Imagine life trucking along, young healthy children, pursuing a dream career, a wonderful marriage, a beautiful home. When you are in your 30's, you don't think that life can change so rapidly. But that's the tricky thing about life, it doesn't matter how old you are, life has a way of veering us of course and onto a whole new path.

Today's guest, Ellen Duncan knows this experience all to well. Her late husband's life was cut short very suddenly-barely into his mid 30's. With two young girls, Ellen was faced with figuring out how to navigate a new path forced upon her.

Ellen learned that she needed to lean in completely. What does that look like--this idea of leaning in? Leaning into what? Grief? Happiness? Widowhood? Motherhood? Life? All of the above. Most importantly Ellen had to lean into her faith and rely on her instincts to help her navigate leaning on herself more than anything else.

You can listen anywhere you get your podcasts or watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Want our homemade creamy Mac & Cheese recipe (lactose friendly)? Get it in episode 3 of this season and watch how it's made on our YouTube channel.

Season Sponsors:

GammaTile Therapy (gammatile.com)

Imvax Inc. (imvax.com)

Episode Sponsor:

Highmark Bluecross Blueshield of WNY (highmark.com)

We are all guilty of it; something overwhelming happens or a trauma and we try to bury our grief, our stress, our feelings over what's happened. But, we can't outrun our grief or trauma. Eventually it manifests in other ways, sometimes physically.

In today's episode, I talk with Grief Coach Kelci Jager of Rise with Grief, & author of A Millions Miracles and the One That Didn't Come.

Kelci's journey through her own grief started with a car accident with her boys that led to a discovery they didn't expect. While trying to navigate that health crisis, her husband then became diagnosed with cancer. This interview is a poignant account of how significant trauma can truly make us feel lost unless we face it head on. Listen now and visit our website for the directions to the recipe talked about in this episode!

For a "how to" on the recipe, visit our YouTube channel. At the end of this episode is a special video of Shannon's homemade Mac & Cheese!

Season Sponsors:

GammaTile Therapy

Imvax Inc.

Episode Sponsor:

Plus Therapeutics

There is a Chinese proverb- "The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed." We never know what we are on the cusp of until we finish the journey. And, while failing teaches us many things, we don't have to be scared of failing. We should only be scared of walking away.

In today's episode, our 50th episode of The Game On Glio Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Sheri Dewan, a board certified Neurosurgeon with expertise in neurological and spine surgery. Dr. Dewan is also a best selling author, having recently published her book- Cutting A Path: The Power of Purpose, Discipline, and Determination. She performs neurosurgery at Ascension Health Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI, and treats patients with brain and spine issues, brain tumors, degenerative disc disease and SI joint dysfunction. Dr. Dewan specializes in minimally invasive robotic spine surgery.

She and I sit down, during this brain cancer awareness month, to talk about her life in neurosurgery, her book, where she sees the area of brain tumor advancements, and her hopes for the neuro-medicine and surgery in the coming years.

Season Sponsors:

GammaTile Therapy

Imvax Inc.

Episode Sponsors:

Highmark Bluecross Blueshield

Plus Therapeutics

Carthera Inc.