Family

From Adolescence to Adulthood: Helping Young People Thrive with Thomas J. LaGrave, Jr.

 
Thomas J. LaGrave, Jr., a bestselling author, former Navy SEAL, and licensed clinical social worker dedicated to mentoring and transforming the lives of adolescent men through education, healing, and advocacy joins eHealth Radio and the Health News and Mental Health Channels.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Thomas J. LaGrave, Jr. discuss the following:
What issues are most destructive to our young people in today's world?
What is it that our youth need most to thrive in the modern era?
What can parents do to help support the mental health of their children?
Why did you write the book: "Special Welfare . Social Warfare - Adolescence to Adulthood, a Guidebook?
What can the older generations (The Greatest, The Silent, and Boomer's) do to help their grandchildren to thrive in our modern society?
Summary: The best approach for raising teens is authoritative parenting—balancing warmth with clear expectations. Unlike authoritarian control or permissive leniency, this style helps teens develop independence while staying grounded. Teens are highly influenced by social media and peer pressure, making parental guidance crucial. Studies show that youth with personal aspirations for adulthood—like career or family goals—are far less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Encourage open conversations, set clear expectations, and support their dreams. It’s the best way to guide them toward a successful, responsible adulthood.
Thomas J. LaGrave Jr. is a bestselling author, licensed clinical social worker, and the founder of HonorBound Academy, a year-long immersive program based in Sonoma, California, dedicated to the education, healing, and mentorship of adolescent men.
A former medical corpsman with the U.S. Navy SEALs, LaGrave has spent over 35 years working with more than 3,000 young men, specializing in the psychological and developmental challenges of adolescence and the transition to adulthood.
A recovering addict and alcoholic for more than three decades, LaGrave draws from his personal journey and extensive professional background to offer deep insight into the complex struggles facing today’s youth.
His latest book, Special Welfare, Social Warfare, launched in November and follows his earlier work, The Bell Tolls For Thee: A Soliloquy. LaGrave’s career spans hospital work, adolescent mental health, addiction recovery, and youth incarceration programs. He also served as a Military Family & Life Consultant for U.S. Armed Forces Special Operations Command.
His commitment to shaping the future of at-risk youth through innovative programs and personal mentorship has positioned him as a leading voice in adolescent mental health and social development.
Website: https://thehonorboundacademy.org 
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thomasjlagravejr  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomasjlagravejr  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjlagravejr  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thomasjlagravejr 
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Bonus Families are the New Traditional Family: Here's How to Make Them Work

 
Dr. Jann Blackstone that specializes in child custody, co-parenting, divorce, and step family mediation joins eHealth Radio and the Family Health & Health News Channels. She is the author of multiple books on divorce, remarriage, and co-parenting.  Her newest book is The Bonus Family Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Co-Parenting and Creating Stronger Families. 
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Dr. Jann Blackstone discuss the following:
What can co-parents do when they just can't get along, and every discussion or decision is fraught with tension and resentment?

How can you get exes to stop badmouthing each other? Do most people even know what badmouthing is?

Why is badmouthing so harmful for the children — what message does it send that co-parents miss?

When a child confides in one of their parents and asks them not to tell the other one, should that request be honored? What's more important — gaining the child's trust by keeping the secret, or keeping communication open between co-parents?
What happens when a judge issues a decision in a divorce or a separation — for instance about keeping to a rigid schedule — but it just doesn't always work for the co-parents?
What does "put your children first" really mean?
What if one co-parent starts dating again — should they tell the other parent?
If a co-parent wants to share that they've met someone important, who should they tell first — their children, or the other parent, and why?
Is there a single factor that can make blending the family more successful?
You coined the term "bonus family" — what does that mean, and why do you want people to use that instead of "step family"?
Many co-parents need some help with communication. What are some words to watch out for — that may seem they should promote positive communication, but in fact, they don't help?
What's a good strategy for co-parents who feel like they should be done trying to problem-solve together, but really still have challenges to face when it comes to the children? How do you convince them to work together?
Dr. Jann Blackstone specializes in child custody, co-parenting, divorce, and step family mediation. She is the author of multiple books on divorce, remarriage, and co-parenting, including Ex-Etiquette for Parents: Good Behavior After Divorce and Separation, Ex-Etiquette for Weddings, Ex-Etiquette for Holidays, and My Parents are Divorced, Too. Dr. Blackstone is also the founder of Bonus Families, a 501 c3 non-profit organization dedicated to peaceful coexistence between divorced or separated parents and their combined families. Her new book is The Bonus Family Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Co-Parenting and Creating Stronger Families. 
Website: https://www.bonusfamilies.com
Social Media Links: Facebook (Bonus Families): https://www.facebook.com/bonusfamilies Facebook (Jann Blackstone): https://www.facebook.com/jann.blackstone 
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Turning Tragedy into Action – A Family’s Fight for Genetic Awareness

 
Dr. Matt Goldstein, the CEO of jScreen, that focuses on providing accessible, life-saving genetic testing to empower individuals with critical health insights joins eHealth Radio and the Cancer Prevention and Health News Channels.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Dr. Matt Goldstein discuss the following:
Tell me about your role at jScreen and your background.
How did you come to join jScreen and tell us about the public initiative and what they do?
What is the most important thing people need to know about genetic testing when planning a family?
Jscreen also offers genetic cancer testing – can you tell us about this?
Where can people go to learn more about jScreen and get tested?
Summary: Genetic and Cancer genetic testing can save lives and the more people that do get tested the more lives can be saved.  To learn more visit https://www.jscreen.org.
Dr. Matt Goldstein is a dedicated physician-scientist and entrepreneur with a passion for advancing genetic research. As CEO of jScreen, he focuses on providing accessible, life-saving genetic testing to empower individuals with critical health insights.
With extensive experience in biotech, Dr. Goldstein has led major initiatives, including founding and guiding companies like Tango Therapeutics and Neon Therapeutics through pivotal clinical developments and strategic partnerships. A graduate of Stanford University's MD/PhD program, he completed his clinical training at Harvard Medical School.
Driven by both professional and personal experiences, including the loss of his eldest daughter, Havi, to Tay-Sachs disease, Dr. Goldstein is deeply committed to jScreen's mission of proactive health management.
Website: https://www.jscreen.org
Social Media Links: X: https://x.com/myjscreenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/getjscreenedLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jscreen
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Groundbreaking Docuseries Follows a Man’s Mental Health Journey

 
Adam Schomer, the acclaimed producer of HEAL and director of the newly released docuseries Selling Superman joins eHealth Radio and the Mental Health Channel. Adam’s docuseries explores themes that resonate deeply with our audience here on eHealth Radio—mental health, the cost of perfectionism, and redefining heroism.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels guest Adam Schomer discuss the following:
What is Selling Superman about?
This film is as much about comic book collecting as it is mental health and self-worth. Can you please explain how the series pulls back the curtain on how childhood dynamics and societal pressures shape anxiety, perfectionism, and self-perception.
Explain the significance of Authentic Heroism that you are trying to convey. Specifically, how Darren, the main character, redefines heroic qualities by unmasking his emotions and bravely confronting his struggles.
As a filmmaker how do you straddle Responsibility vs. Exploitation: The ethical challenges of storytelling when the subject’s vulnerability is at stake?
Philosophical Insights: From Nietzsche’s “Übermensch” to Superman’s moral lessons, as a filmmaker and storyteller how do we redefine value and purpose in a modern world?
The Pilgrimage of Healing: Why does a true transformation require bravery, perspective, and a willingness to confront the shadows within?
Film Synopsis: About Selling Superman
This groundbreaking docuseries follows a man’s mental health journey as he inherits over 300,000 comics, including a rare $3M Superman #1. Beneath the surface, the story reveals the burden of perfectionism, family secrets, and the transformative struggle to find self-worth in the shadow of a shocking inheritance.
About Adam Schomer
Adam Schomer is a documentary filmmaker, president of i2i Productions, and is known for going to extreme lengths to follow stories that empower us. Feature documentaries include the award winning THE HIGHEST PASS (2012), THE POLYGON (2014), ONE LITTLE PILL (2015), and WOMEN OF THE WHITE BUFFALO (2022). He is well known for producing the #1 iTunes Best-Seller and NETFLIX hit, HEAL (2017), which went on to spawn three online summits, a Heal book, the Heal podcast, and now Heal conferences. It continues to be the goto film for holistic healing and streams on Amazon Prime.
Adam created and directed the 10 episode docu-series THE ROAD TO DHARMA (2020), a heart pounding and spirit driven quest to find freedom on motorcycles in the Himalayas, and wrote its companion online course for Living a Life of Freedom. He just finished directing and producing the 4-part documentary SELLING SUPERMAN (2024) and writing/directing the feature documentary FINDING PEACE (2024) featuring the famed Tibetan Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard. I2i’s newest feature doc in development is ERIN’S LAW (2026) of which Adam is the executive producer.
i2i Productions is located in Santa Monica, California. Our mission is to Unite Through Wisdom and Entertainment. IMDb: Adam Schomer IMDb: i2i Productions.
Website & Trailer: https://www.sellingsuperman.com Trailer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SellingSuperman 
Social Handles: YouTube: @SellingSupermanInstagram: @SellingSupermanFilm Facebook: @SellingSupermanFilm X: @SellSupermanDoc
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The Importance of Strong Executive Functioning for Adults and Children

 
Dr. Anna Levy Warren, CEO and Founder of Organizational Tutors, a leading network of executive functioning tutors who offer specialized and individualized coaching across the country to students of all ages with diverse learning profiles joins eHealth Radio and the Health News Channel.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Dr. Anna Levy Warren discuss the following:
Can you start us off with a real, practical example of why you need strong executive functioning to navigate daily life?
What is executive functioning for those who may not fully understand the term?
Could you share some practical tips or tools that parents can implement to support executive functioning in children?
For parents who are listening in who may feel frustrated or overwhelmed by their child's struggles with executive functioning, what advice or encouragement can you offer to them to navigate these challenges? How can they maintain a positive and supportive environment at home?
Using the impending chaos we all feel around the holidays, what would be your 5 expert tips on supporting kids with executive functioning struggles to access the joy of the season?
Tip: Your calendar is key. Develop a positive relationship with your calendar.  Take time to color code by activity and make sure that the colors fit the feeling that you want from that moment or experience.  Each week go over your calendar, making it a point to see how the entire week ahead lays out.  Develop a positive relationship with your calendar and embrace the benefits this organization can bring to your life and well-being.
Anna Levy-Warren is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Organizational Tutors. With over 20 years of experience in the field of psychology including a PhD in Clinical Psychology, Anna is a leader in the field addressing executive functioning challenges in students of all ages. With an expert understanding of diverse learning profiles and first-hand experience as a parent, Anna brings to Organizational Tutors a unique combination of clinical experience and a passion for empowering learners to develop skills to excel in all aspects of their lives.
In 2005, Anna established a network of experts with advanced degrees in cognition and education to help students and adults with executive functioning difficulties and other complex learning profiles. The student-centered aspects of this network came to be known as Organizational Tutors in 2014.
As the head of the Organizational Tutors network, Anna serves as matchmaker to connect individuals with the right tutors and actively supervises and manages the network. This integrative and innovative network of hundreds of tutors provides individual coaching, consultations and creative programming to students across the country. Additionally, as the Chief Executive Officer of Organizational Tutors, Anna oversees and leads on all areas of the business’s operations and strategy.
Anna is also the Co-Founder of Dwellness, which provides in-home and innovative in-person therapy and teletherapy to individuals, couples, and families. In addition, Anna offers executive functioning and leadership training for adults to executives, entrepreneurs, educational and business teams, and other professionals through a sister company, STEEL Advising.
As a licensed clinical psychologist, Anna has operated a New York City-based private practice since 2018. Through her practice Anna works with parents, couples and families, focusing on high-conflict situations and family systems struggling with dysregulation, learning disabilities and ADHD.
Anna regularly speaks to parents and teachers at schools and education-based organizations throughout the country, addressing a wide variety of topics including strengthening executive functioning skills at home and in the classroom, raising an organized child, supporting children with ADHD and executive functioning challenges, and managing stress and anxiety. Anna is published and licensed in the field of psychology and a member of the American Psychological Association.
Anna received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the City University of New York. Anna also attended Bank Street School for Children and the Dalton School. A native New Yorker and parent of three children, Anna currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Website: https://www.organizationaltutors.com 
Social Media Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organizationaltutorsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/OTcoachingservicesLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/organizational-tutors
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Housing Transitions for Seniors with Nelly Some

 
Nelly Some, an entrepreneur and business leader who has developed systems and cultures for residential care homes that make them stand out from others on the market joins eHealth Radio and the Health News and Senior Care Channels. She's the author of Making a Difference: Investing in Better Lives for Seniors.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Nelly Some discuss the following:
How did you become involved in creating residential care homes?
What would you say to families trying to decide the best place for their senior loved one?
Why is the adjustment to a new kind of living situation particularly hard on seniors?
How can people make it easier for a senior to adjust to their new environment?
How can residential care managers help their staff be more sensitive to the senior residents?
Why can the "traditional" options for senior care be harder on residents and their families?
Why are residential care homes an investment worth considering?
Nelly Some is an entrepreneur and business leader who has developed systems and cultures for residential care homes that make them stand out from others on the market. She has spent more than two decades in healthcare, real estate, and construction, and has owned and managed multiple residential care homes. She's the author of Making a Difference: Investing in Better Lives for Seniors.
Website: https://makingadifferencewithnelly.com
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A Family Trip Around the Sun: 29 Countries in 366 Days

 
Margaret Bensfield Sullivan an author, illustrator, and family photo curator, whose work combines personal passion for archiving with visual storytelling skills she honed over nearly two decades in brand marketing joins eHealth Radio and the Family & Parenting Channels.
She left corporate life to spend a year with her husband and two young children crisscrossing the globe, visiting 29 countries and six continents. She wrote about their adventures in Following the Sun: Tales (and Fails) From a Year Around the World With Our Kids.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Margaret Bensfield Sullivan discuss the following:
What exactly is a family gap year?
What inspired you to do this?
Where did you go? What lessons about parenting, travel and the world did you learn?
Do you have any advice for families considering doing something similar?
Margaret Bensfield Sullivan is author, illustrator, and family photo curator whose work combines personal passion for archiving with visual storytelling skills she honed over nearly two decades in brand marketing.
Margaret was a partner at WPP's marketing and branded content agency Group SJR, where she designed storytelling campaigns on behalf of clients like TED, Target, Disney, and USAID. She left corporate life to spend a year with her husband and two young children crisscrossing the globe, visiting 29 countries and six continents.
She wrote about their adventures in Following the Sun: Tales (and Fails) From a Year Around the World With Our Kids (December 5, 2023).
Website: https://www.margaretbensfieldsullivan.com 
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/margaretbensfield Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretbsullivan  Instagram: @SullivanFamilyAdventure
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Reshaping the Landscape of Substance Abuse Treatement

 
Christi Kleckner, the Executive Director at Axiom Care, an addiction treatment and detox facility serving the greater Phoenix area joins eHealth Radio and the Addiction Prevention & Information Channel.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Christi Kleckner discuss the following:
Tell us more about Axiom and what services you provide to the greater Phoenix area.
How did you get into this work?
Dispel some myths for us. What is one common misconception about addiction that you would like to clear up?
I know you are closely involved in Axiom’s Substance Use Disorder Urgent Care. Tell me more about this. What is it and who is it for?
Substance Abuse not only affects the individual, it can take a toll on the entire family. What advice do you give to people who have a loved one either struggling with substance abuse or about to enter treatment?
With an inspiring redemption story from methamphetamine addiction and prison to a long-term recovery and a successful career, Christi Kleckner is the embodiment of empathetic care. Christi serves as the Executive Director at Axiom Care, showing up every day with a passion to care for the patients. Christi knows first-hand just how hard (and just how rewarding) it is to be in recovery. Christi struggled with a methamphetamine addiction that took almost everything from her, and spent a lot of time in and out of jail.
Christi’s history of substance use is not unlike most in Arizona, as methamphetamine is the state’s number one drug threat (especially as street prices drop). She proudly shares her Department of Corrections (DOC) number because it makes her relatable to many others in recovery looking for their second chance as well.
Christi experienced the apathetic care that most recovery centers give and was even told, “You’ll be back here” while in jail. Eventually, being abstinent from drugs, she began working as a graveyard Behavioral Health Technician for a recovery center. However, it seemed that not enough people cared about the patients or their jobs – just the paycheck that came with it. Until she found Axiom Care. Christi seamlessly aligned with Axiom Care’s passion for holistic, long-term care and seeing patients find their second chances. Her personal experiences supported her in forming her leadership style and finding new ways to make a difference daily. Christi is passionate about transforming lives and reshaping the landscape of substance use treatment.
Website: https://axiomcareofaz.com
Social Media Links: Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AxiomCareofAZ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/axiomcareofaz/
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A Chinese Mother's Memoir, Completed by Her Son

 
Richard Perkins Hsung who has spent ten years editing and completing Spring Flower, by his mother, Jean Tren-Hwa Perkins, MD joins eHealth Radio and the Health News and Mental Health Channels. This three-volume memoir that chronicles her life as an adopted child of American medical missionaries, survivor of China's brutal communist regime, ophthalmologist, immigrant, and mother.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Richard Perkins Hsung discuss the following:
What prompted you to compile, edit and ultimately, finish your mother’s memoir?
Did working on the memoir give you new insights into your mother that you hadn’t known before, or insights into yourself?
Did you gain new insights into the plight of immigrants to the U.S.? How about the way you felt about China?
How long did it take you to complete the memoir and what made you decide to make it into a 3 book series?
What do you think your mother would have wanted readers to know about her life?
Your mother arrived in the US in 1942. What was that like for her?
Talk about the role of missionaries in your family’s history. It seems like their involvement in China was far more than just a religious one. Can you talk about that?
How has your life changed since you completed Spring Flower? 
Richard Perkins Hsung was born in China in 1966 and was one of the first teens to leave China legally after Mao’s Cultural Revolution. He earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Chicago and became a professor at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, retiring in 2022. He spent ten years editing and completing Spring Flower (Earnshaw Books) by his mother, Jean Tren-Hwa Perkins, MD. The three-volume memoir chronicles her life as an adopted child of American medical missionaries, survivor of China's brutal communist regime, ophthalmologist, immigrant, and mother. Hsung lives in Madison with his wife, where keeping squirrels from digging up his backyard has become a daily scientific obsession. Learn more at Yangtze River by the Hudson Bay.  
Website: https://www.yangtzeriverbythehudsonbay.site/home-page.html
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-perkins-hsung 
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Lessons in Finding Center When the Kids Aren’t Alright

 
Celia Landman, MA, who is a mindfulness educator offering support to teens and adults joins eHealth Radio and the Health News and Mental Health Channels. Her new book, When the Whole World Tips: Parenting through Crisis with Mindfulness and Balance (Parallax Press, Nov. 21, 2023), describes how to find balance while navigating seemingly impossible parenting situations.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Celia Landman discuss the following:
What was the motivation for writing this book?
What did you learn going through the process of parenting two kids with difficulties?
Do you think anyone can be ok with having their kids go through crisis?
You write about accompanying our suffering, is there a way to get to a place where you don't feel things as deeply?
You worked in an inpatient mental health facility for teens, what was the most valuable thing you contributed to your clients?
Celia Landman, MA, is a mindfulness educator offering support to teens and adults. She draws from experiences working with those impacted by trauma, addiction, and anxiety, and creates customized meditation, visualizations, and trainings to reconnect them to their wholeness. She was ordained by Thich Nhat Hahn as a member of the Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism. She is also a certified trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication. Her new book, When the Whole World Tips: Parenting through Crisis with Mindfulness and Balance (Parallax Press, Nov. 21, 2023), describes how to find balance while navigating seemingly impossible parenting situations.
Website: https://celialandman.com
Social Media Links: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celia-landman-232185149  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celia.landman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celiasacct 
The beliefs, views, ideas, thoughts and opinions expressed on any program are those of the persons appearing on the program and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the eHealth Radio Network.
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