What happens when a man teetering on a hotel balcony, ready to end his life, screams out to a God he doesn't believe in — and everything changes?

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Peter A. Colter — musician, author, and survivor — for a raw, unfiltered conversation about addiction, mental illness, faith, and the moment that changed everything.

Peter opens up about growing up deaf, undergoing over a dozen ear surgeries, and discovering music as a lifeline. By 14, he was touring in bands — and struggling with drugs. For the next two decades, bipolar disorder, alcoholism, and repeated suicide attempts defined his life. Seven attempts. In and out of rehabs. Lost in depression so deep he couldn't see his own kids as a reason to stay.

Then came November 14, 2024. A balcony in South Carolina. A last-ditch cry to a God he didn't believe in. And a heart that was changed in an instant.

Now three years sober and walking in faith, Peter has channeled his survival story into The Endless Fall — a young adult novel about addiction, abuse, and the battle for belief — and Carrion Creek, a retro horror anthology series tackling mental health and trauma, set to film in August.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Living with bipolar disorder and what it really feels like from the inside
• How addiction masked pain — and what finally broke the cycle
• The balcony moment: a spiritual awakening that stopped a suicide attempt
• Writing The Endless Fall as an act of healing
• Why Peter answers every message from people who are struggling
• The upcoming horror anthology Carrion Creek and its mental health mission

If you or someone you love has faced addiction, depression, or thoughts of suicide, this episode is essential listening.

Peter’s Bio and Contact Information

Peter A. Colter was born in Utica, New York, and raised in the small village of Clinton, where the quiet streets held both beauty and chaos. A lifelong musician, writer and creative soul, Peter found expression through art and music even in his darkest moments. He has lived with manic depression and bi-polar disorder for most of his life. Weathering storms that many never see and never hear. After writing many screenplay's he decided to start working on novels. His writing comes from a place of raw emotion, real experiences and renewed hope. He lives surrounded by the family he cherishes and continues to grow in faith each day. His hope is that his work reaches others who feel unseen, unheard and lost.

Connect with Peter Colter: Facebook (Peter A. Colter), Instagram (@peter.colter), and find The Endless Fall and Abused on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com

To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com

What happens when you lose your father and your job on the same day?

For Thomas Scaria, resilience coach and founder of Steps Along the Way, April 6, 2020 was that day — and it became the catalyst for a complete life transformation.

In this powerful episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts sits down with Thomas to explore how grief, loss, and a relentless pursuit of purpose can forge unshakeable resilience. From running five solo marathons during COVID lockdown to raise money for cancer research, to nearly finishing an ultra-marathon in South Africa with a bloody, dislocated kneecap — Thomas's story is a masterclass in what the human spirit is capable of.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The PACE framework (Patience, Accountability, Commitment, Excellence) and how to apply it to your career and personal life
• Why resilience is a muscle — and how anyone can build it
• How the Marathon Mindset Method helps professionals move from existing through life to living it
• The difference between managing people and truly developing them as leaders
• Why connecting to a cause greater than yourself is the ultimate performance fuel

Thomas also shares insights from his book Resilience + Rise, his coaching practice for program and project managers, and his upcoming Olympic triathlon — which he's preparing for despite learning to swim less than a year ago.

Whether you're navigating career loss, grief, or simply searching for your next chapter, this conversation will remind you: don't just exist through life — live it.

Thomas Bio and Contact Information

Based in Vancouver, BC, Thomas Scaria is a Resilience & Accountability Coach and the Founder of Steps Along The Way, a personal development initiative that provides coaching services aimed at fostering growth mindsets for program and project managers. His expertise lies in helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with resilience while offering them the tools for accountability to reach their personal and professional goals. Through his innovative approach—The Marathon Mindset Method—Thomas has made significant strides in transforming how professionals perceive success, fulfillment, and resilience in their careers. Discover more about his unique coaching method here. Discover more here.

As an advocate for personal growth, Thomas believes in the power of vulnerability and accountability in fostering meaningful change:

“Growth happens when we embrace vulnerability and take responsibility for our journey,” Thomas shares.

Connect with Thomas Scaria:

🌐 Website: resiliencerisemindset.com

💼 LinkedIn: Thomas Scaria

🎙️ Podcast: Resilience Plus Rise (Spotify & YouTube)

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

To connect with Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com

What if you brought Fortune 500 CEO energy into your cancer treatment? That's exactly what Farla Efros did.

After receiving an aggressive breast cancer diagnosis mid-client call, Farla — president of HRC Retail Advisory and former interim CEO of True Religion — refused to be a passive patient. Instead, she built an "executive board" of healthcare providers, walked into oncology appointments with printed agendas and highlighters, and developed the Healing Rebel Protocol: a step-by-step system for patients to take control of their own care.

In this raw and deeply honest conversation with host Dave Roberts, Farla shares:

• Why hope is not a strategy — and what to do instead
• How she navigated chemo, multiple surgeries, and the deaths of her mother, father, and sister simultaneously
• The role of exercise, nutrition, and integrative medicine in her recovery
• How to advocate for yourself when fear and shock make it nearly impossible
• The mindset shift that transformed cancer from her greatest weakness into her greatest strength

Farla is also the author of Fuck Cancer — a no-nonsense guide that hands readers the exact protocol she used to survive and thrive.

Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this episode will change how you think about the doctor-patient relationship and what it truly means to fight for your life.

🎙️ The Teaching Journeys Podcast — Learning through conversations with extraordinary guests.

Farla’s Bio and Contact Information

Farla Efros is President of HRC Retail Advisory (Accenture), former Interim CEO of True Religion, and author of F*ck Cancer. After receiving an aggressive cancer diagnosis on a client call, she applied 30 years of Fortune 500 turnaround strategy to her own treatment.

Now she teaches patients to bring "CEO Energy" to the exam room through her Healing Rebel Protocol.

📖 CONNECT WITH FARLA EFROS:

🌐 Website: farlaefros.com

📖 Fuck Cancer — Available on Amazon

To find out more about Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com