SH!T CREEK SURVIVORS

Most Americans have heard the term Gold Star Family, but few truly understand what it means—or the lifelong sacrifice these families carry.In this moving episode of SH!T CREEK SURVIVORS, Navy veteran Anthony Price shares his own journey through personal tragedy and how it led him to a life dedicated to serving Gold Star families across America.After enduring the heartbreaking loss of custody of his children, Anthony found healing by helping others. Today, through the Gold Star Ride Foundation, he rides his motorcycle across the country honoring the parents, spouses, siblings, and children of military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.Anthony shares unforgettable stories from the road, explains the meaning behind the Gold Star designation, and reminds us that these families live in communities all around us. This conversation explores resilience, grief, healing, service, and the enduring impact of sacrifice.Whether you're a veteran, have a loved one who served, or simply want to better understand the true cost of freedom, this episode offers an inspiring perspective on finding purpose after pain.• What defines a Gold Star Family• Anthony's Navy service during Desert Storm• Losing custody of his children and rebuilding his life• Finding purpose through serving others• The mission of the Gold Star Ride Foundation• Powerful stories from Gold Star families across America• The importance of honoring our fallen heroes beyond Memorial Day and the Fourth of July• Practical ways anyone can support Gold Star familiesAnthony Price is a U.S. Navy veteran and the founder of the Gold Star Ride Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring America's fallen service members and supporting their families through remembrance rides, community outreach, and acts of service.🌐 Gold Star Ride Foundationhttps://www.goldstarride.org📘 Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/goldstarride2017▶️ YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSy-IjEMmZBSJ0shyPOr8GA✖️ Xhttps://x.com/goldstarride📰 CBS News Featurehttps://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-veteran-gold-star-families-motorcycle/Everyone ends up in a "Sh!t Creek" at some point in life.Each week, host Cameron McKay sits down with survivors who have faced life's toughest challenges, exploring the paddles that helped them find hope, healing, and resilience. Through authentic conversations, listeners discover practical tools for overcoming adversity and inspiration for navigating their own difficult seasons.New episodes every Tuesday.

What if you couldn't eat food for the first 24 years of your life?For most of us, eating is something we rarely think about. It's part of daily life—birthday cake, pizza with friends, family dinners, and grabbing a quick meal on the go.For Ben Sutter, none of that was possible.Due to a rare medical condition called eosinophilic gastroenteritis, Ben survived on a dietary replacement formula from the time he was 15 months old. While others were building memories around food, Ben was navigating feeding tubes, elimination diets, medical procedures, and the emotional challenges of feeling different from everyone around him.Then, at 24 years old, everything changed.In this episode of SH!T CREEK SURVIVORS, Ben shares what it was like growing up unable to eat, the mental and emotional impact of living with a rare condition, and the fear he faced when he finally had the opportunity to try food for the first time.This conversation explores resilience, faith, gratitude, personal growth, and the courage required to step into the unknown. Ben's story is a powerful reminder that even when life doesn't look the way we expected, there is always hope, purpose, and a path forward.Whether you're facing health challenges, anxiety, fear, loss, or a difficult season in life, this episode offers encouragement and perspective from someone who has spent a lifetime overcoming obstacles most people never have to consider.• Growing up with eosinophilic gastroenteritis• Living on formula and feeding tubes• Never eating pizza, chicken, steak, or most common foods• The emotional impact of feeling different• Learning to eat food for the first time at 24• Overcoming fear and embracing discomfort• The role of faith during difficult seasons• Food therapy and emotional healing• Building resilience through adversity• Finding gratitude in unexpected circumstancesBen Sutter is a content creator and advocate who began eating food for the first time at age 24 after spending his entire life surviving on a nutritional formula due to a rare medical condition.Known for his positive outlook and unique perspective on life, Ben shares his journey to help others appreciate the things many of us take for granted while encouraging people facing their own challenges to keep moving forward.SH!T CREEK SURVIVORS is a podcast sharing real stories of resilience, recovery, and hope. Each week, guests share the challenges that left them stuck up their own "shit creek," the paddles that helped them get out, and the lessons they learned along the way.Hosted by Cameron McKay.Website:www.shitcreeksurvivors.comEmail:[email protected]:SHT Creek SurvivorsPlease follow, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us reach more people who may need hope, encouragement, and practical tools for navigating their own challenges.Ben Sutter, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, EGID, rare disease, chronic illness, feeding tube, food allergies, resilience, overcoming adversity, inspirational stories, faith, hope, personal growth, emotional healing, overcoming fear, health journey, motivation, perseverance, life challenges, SH!T CREEK SURVIVORS

What happens when the life you built for more than two decades suddenly falls apart?In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, Heather Theisen-Gandara shares her journey through childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and an unexpected divorce after 24 years of marriage.What follows is an honest conversation about grief, identity loss, responsibility, and what it actually takes to rebuild your life when nothing looks the way you thought it would.Heather opens up about growing up in a home shaped by addiction and instability, the healing work that helped her process old wounds, and the lessons she learned while rediscovering herself in midlife.Together, Cam and Heather discuss:• Childhood trauma and emotional neglect• Therapy, EMDR, and processing difficult emotions• Moving from victimhood to personal responsibility• Divorce after a long-term marriage• Rebuilding confidence and identity• Letting go of resentment• Midlife reinvention and finding purpose again• Why healing isn't linear—and why that's okayWhether you're navigating divorce, carrying unresolved pain from childhood, or finding yourself in a season of unexpected change, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and practical wisdom for taking the next step forward.Because even when life leaves you stuck up shit creek, there's always a paddle waiting to be found.ABOUT OUR GUESTHeather Theisen-Gandara is a divorce coach, speaker, and author who helps women over 40 rebuild confidence, rediscover who they are, and embrace the next chapter of their lives after divorce and major life transitions.After experiencing an unexpected divorce following a 24-year marriage, Heather transformed her own healing journey into a mission to help other women move from survival to self-discovery.She is the author of:The Ultimate Glow-Up Guide for Women Over 40: Build Confidence, Redefine Your Style, and Reclaim Your Spark.Website:www.reignitecollective.comSocial Media:YouTube: @HeatherGlowsAgainInstagram: @HeatherGlowsAgainTikTok: @HeatherGlowsAgainFacebook: @HeatherGlowsAgainPlease follow Sh!t Creek Survivors and leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform. Sharing the show with someone you care about is one of the best ways to help these stories reach the people who need them most.

What would you do if you were told you had a terminal cancer diagnosis?For many patients and families, those words stop everything.In this episode, Heather Von St. James shares her powerful journey after being diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma shortly after giving birth to her daughter. She was told she had a limited prognosis and faced the possibility of not watching her child grow up.Instead of giving in to fear, Heather chose hope.This conversation explores what it really takes to face a life-changing diagnosis, how mindset and mental health impact healing, and how support systems, therapy, and community can make a difference in even the hardest moments.Heather also shares how she turned her experience into a mission of advocacy, helping others facing cancer, rare disease, and survivorship challenges.In this episode, we discuss:• Receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis after childbirth• Emotional impact of rare cancer (mesothelioma)• Fear, grief, and mental health during treatment• The importance of support systems and communication• Finding purpose through adversity• Turning pain into advocacy and service• Healing through helping othersHeather’s story is not just about surviving cancer—it’s about how to keep living when life feels uncertain.GUEST: HEATHER VON ST. JAMESHeather Von St. James is a mesothelioma survivor, patient advocate, environmental toxin activist, speaker, and mentor. She focuses on survivorship, rare cancer awareness, mental health in cancer care, and helping patients and families navigate life after diagnosis.CONNECT WITH HEATHERWebsite: https://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/prognosis/survivors/heather-von-st-james/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-von-st-james-95174944/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherVonStJamesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathervsjX (Twitter): @HeatherVSJPhone: 651-308-6892Location: Minneapolis, MN, USAABOUT SH!T CREEK SURVIVORSSh!t Creek Survivors shares real stories of people facing life’s hardest challenges, the moments that broke them, and the strength that helped them rebuild. Our mission is simple: to bring hope to anyone stuck in their own shit creek.CONTACT SH!T CREEK SURVIVORSWebsite: https://shitcreeksurvivors.comFacebook: Sh!t Creek SurvivorsEmail: [email protected]: 314-650-3132YouTube: @ShitCreekSurvivorsEPISODE THEMESCancer diagnosis, terminal illness, mesothelioma, survivorship, mental health, trauma recovery, patient advocacy, hope, resilience, grief, healing, family, mindset, rare disease awareness

What if the hardest chapters of your life aren't detours—but part of the journey that shapes who you're meant to become?In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, Peter Bailey shares the lessons behind his book, The Epic of You, and explains how adversity, trauma, addiction, heartbreak, and life's unexpected challenges can become catalysts for growth, resilience, and purpose.Drawing from a lifetime of extraordinary experiences—from surviving childhood dysfunction and addiction to traveling the world and overcoming near-death situations—Peter discusses why every person is living their own Hero's Journey and how embracing that perspective can transform the way we face life's struggles.We discuss overcoming shame and hopelessness, the importance of allies and community, lessons from recovery, practical tools for interrupting negative thought patterns, and why your story is far from over.Whether you're navigating a difficult season or searching for greater meaning in your journey, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and practical wisdom.In This Episode:Childhood trauma and family dysfunctionThe Hero's Journey and personal transformationRecovery, addiction, and growthOvercoming shame, inadequacy, and hopelessnessBuilding resilience through adversityThe impact of social media on self-worthPractical tools for changing negative patternsFinding purpose through life's transitionsGratitude, hope, and living intentionallyContact Peter Bailey:Website: www.peter-bailey.comTEDx Talk: Developing The Heroic Journey MindsetBook: The Epic of YouAudiobook: Available on Spotify and AudibleContact Show:Website: shitcreeksurvivors.comEmail: [email protected]: 314-650-3132Facebook: Sht Creek SurvivorsYouTube: Sh!t Creek Survivors

At 54 years old, Alison Gieschen—known as The Nautical Novelist—made a life-changing decision: she sold everything she owned and, together with her husband, stepped onto a 43-foot sailboat and set out to sail around the world.In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, Alison shares her powerful journey from growing up on a self-sustaining farm, to childhood visions of sailing, to a traumatic job loss that became the catalyst for a bold five-year plan to circumnavigate the globe.What followed was years of preparation, ocean crossings, storms, mechanical failures, emotional challenges, and deep personal transformation across 48 countries and multiple continents.We discuss:Childhood visions and early connection to sailingFarm life, trauma, and personal reinventionRediscovering sailing and heavy weather trainingThe decision to sail the world at 54Life aboard a 43-foot sailboatSurviving storms and technical failures at seaGratitude, signs, and resilience under pressurePTSD, mental fatigue, and emotional enduranceHelping others and finding purpose through serviceAdvice for anyone delaying their dreamsThis is a story about courage, reinvention, and what it means to rebuild your life when you choose uncertainty over comfort—and freedom over fear.Alison Gieschen, The Nautical Novelist, is a former teacher, equestrian coach, and horse farm owner who reinvented her life in midlife.At 54, she and her husband sold everything they owned and began a global sailing journey aboard their sailboat EQUUS. Since then, they have traveled across oceans and visited 48 countries, documenting a life defined by adventure, resilience, and transformation.She now shares her experiences through writing and storytelling, blending real-world sailing adventures with themes of courage, growth, and human connection.Website: https://alisongieschen.comSailing Blog: https://sailmates.orgContact Shit Creek Survivors PodcastHave a story of resilience, transformation, or a life-changing moment you want to share?We’d love to hear from you and consider you as a guest on Sh!t Creek Survivors.📧 Email: [email protected]🌐 Website: https://shitcreeksurvivors.comFollow & connect:YouTube: Sh!t Creek SurvivorsFacebook: Sht Creek Survivors

What was it like on the ground during the hunt for the Boston Marathon bomber?In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, retired SWAT Sergeant Jim Vaglica shares a firsthand account of one of the most intense manhunts in modern American history following the Boston Marathon bombing.With over 32 years in law enforcement and 16 years on an elite SWAT team, Jim walks us through the chaos that unfolded after the bombing — including the Watertown shootout, tactical house-to-house sweeps, explosive threats, and the final capture of the second suspect hiding in a boat.But this episode goes far beyond tactics.Jim opens up about the psychological and emotional toll of long-term service in law enforcement — including burnout, trauma exposure, changing public perception, and the growing mental health crisis affecting officers across the country.This is a conversation about service, survival, brotherhood, and what it really means to answer a higher calling.00:00 Introduction – Life Behind the Badge05:22 Mobilizing for the Boston Marathon Manhunt09:58 Watertown Shootout & Immediate Response18:30 SWAT House-to-House Operations25:05 Final Capture of the Suspect38:46 Recruitment Crisis & Public Perception Shift50:02 Mental Health, Trauma & Burnout55:29 Honoring Officer Sean Collier1:07:41 Brotherhood, Humor & Survival🌐 Guest CreditJim Vaglica — Retired Law Enforcement Officer & SWAT SergeantX: https://x.com/JimVaglicaSh!t Creek Survivors shares real stories of resilience, survival, and the moments that change lives forever.🌐 Website: https://shitcreeksurvivors.com📧 Email: [email protected]📘 Facebook: SHT Creek Survivors▶️ YouTube: Sh!t Creek Survivors

What actually happens to your mind after a near-death experience?In this episode, Lorri shares a grounded, real-world account of surviving a life-threatening medical emergency—and the psychological aftermath that followed. Instead of instant transformation, she describes identity loss, cognitive disruption, and the slow process of rebuilding clarity and trust in her own thinking.This conversation focuses on what most people don’t talk about:what happens after survival.We explore:How trauma affects decision-making and perceptionIdentity loss and rebuilding your sense of selfWhy your mind feels unreliable after extreme stressNervous system overload and emotional instabilityThe difference between survival mode and clear thinkingHow clarity and intuition return over timePractical tools for regaining stability and controlLorri is a licensed real estate broker with nearly 30 years of experience in high-stakes environments. Her work bridges real-world leadership under pressure with lived experience navigating extreme personal crisis.This is not about instant healing.It’s about rebuilding your mind, identity, and decision-making after everything changes.Lorri Brewer is a keynote speaker, and award-winning author based in Alberta, Canada.She is also a verified near-death experience survivor following a life-threatening medical event that required 39 minutes of resuscitation.Today, she speaks on resilience, identity reconstruction, and decision-making under pressure—helping people rebuild trust in themselves after trauma and disruption.About the Show:Real stories of people getting stuck up shit creek—and the paddles that got them out. Honest conversations about survival, resilience, and rebuilding when life goes sideways.Keywordsnear death experience, trauma recovery, identity loss, decision making under pressure, nervous system regulation, PTSD recovery, survival mindset, resilience, emotional healing, mental clarity

Childhood trauma doesn’t just stay in the past—it shapes how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how you move through life.In this episode, Richard Becker shares his journey growing up in poverty, emotional neglect, and instability—and how those early experiences shaped his identity in ways he didn’t fully understand until adulthood.This conversation explores the long-term impact of childhood trauma on self-worth, relationships, and mental health—and what it actually takes to heal.Through faith, self-awareness, and forgiveness, Richard walks through how he rebuilt his identity and found purpose beyond his past.If you’ve ever felt stuck in patterns you can’t explain, or defined by your past, this episode offers perspective—and a path forward.How childhood trauma shapes identity and behaviorThe hidden impact of labels and early experiencesWhy trauma carries into adult relationshipsThe role of faith and spirituality in healingHow to begin the process of forgivenessPractical ways to rebuild self-worth and identityRichard Becker is a writer, storyteller, and survivor of complex childhood trauma.Raised in poverty on Milwaukee’s railroad tracks, he experienced early loss, emotional neglect, and instability that shaped his identity from a young age.Through education, personal reflection, and spiritual growth, Richard challenged those early narratives and rebuilt his sense of self.He now shares his story to help others navigate healing, identity, and personal growth.Author of Third WheelWelcome to Sh!t Creek Survivors, where we share real stories of people getting stuck up shit creek, the paddles that got them out, and hope for anyone stuck in their own shit creek right now.We explore real-life adversity—mental, emotional, financial, and spiritual—and the turning points that help people rebuild when everything feels like it’s falling apart.Website: https://shitcreeksurvivors.comEmail: [email protected]: 314-650-3132Facebook: Sht Creek SurvivorsYouTube: Sh!t Creek Survivors00:00 Introduction00:21 Growing up in poverty and instability01:11 Early loss and emotional neglect02:35 Family illness and identity formation03:33 Labels, bullying, and self-perception04:54 Education as a turning point06:44 Family dysfunction and trauma09:41 ADHD and societal labeling12:13 Forgiveness and family struggles13:48 Emotional conditioning16:55 Faith and spiritual awakening18:10 Trauma and relationships19:34 Unconditional love23:52 Confrontation and forgiveness25:38 Identity beyond labels32:44 Rebuilding self-worth44:42 Faith as strength54:11 Spiritual transformation66:03 Family reconciliation74:04 Healing through awareness94:42 Gratitude and presence98:48 Final advicechildhood trauma, trauma healing, overcoming trauma, forgiveness, mental health, identity, emotional healing, resilience, personal growth, faith and healing, trauma recovery, childhood neglect, self worth, healing journey, adversity

In this episode of Sh!t Creek Survivors, we sit down with Susanne Arens—survivor, author, and evidential psychic medium—to explore a journey shaped by profound loss, resilience, and spiritual transformation.Susanne’s life has been marked by experiences that would break most people. She lost her father unexpectedly, later endured the devastating loss of her young daughter, and faced multiple battles with cancer and heart surgery. At her lowest point, she found herself questioning whether she could go on.But what followed changed everything.Through vivid dream visitations and deeply personal experiences, Susanne began to interpret these moments as communication from loved ones who had passed. Over time, this led her to develop her abilities as an evidential psychic medium—work she now uses to help others navigate grief and healing.In this conversation, we explore grief, survival, and the possibility of connection beyond death—while leaving space for listeners to form their own perspective.🔑 WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODESusanne’s experience losing her father and daughterNavigating deep grief and emotional survivalHer battles with cancer and major health challengesDream visitations and spiritual experiencesDeveloping intuition and mediumship abilitiesPerspectives on life after death and continued connectionRebuilding a life through resilience and purpose👤 ABOUT SUSANNE ARENSSusanne Arens is an evidential psychic medium, author, and survivor whose life has been shaped by profound personal loss and extraordinary resilience.After enduring the loss of her father and daughter, along with multiple serious health challenges, Susanne experienced what she describes as a spiritual awakening. Through years of personal exploration and study, she developed her abilities as a medium and now works with individuals navigating grief and loss.She is the author of There Is No DEATH: Evidence of the Spirit World, Spirits and Orbs, where she shares her story along with her perspective on spiritual connection and life beyond death.🌐 CONNECT WITH SUSANNE ARENSWebsite: CrystalPeakMedium.comPhone: 719-900-1899YouTube: @crystalpeakmediumTikTok: @crystalpeakmediumInstagram: @crystalpeakmediumFacebook: CrystalPeakMedium📩 CONTACT THE SHOW – Sh!t Creek SurvivorsHave a story to share or want to be a guest on the show?Email: [email protected]: shitcreeksurvivors.comPhone: 314-650-3132YouTube: Sh!t Creek SurvivorsFacebook: Sht Creek Survivors🔑 KEY TOPICS / KEYWORDSGrief and loss, life after death, spiritual awakening, psychic medium, evidential mediumship, afterlife communication, dream visitations, near death experience, trauma recovery, child loss grief, healing after tragedy, resilience, consciousness after death, spiritual signs, intuition development