In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts interviews Albert Bramante, a seasoned talent agent, psychology professor, and author of "Rise Above the Script." The conversation explores Albert’s unique journey from a non-athletic, book-loving child in a sports-focused family to a passionate academic and advocate for performers and students. Albert shares insights on overcoming self-sabotage, imposter syndrome, and the power of mindset in achieving personal and professional growth. The discussion delves into the challenges faced by artists, educators, and students, highlighting the importance of reframing limiting beliefs, leveraging hypnosis and visualization techniques, and embracing one’s authentic self. Albert also discusses the mission behind his agency, Bramante Artists, and the empowering message of his book. The episode concludes with practical wisdom on self-belief, resilience, and the value of human connection in creative and educational pursuits.

Albert ‘s Bio and Contact Information

Dr. Albert Bramante (he, him) is a talent agent, performance psychologist, and mindset expert who has spent over 20 years helping high performers—both in the entertainment industry and beyond—conquer their mental roadblocks. With a Ph.D. in Psychology and certifications in hypnosis and NLP, he bridges the gap between talent, business success, and the psychology of peak performance

📚 Learn more about Albert Bramante’s book "Rise Above the Script" and his work at Bramante Artists.

🔗 Connect with Albert: Website: albertabramante.com

LinkedIn & Instagram: @albertbramante

To connect with Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author sitw psychologyprofessorandminister.com

This episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, hosted by Dave Roberts, features a conversation with Heather Eck—an intuitive artist, spiritual teacher, and host of the "Your Radiant Spirit" podcast. Heather shares her journey from a spiritually curious and creative child, through a career in human resources, to embracing her calling in the healing arts. The discussion explores topics such as the intersection of art and spirituality, the concept of past lives, the healing power of creative expression, and the importance of processing emotions through art. Heather explains her unique approach to creating "spirit portraits" using intuition and synesthesia, and emphasizes the significance of color in healing and self-awareness. The episode concludes with Heather offering ways for listeners to connect with her and access her resources on color healing.

Heather’s Bio and Contact Information

Heather Eck is a visionary intuitive artist, spiritual teacher, and host of the podcast Your Radiant Spirit. With a background in corporate leadership and a deep calling toward the healing arts, Heather creates intuitive paintings and therapeutic art experiences that support emotional and physical healing, spiritual growth, and energetic alignment.

Blending her spiritual studies with her natural gift of synesthesia and clairsentience, the ability to see and feel color in emotion and energy, Heather’s visual work is a form of soul medicine. Through both the viewing and the making of art, she invites people into a slow, sacred space of awareness, reflection, and restoration.

Connect with Heather:

• Instagram: @heathereckartist (DM “color” for a free color healing kit)
• Podcast: Your Radiant Spirit
• Website: heathereck.com

To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes Jessica Moyer, a transformative wellness and leadership coach, TEDx Speaker, podcast host, and author. Jessica shares her impactful personal journey, marked by significant losses, including her son Steven who had Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and her father Michael who battled lung cancer. These experiences have deeply influenced her work in empowering women and leaders to reclaim their energy and purpose. Jessica discusses her REAL framework for health, focused on mindset, meals, and movement. She offers insights on overcoming grief, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the importance of self-care, and realistic goal-setting. They also talk about helping others through grief and loss and the value of a supportive community. Jessica encourages listeners to honor their health and legacy, offering practical advice and resources to help them achieve their wellness goals.

Jessica's Bio and Contact Information

Jessica Moyer is a transformative wellness and leadership coach, TEDx speaker, podcast host and three-time author who empowers women and leaders to reclaim their energy, resilience, and purpose—especially through life’s hardest seasons. With over 25 years of experience and certifications from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, John Maxwell, and Ziglar Legacy, Jessica equips others to thrive using her signature R.E.A.L.™ Framework, rooted in mindset, meals, and movement.

A Certified Hormone and Integrative Nutrition Coach and Grief Movement Coach, Jessica draws deeply from her personal journey of loss—including the deaths of her infant son Steven, two unborn children, and her father—to help others find healing, hope, and wholeness. Her faith-led, heart-centered approach offers a beacon of light through grief, burnout, and life transitions.

Beyond her coaching and books (Triumph Through the Tears, R.E.A.L. Wellness, and more), Jessica is a passionate community leader who has raised over $2 million for Cure SMA and served in numerous nonprofit roles. She was also founder and owner of a successful gym in Delaware for 5 years.

Jessica has been married to her husband Jason for 28 years and is a proud mom of four — including her angel baby, Steven. Her message is clear: when you lead yourself well, you can lead others even better.

Connect With Jessica:

www.jessica-moyer.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-moyer-290bb0b/

https://www.facebook.com/jessica.s.moyer.9

https://www.instagram.com/moyer.jessica/

To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

This episode of the Teaching Journeys podcast, hosted by Dave Roberts, features guest Janice V. Johnson Dowd—an author, speaker, and retired social worker with over 20 years of experience in family therapy and addiction recovery. Janice shares her personal journey with substance use disorder, her path to long-term sobriety, and the impact of addiction on family relationships. She discusses the importance of ongoing healing, the challenges of breaking dysfunctional family patterns, and the need for education and boundaries in recovery. Janice introduces her book, "Rebuilding Relationships and Recovery," which offers practical tools for individuals and families navigating addiction. The conversation emphasizes the value of communication, hope, and patience in rebuilding trust and connection, and provides insights for both professionals and families supporting loved ones in recovery.

Janice’s Bio and Contact Information

Janice V. Johnson Dowd, MSSW, LMSW, is an author, speaker, and retired social worker with 20+ years in family therapy and addictions, and a mother of four. With lived experience of substance use disorder and more than 12 years in long-term recovery, she translates clinical science into practical tools for repairing relationships. Janice is the author of Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery (North Atlantic Books) and writes the blog Finding Serenity in Sobriety. A frequent presenter at NASW and addiction-recovery conferences - as well as a regular podcast guest - she speaks on family repair, recovery, and mental health topics. Her work blends evidence-informed practice with real-world scripts to help families and providers move from crisis to connection.

Contact Information Website: www.janicejohnsondowd.com Email: janicejohnsondowd@gmail.com

Instagram: @parenting_in_recovery

Facebook: Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery

To find out more about Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

This episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, hosted by Dave Roberts, features a conversation with licensed marriage and family therapist Allison Lefkowitz. The discussion centers on the experiences of Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs), exploring Allison’s personal background, the impact of generational trauma, and the unique challenges HSPs face in processing emotions and navigating the world. Allison shares insights from her book, "The Highly Sensitive Person’s Toolkit," outlining core skills and competencies for HSPs, such as self-advocacy, managing overstimulation, setting boundaries, and embracing creativity and joy. The conversation also addresses common misconceptions in therapy about sensitivity, the importance of validating HSP experiences, and strategies for self-care and resilience. The episode concludes with Allison’s contact information and encouragement for listeners to embrace their authentic, sensitive selves.

Allison’s Bio and Contact Information

Allison Lefkowitz is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in NYC. She received her master’s degree in Marriage and Family therapy from Hofstra University in Long Island, NY. She also received her BA in Theatre Arts from California State University Northridge.

Allison is licensed in New York, Michigan, and Florida and currently sees clients virtually. In her private practice, Allison specializes in helping Highly Sensitive People heal from and manage life’s difficulties while honoring their sensitive souls and nervous systems. She also has a special interest in assisting clients to recover from childhood and narcissistic abuse. She is currently working on a therapeutic training model to teach therapists how to support highly sensitive and neurodivergent clients to better manage and heal from all forms of narcissistic abuse.

She is the author of the “Highly Sensitive Person’s Toolkit," (Callisto Media/Rockridge Press), published in 2020 in the US and internationally.

🌐 Connect with Allison:

Email: allisonlefkpwitz@icloud.com

Website: https://almft.com/

Book: Go to Allison’s website, for purchasing options

To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

This episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, hosted by Dave Roberts, features grief coach Erin Gaffney. Erin shares her personal journey through childhood challenges, the tragic loss of her identical twin sister Sara, and the subsequent impact on her family and personal growth. The conversation explores the unique aspects of twin loss, the complexities of disenfranchised grief, and the importance of open communication and support within families. Erin discusses her work as a grief coach, the founding of Marri Grief Coaching, and the resources available through the Twinless Twins Support Group International. The episode emphasizes the value of honoring lost loved ones, integrating their memory into daily life, and finding purpose after profound loss. Erin encourages listeners to seek support, practice self-compassion, and reengage with life in meaningful ways.

Bio and Contact Information:

Erin Gaffney is a compassionate grief coach dedicated to helping individuals navigate the challenging journey of loss. Originally from Charlotte, NC, Erin now resides in Abbeville, SC with her partner, Dameren, and their two cats, Tatum and Hobbes.

Erin’s personal experiences with grief have profoundly shaped her approach to coaching. She tragically lost her twin sister in a car accident on October 13, 2000 and her mother to cancer on September 22, 2019. These heartbreaking losses led Erin through a 20-year struggle with grief, during which she explored various healing methods. Over the past 5 years, Erin has focused on healing and researching the complexities of becoming a twinless twin as well as all other types of loss.

Connect with Erin Gaffney: https://mirarigriefcoaching.com 🔗 Learn more about Twinless Twins Support Group International: https://twinlesstwins.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mirari-Grief-Coaching/61571934694746/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirarigriefcoaching/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mirarigriefcoaching

To connect with Dave, go to davidrobersmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

This episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, hosted by Dave Roberts, features guest Jillian Scott, a trauma-informed life and health coach. The conversation explores Jillian’s personal journey overcoming emotional eating and the impact of trauma on her relationship with food and self-image. Together, Dave and Jillian discuss the deep connections between childhood experiences, emotional abuse, and patterns of emotional eating, highlighting how trauma can shape self-worth and coping mechanisms.

They share personal stories about cultural influences, grief, and the challenges of breaking unhealthy habits. Jillian emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, compassion, and changing one’s self-concept as the foundation for lasting change. The episode also touches on the mission of Jillian’s “Hungry for Love” podcast, which addresses taboo topics like emotional eating, relationships, and self-worth, aiming to create a safe space for healing and growth. The conversation concludes with practical wisdom on embracing imperfection, finding everything you need within yourself, and the power of vulnerability and leadership through example.

Jillian's Bio and Contact Information:

Jillian Scott is a certified, trauma-informed life and health coach, and creator of the Hungry for Love Podcast. She specializes in empowering clients to overcome the aftermath of emotionally abusive relationships, heal their relationship with food and body, and develop unwavering self confidence and self belief.

Connect with Jillian:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillianscoaching

Website: https://www.bodyyoucrave.com/

Hungry for Love Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/body-you-crave/id1573281085

Hungry for Love Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/30xmKmwsGaIKSkTSuPpsyh

To connect with Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts interviews Shaleem Dzon, a registered nurse, certified grief counselor, and author. Shaleem shares her personal journey through profound loss, including the deaths of her husband, beloved pets, and close friends, and how these experiences shaped her path to becoming a grief counselor. She discusses her books, including the children’s book "Nigel and the Yellow Ribbon," which helps young readers understand and process grief, and her poetry collection "Illumination: A Griever’s Journey Through the Darkness." The conversation explores the healing power of nature, the importance of community and support, and the challenges of navigating grief in a society that often avoids discussions about death. Shaleem also talks about her involvement in the "Empowered Grief Journey" anthology and her approach to grief counseling, emphasizing compassion, presence, and creative expression as tools for healing. The episode concludes with reflections on the ongoing nature of healing and the value of connection.

Shaleem's Bio and Contact Information

Shaleem Dzon is a registered nurse, a skier, a mountain biker, a poet, a nature admirer, a dog lover, a believer, an author, and a griever. She has been touched by tragedy’s blaze more than once. She lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, where she is a certified grief counselor.

Shaleem’s first published book, Illumination: A Griever’s Journey Through the Darkness, written in poetry and prose, chronicles this journey. It takes the reader through a grief that entered her life with overwhelming force, and which led her to searching for and find, solace, understanding and hope.

Her second book. Nigel And The Yellow Ribbon – How a Grieving Seagull Finds Healing, is a children’s book published in 2025.

🔗 Learn more about Shaleem Dzon:

• Grief counseling & resources: https://illuminationgriefcounseling.com
• Author website: https://booksbyshalem.com
• Follow Shaleem on Facebook & Instagram

📚 Books mentioned:

• "Nigel and the Yellow Ribbon"
• "Illumination: A Griever’s Journey Through the Darkness"
• "The Empowered Grief Journey"Anthology"To connect with Dave go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminster.com