Welcome to Real Talk with Tina and Ann!

Episodes

Sept. 25, 2023

Rock Paper Scissors, Love, Hate, Fear Part 1

What changed your life more? Love or Fear? What is the stronger emotion? If Rock breaks scissors, but paper covers rock, Fear dilutes love, but love melts fear. Let's look at these two emotions, together. People say that lov...
Sept. 20, 2023

Embracing the Power of a Diagnosis: A Journey of Self-Acceptance, Advocacy, and Collective Action

This episode is not just a conversation; it’s a celebration of differentness, friendship, and unity in the face of adversity. Ann welcomes special guest, RJ Formanek, the trailblazer behind Flying with Broken Wings and Red S...
Guest: R.J Formanek
Sept. 13, 2023

The Hidden Trauma of FASD with Trailblazer and Overcomer R.J. Formanek Part 1

Imagine having your life shaped by trauma before drawing your first breath. That's the reality for people living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a misunderstood and stigmatized condition. I had the honor of host...
Sept. 6, 2023

Joy and Pain and the Fear of Moving Forward

Tina and Ann continue their discussion on Pain and Joy living together, simultaneously. They do a deep dive on childhood pain and deprivation and how it can continue to impact us, as adults. They look more into the book, The ...
Aug. 30, 2023

How Pain and Joy can Live Together Part 1

Life is a blend of joy and pain, and this episode is a testament to our belief that these contrasting emotions can coexist. From Tina's recent trip to Hawaii, to breaking the cycle of past pain, we emphasize the importance of...
Aug. 23, 2023

The Profound Influence of Trauma

Ever grappled with life's rock-bottom moments, only to find an inner strength you never knew existed? This is a common thread in our lives, and in this heartfelt episode, Tina and Ann pull back the curtain on our personal tri...
Aug. 16, 2023

Friendship, Journalism, and Life's Lessons: From a Murder Trial to Present Day

Join Tina and Ann as they revisit episode one. Tina and Ann's friendship began in the midst of an intense capital murder trial, 15 years ago. Neither of them had covered a story with such intensity. as journalists. This is wh...
Aug. 8, 2023

Tina's Transformation: A Raw and Emotional Exploration of Overcoming Life's Struggles on the Road Less Traveled

Can facing difficult situations make us stronger? Can our weaknesses actually become our strengths? Tina says YES! Tina and Ann go head on into healing on this episode as they explore the importance of doing more than just le...
Aug. 2, 2023

A Soul-Searching Journey on the Kalalau Trail: A Place where Treachery Meets Peace

Tina shares her soul-searching journey on the 22-mile Kalalau Trail . She takes us on an exhilarating journey as she finds herself on the narrow, rugged trail that landed her in front of the Jurassic Park backdrop. As she e...
July 26, 2023

Trauma Certified Educators Discuss Co-regulating, Societal Pressures on Education and Giving Ourselves Grace: Part 2

Welcome back to an enlightening conversation that promises to redefine our perceptions of education and mental health. We have an extraordinary guest, Shannon Fisher from Wadsworth City Schools, known for advocating mental he...
July 18, 2023

Certified Trauma Educators Discuss Trauma and the Difficult Task of Regulating Students in this Disregulated World: Part 1

Tune in this week as Real Talk with Tina and Ann speak with two very experienced educators regarding trauma and mental health within our schools. Shannon Fisher, a certified trauma and resilience practitioner is a teacher in ...
July 12, 2023

Overcoming Life's Obstacles by Going Through, Conquering, and going INTO the Unknown

Ever find yourself face to face with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle and wondered, "How do I overcome this?" Can you get to your dream if you don't see the obstacles? Join us as we navigate through life's challenging terr...
June 30, 2023

School District Implements Trauma-Informed, Mental Health Focused Program--Wadsworth City Schools, Ohio Part 2

Today, Real Talk is graced with the presence of Erin Simpson and Joyce Walker from the Wadsworth City Schools in Ohio. They expose us to their trauma-aware, mental health focused program, in part two, of a two-part series. ...
June 28, 2023

School District Implements Model Program putting Mental Health First--Wadsworth City Schools, Ohio Part 1

Join us this week as Tina and Ann interview Principal Erin Simpson and Director of Students Services, Joyce Walker from Wadsworth City Schools in Ohio. They have created a model program to reach students where they are. In th...
June 21, 2023

Calm and Balance in the Heart of a Tornado

This week’s episode is a little different as Tina and Ann discuss the cycle of life–Life's ups and downs and the simplicities and complexities of merely existing. Tina shares some of the most heartbreaking and simultaneous jo...
June 9, 2023

PTSD--17 Symptoms Part 5

In this week’s episode, Tina and Ann discuss different types of panic attacks and generational trauma. They share their thoughts on epigenetics, physical symptoms from trauma and neurobiological pathways. They look at the de...
June 7, 2023

PTSD--17 Symptoms Part 4

PTSD part 4 This week, Tina and Ann discuss the next symptom of PTSD. Our body is so intricate and remembers trauma in different ways. The pair share how the body can keep score of what we have gone through. The book, The Bod...
May 31, 2023

PTSD--17 Symptoms Part 3

In this weeks episode, Tina and Ann finish up the symptom of selective amnesia and how kind the mind can actually be when it comes to traumatic memories. Tina and Ann also discuss the difficult topic of self-harm and suicide...
May 24, 2023

PTSD--17 Symptoms Part 2

Tina and Ann discuss two more symptoms of PTSD. Avoiding people places and things Memory loss Ann shares the joy of realizing how far she has come in her journey and how she became more than her abuse and no longer lives in h...
May 17, 2023

PTSD--17 Symptoms Part 1

The first six symptoms are discussed on this episode of Real Talk. Flashbacks Nightmares/Sleep Disturbance Hypervigilance Getting Startled easily Depression–shame Guilt hopelessness anger can lead to depression Anger–those sa...
May 10, 2023

When Someone Hurts Your Child

”Every day in a hundred small ways our children ask, ‘Do you see me? Do you hear me? Do I matter?’ Their behavior often reflects our response.” L.R. Knost The Gentle Parent This episode resonates for any parent or for anyone...
May 3, 2023

Five ways we help our children navigate the world

T ina and Ann discuss an article from Family Education . The duo discuss keeping an open door policy even when our kids come to us with the tough stuff. Tina had an amazing quote, "Don't judge anyone on how they handle a pai...
April 26, 2023

Becoming

As we say at Real Talk with Tina and Ann, life is a journey and let's do this together. We are all becoming. We are all a work in progress. "Imperfect progress is still progress," Tina reminds us in this episode. We are all ...
April 18, 2023

A Story of Grief part 2

Tina and Ann continue their discussion on Tina's sudden loss and talk strategies and hope. Ann's daughter asked the question, "Why is life not fair?" and the duo discuss their thoughts on the proper response to a question lik...