Kevin Polky - The Journey

Empowering Adoptive and Foster Families: A Conversation with Laura Adams In this week's episode of The Journey with Kevin Polky, Kevin is joined by Laura Adams, the passionate president and CEO of iCARE4 Adoptive And Foster Families. Laura shares her inspiring story of raising two internationally adopted daughters and how that experience fueled her mission to educate, equip, and empower those who support adoptive, foster, and kinship families. Through her organization, iCARE4, Laura provides vital resources to future parents and educators, helping them understand the unique challenges adoptees face throughout their lives. Tune in as Laura discusses her journey, the joys of adoption, and the importance of offering the right support and education to ensure every child has a chance to thrive.

Discovering Truth Through Adversity: Kirsten Edmunds' Journey In this week's episode of The Journey with Kevin Polky, first-time guest Kirsten Edmunds opens up about her personal battles with depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder. Kirsten bravely shares her path to healing, revealing the struggles she faced and the pivotal moments that led her to discover her truth. Through candid conversation, she highlights the importance of sharing one's story, not only as a means of personal growth but as a way to inspire and uplift others who may be going through similar challenges. Join us as Kirsten's story unfolds, offering hope, resilience, and the profound impact of vulnerability in the journey toward self-discovery and helping others.

Nathan returns to The Journey to share about the exciting opportunities coming up for him and his friend group. Nathan is part of the short film being featured on September 19th at Shatter Our Silence Annual Fundraising Dinner and the Afterglow film premier on September 25 th at the Nordlof Center in Rockford from 6-8pm.

During this reflection, I share about the opportunity we have when we have challenges, setbacks or obstacles in our life. Maybe, this challenge will be the “teacher” to give us the opportunity to transform into the person we were designed to be. Enjoy!

Desire to Help Others and put a Smile on Their Face Frank shares about his experience growing being bullied and what he did to cope. Discussed the importance of emotional intelligence and regulating your emotions. He has some great ideas to make a difference in our community. Check out this episode and his website samedaycinema.com

By pursuing his passions it has enabled him to live his ideal life. Brigham returns to The Journey after two years of working Brigs Beard Co. and DJ Briggs. He shares what he has learned about himself as a person and business owner. Great episode with many take aways! Learn about Brigs Beard Co. - https://briggsbeardco.com/ The Journey is presented by Four Corners Wellness Center. Four Corners is dedicated to helping individuals through their personal life journey with a unique, community-driven approach that prioritizes the well-being of our clients. Learn more at https://fourcorners815.com/about-us/

Music that Heals Lillian returns to The Journey to share the story of Wholetones and the power of music that heals. Take a listen to this episode and see how Wholetones can be added to your tools of healing and wellness. Listen to the episode and visit www.wholetones.com/kevinpolky

A Resource for First Responders Brad returns to The Journey, he started the Greg Lindmark Foundation after his brother, Greg died from suicide in 2015. In the past 9 years, the foundation has been critical in breaking the stigma around seeking counseling and providing funding for counseling for first responders. Great episode! Check out www.greglindmarkfoundation.com

Men Battle Eating Disorders Too. Brian Cuban returns to The Journey to share about his story of struggling with being bullied, fat shamed, body image distortion, an eating disorder, and anabolic steroid abuse. A powerful conversation about Brian’s journey. Brian Cuban is the younger brother of Dallas Mavericks owner and entrepreneur Mark Cuban. Brian is an author, speaker, and addiction recovery advocate.

Giving Back to the Sports He Loves Estin Fichter recently graduated from high school and is preparing for college where he will continue his football career. But before he goes, he is holding a football skills camp which he wants to raise money to provide scholarships for students entering college who are interested in pursuing a career in mental health. As a result of recovering from previous injuries, he knows the mental aspect of healing is as important to the physical aspect of healing. Presented by Four Corners Wellness, dedicated to helping individuals through their personal life journey with a unique, community-driven approach that prioritizes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. For more information please visit https://fourcorners815.com/

Trusting God as She is Being Stretched Out of Her Comfort Zone Lillian has an amazing story which we are going to capture over a couple of episodes. Her husband, Michael created Wholetones. A company that creates music to assist in healing. I have been very impressed with their story as well as the benefits of this music. Enjoy! www.wholetones.com. Lillian is the CEO of Wholetones.

Turning Her Dark Time into Hope for Others. Jeanette is saying “yes” more now to offers to share her story. She is Peer Support Specialist who specifically is in recovery from devastating impact of Bipolar Disorder. Listen to this powerful episode of hope and recovery. Jeanette Towns, Recovery Support Specialists for Northern IL NAMI, jeanette@naminorthernillinois.org, 815.963.2470 ext. 2

Join Kevin on this week's episode of The Journey as he welcomes Adam Shafer, a registered dietitian at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois. With a Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics from Illinois State University and a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Northern Illinois University, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation. Together, they dive into the intricate connections between health and happiness, exploring practical insights and strategies for living a fulfilling life. In this episode, Adam introduces the concept of Blue Zones—regions where people consistently live longer and healthier lives. He reveals the key factors contributing to this longevity, including strong community bonds, a sense of purpose, spirituality, and a diet rich in nutritional foods. Adam and Kevin discuss how these elements not only enhance physical health but also significantly reduce stress levels, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to improve their w

Setting goals is a fundamental aspect of personal and professional growth, as it provides direction, motivation, and a clear path to success. Self-discipline plays a crucial role in achieving these goals, as it helps maintain focus, overcome obstacles, and persist through challenges. Additionally, having control over your thoughts is essential for fostering a positive mindset, reducing stress, and staying aligned with your objectives, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and productive life. These podcasts are intended to capture ordinary conversations with special individuals about personal transformation, ideas and observations.

In this week's episode of The Journey with Kevin Polky, we are joined by Dalton Bullard, an entrepreneur and former Division 1 wrestler. As a dedicated coach, Dalton helps individuals navigate their development, whether in sports or other areas of life. Together, we dive into the holistic approach to wellness, exploring the common struggles many face on their personal paths. Tune in for an insightful conversation about growth, resilience, and the tools needed to thrive.

In this week’s episode of The Journey with Kevin Polky, we’re joined by Nathan Sill, the talented writer and director of Afterglow. Nathan is not only a creative force in the film industry but also an athlete and parkour enthusiast. He shares the inspiring story of his journey through a challenging injury and how it became a pivotal moment for personal growth and transformation. Tune in to hear Nathan's insights on resilience, creativity, and the power of perseverance.

Learn more about Four Corners Wellness at https://fourcorners815.com/

This week's podcast episode dives into the significance of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, shedding light on the importance of destigmatizing mental health struggles and fostering a culture of understanding and support. Additionally, we introduce Four Corners Wellness, a holistic approach to mental well-being. Join us as we explore how we can empower individuals to prioritize their mental health and cultivate a balanced and fulfilling life.

Brian Cuban, the younger brother of Dallas Mavericks owner and entrepreneur Mark Cuban, is a Dallas-based attorney, author and addiction recovery advocate. He is a graduate of Penn State University and The University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Brian has been in long-term recovery from alcohol, cocaine and bulimia since April of 2007. He currently resides in Dallas with his wife and two cats. Find out more at https://briancuban.com/

Anna Marie Candelario returns to the podcast to discuss her experience as an educator and as someone who has gone through setbacks. These podcasts are intended to capture ordinary conversations with special individuals about personal transformation, ideas and observations. I will be bringing you a variety of guests, that will be sharing their own personal stories of setbacks, transformation and reflection. I look forward to where this journey will go and invite you to come along.