show - Episode 24This week it's our Halloween episode! Rick & Don cover their favorite Halloween costumes, some that were painstakingly hand-crafted and some that were worn after some very bad decisions. Don then covers his year so far in video gaming and previews what he'll be covering in his "Gaming Year In Review".2017-11-211h 00
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 23: Rick and Don Show - Episode 23Rick kicks it off with his Jury Duty summons and missing out on talking about that last episode. Detailing with even more agonizing detail, Rick spent some time in the Emergency Room and covers the ins & outs of Kidney Stones! On happier topics, Don covers some of his recent video game playing and what the rest of his year looks like for big name titles! Closing it out, both our hosts agree they'll be putting a lot of time into the upcoming Super Mario Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch!2017-11-081h 06
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 22: Rick and Don Show - Episode 22Rick & Don continue some of the wrestling talk this week with some of the most random wrestling gimmicks going today and follow it up with a run-through of the Hell in a Cell card. We close out the week with a thorough examination of Don's new job and what he really plans to do from 9 to 5.2017-10-231h 06
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 21: Rick and Don Show - Episode 21This week Rick & Don ponder over nostalgia, the "you can't go home again" feeling, & high school reunions. After dabbling on some of their favorite younger-self TV obsessions, they dive into some wresting talk and also awkward plane viewing experiences.2017-10-101h 01
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 20: Rick and Don Show - Episode 20We're on the road this week, coming to you (previously recorded) live from Duck, North Carolina! Starting off, Rick and Don redefine the "no shoes, no shirt, no service" policy before jumping into Don's plans for moving to Japan! Lots of good stuff this week on the first live recording that you won't want to miss!2017-09-1852 min
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 19: Rick and Don Show - Episode 19Rick and Don Show - Episode 19 by TheRickAndDonShow2017-08-291h 05
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 18: Rick and Don Show - Episode 18After a long summer break, our hosts reunite with a lot to catch up! Don talks about his new-found obsession, Persona 5, and why it is definitely worth 100+ hours of your time. Rick and Don then miraculously both end up watching different Dana Carvey specials and discuss the pros & cons (mostly cons) of each. Finally, they circle back on one of the more popular topics, WRESTLING!!!, and talk about why everyone is now 15-time WWE world champion!!!2017-08-101h 20
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 17: Rick and Don Show - Episode 17Rick enjoys an unexpectedly awesome Independence Day from the comfort of his apartment, while Donald discovers some very personal information on Hacksaw Jim Duggan and other guests of Raleigh SuperCon!2017-07-141h 11
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 16: Rick and Don Show - Episode 16We're back after a bit of a hiatus! Thanks to Rick's travel to GP Las Vegas and stupidly getting sick... But this week our guests cover the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, in depth for what goodies are coming soon and how the show has changed since we were kids. Rick then covers his Magic playing experience in Las Vegas and the hope for more of the same in the future! Finally, Don circles back on one of his pre-reviews with some eyeballs-on experience for a movie screener!2017-06-301h 20
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 15: Rick and Don Show - Episode 15This week it's all about games! Video games created much of what our hosts are today, so Rick and Don jump into some of their history, favorite games, current likes & dislikes, and what they are looking forward to in gaming it up solo and with friends.2017-06-121h 05
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 14: Rick and Don Show - Episode 14The Top Ten lists of all Rick & Don's top ten lists... Covering their top ten favorite characters across all of media - from movies to TV to books to anime and beyond! Get a peek into the psyche of our hosts with their most beloved characters and all the reasons why! And be sure to check back for the eventual sequel... The Top Ten Most Loathed Characters!2017-05-261h 58
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 13: Rick and Don Show - Episode 13Lucky number 13 brings Rick and Don their first guest! This week Chris Hendricks joins our hosts to talk about how Rick and Chris met, the definitions of geeks versus nerds, why being a nicer person is better for all of us, and... Aliens! We barely scratch the surface this week with all the communal interests between the guys, so look for Chris to join us again very soon!2017-05-171h 13
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 12: Rick and Don Show - Episode 12This week it's all about guests! We're planning some great stories with great friends, so we cover a bit of what we like about other podcasts and their guests.
Rick also surprises Don with a new game... Don't miss out on "Donald's Summer Movie Reviews," saving you time, money, and brain cells, all based on the IMDB tagline for the summer's hottest movies.2017-05-041h 11
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 11: Rick and Don Show - Episode 11This week, it's all about cons! No, not Nic Cage or Sean Connery! Comic Conventions, also known as Cons! Rick covers his experience at this past weekend's C2E2 2017 in Chicago and compares it with past large Con experiences. Our hosts also dive into the drive to attend Cons and what is just so darn fun about them!2017-04-271h 14
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 10: Rick and Don Show - Episode 10We dive deep into the wonderful world of poetry this week, with some terrific insight from Don. How to read it, why it's important, and Don's personal journey in creative arts. We also have a new home on the web at http://rickanddon.com ! Check it out for all of our episodes and future blog posts.2017-04-121h 15
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 9: Rick And Don Show - Episode 9Our hosts are back this week, after a bit of a travel delay, to discuss all things Netflix comedy (read Dave Chappelle), traveling in Vegas, and the recent Modern Masters 17 release for Magic.2017-03-311h 13
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 8: Rick And Don Show - Episode 8Plenty of talk on Modern Masters 2017, the newest reprint set for Magic The Gathering bound to bring joy and value to all the kids. Don gives an overview of the intent behind reprint sets and then we jump into predicting where some card prices will fall in a year's time!2017-03-151h 24
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 7: Rick And Don Show - Episode 7This week it's all about the Switch! Turn it over and SWITCH!!!
Don braved the lines and successfully acquired a brand spanking new Nintendo Switch... all for the sake of the pod, of course! We talk over the Switch itself and the best game of all time, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.2017-03-091h 22
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 6: Rick And Don Show - Episode 6It's an episode that came out of nowhere! Covering some of the Oscars, Netflix deep cuts, and Power Rangers knockoffs, Rick and Don are back at it again this week. Next week they'll get back to what they planned to talk about!2017-03-0156 min
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 5: Rick And Don Show - Episode 5We have the results of our first media swap! Don scores a find in buying back his childhood, while Rick can't catch a break.
Rick's Media Swap - Gone Home (http://gonehome.game/)
Don's Media Swap - George Carlin: Back in Town (https://www.amazon.com/George-Carlin-Back-Rocco-Urbisci/dp/B00M0DBXTC/ref=sr_1_1)
Bonus Media - George Carlin: Last Words (https://www.amazon.com/Last-Words-George-Carlin/dp/1439191107/ref=sr_1_2)2017-02-221h 36
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 4: Rick And Don Show - Episode 4Rick and Don address some surprising feedback, discuss their self-loathing, and setup a new recurring segment. And plenty of conversation on the writing process!2017-02-111h 33
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 3: Rick And Don Show - Episode 3Don gets philosophical and schools Rick in Magic trading strategies.2017-02-0852 min
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 2: Rick And Don Show - Episode 2Jumping back into it this week, Rick and Don talk about the pinnacle of sports entertainment... wrestling! Rick gets to the root of understanding television programming schedules, while Don discusses his unique Christmas decorating.2017-02-0154 min
The Rick & Don ShowEpisode 1: Rick And Don Show - Episode 1And we're live! The first week of the Rick & Don Show introduces us to well... Rick and Don. They catch up on how they met, why they felt like a podcast would be fun to do, and get into some great quality of life conversation.2017-01-1750 min