MH25-15. Mohan Ranga Rao, Gift of Grief


Mental Health Awareness with Sara Troy and her guest Mohan Ranga Rao, on air from April 15th

A Life of Seeking, Seeing, and Surrender

Grief isn’t something to “get over,” especially when it comes to the unique, soul-shattering pain of losing a child. It becomes a companion, sometimes silent, sometimes screaming, but always present. Faith, once simple or unquestioned, often morphs through suffering—shifting, deepening, or even breaking before it rebuilds. Relationships, too, must be rewoven, as loss strains connections and reshapes how we relate to others. The myth of healing as a destination and the insistence on positivity can feel like a betrayal of the real, raw emotions that come with mourning. Numbness, confusion, and emotional disorientation often take over, especially when you’re parenting while processing trauma, walking the line between being present for your children and drowning in your own sorrow. Yet within that darkness, a strange light can flicker—purpose found not in spite of pain, but because of it. Real resilience doesn’t deny emotion; it holds space for it, even when it hurts. And in the quiet of suffering, profound truths often rise—truths that transform, not erase, the person you were before.

Mohan Ranga Rao never imagined he would become a writer. He was an entrepreneur, building businesses and chasing success, grounded in the world of numbers, strategy, and ambition. His life followed a structured, intentional path—until that path collapsed beneath him.

Mohan’s daughter, Yogita, was born blind—a moment that shattered every expectation he had about fatherhood, love, and the future. What followed was not just a medical journey but an emotional and existential one. He had to unlearn everything he thought he knew about strength, masculinity, and success. He had to sit in the discomfort of uncertainty, in the shame of societal judgment, and in the raw, unfiltered love of a father who could not “fix” his child. And just as he was beginning to understand what it meant to see beyond vision truly, she was gone.



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His first book, Inner Trek: A Reluctant Pilgrim’s Journey to Tibet, was born from an unexpected calling. What began as a physical challenge—a trek through the Himalayas Kailash Mansarovar, a holy mountain pilgrimage in Tibet, became a profound spiritual reckoning. Struggling with altitude, exhaustion, and self-doubt, Mohan found himself stripped of the control and certainty that had once defined him. Each step through the ancient, mist-covered mountains peeled away layers of his identity, revealing something deeper: an invitation to surrender. The book became a reflection of that awakening, resonating with readers searching for meaning beyond the material world.


His new book, Myopia: A Father’s Journey into Love, Loss, and Sight Beyond Vision, is not just the story of Yogita’s brief but luminous life. It is the story of a man undone by grief, reshaped by love, and ultimately transformed by a painful but profound truth: that suffering, if we let it, can be our greatest teacher. Myopia does not offer platitudes or closure—it is a raw, unfiltered meditation on loss as an invitation to wake up.


His latest book, Myopia: A Father’s Journey into Love, Loss, and Sight Beyond Vision, is not just a story of grief—it is a meditation on love stripped of all conditions, on pain as a force of transformation, on the kind of sight that only comes when the world as you know it disappears. Unlike books that seek to inspire, Myopia does not offer easy resolutions or clichés about healing. It is raw, unflinching, and honest about what it means to love deeply and lose completely.

From the ashes of his grief, Mohan founded Amopia™, a philosophy and community that helps individuals see suffering not as an enemy but as a guide. The name itself is a fusion of “Amo” (Latin for love) and “Opa” (Greek for vision), representing a practice rooted in the love of seeing oneself fully—even in pain. Amopia™ blends science, spirituality, and personal resilience into a framework for growth, offering courses, workshops, and a community for those ready to engage with suffering as a path to wisdom.

Today, Mohan is more than an author—he is a guide for those navigating the depths of loss and transformation. His work, whether through his books or Amopia™, does not seek to provide comfort; it seeks to provoke a deeper understanding. His question is not how we escape suffering but rather what if suffering is the doorway to something greater?

Through his words, journey, and teachings, Mohan invites us to step into the unknown—not with fear, but with the courage to truly see.

Mohan Ranga Rao, an accomplished Indian entrepreneur based in Mysore, built a successful career in pharmaceuticals and manufacturing as the founder of Arvee Chem Pharma Pvt. Ltd., continuing the legacy of enterprise instilled by his father, N. Ranga Rao, who established the renowned incense and fragrance company N. Ranga Rao & Sons in 1949. While born into business, Mohan carved his own unique path—one deeply shaped by personal transformation after the birth of his daughter, who was born blind. His global search for answers, including time spent in the U.S., expanded his understanding of disability, healing, and cultural perspectives on suffering. These insights became the foundation for his two books: Inner Trek, a memoir of spiritual awakening in the Andes, and Myopia, a heartfelt reflection on love, loss, and seeing beyond the physical. From this journey emerged Amopia™, a movement he founded to reframe suffering as a gateway to self-discovery—blending love (“Amo”) and vision (“Opa”) into a guiding philosophy that unites science, spirituality, and resilience.

Mohan Ranga Rao was a hard-driving entrepreneur until the birth of his blind daughter, Yogita, shattered everything he thought he knew about success, strength, and love. His new book, Myopia, is a raw, unflinching look at grief—not as something to fix, but as something that reveals. It’s about what we start to see when the world we built disappears.

https://www.amopia.co

mo@amopia.co

http://amopia.co/myopia-nonprofits

https://www.instagram.com/discoveramopia


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AK25-15. Janna Brooke Wallack “Naked Girl” Novel


An Author’s Kiss with Sara Troy and her guest Janna Brooke Wallack, on air from April 15th

Naked Girl is a story of the enduring power of love in a family of lunatics,” says Janna Brooke Wallack of her debut novel, a poignant piece of literary fiction. Though not autobiographical, it reads like a memoir. Wallack’s enduring voice and fresh vision evoke the storytelling of masterful novelists like Ann Patchett, Kristin Hannah, and Zadie Smith. Naked Girl is a captivating and moving story that explores the dysfunction of a family, the struggles of ‘fitting in’ and the power of hope, humor, and imperfect love. 

Growing up motherless in 1980s Miami Beach, Sienna and her little brother, Siddhartha get by with their charismatic and capricious father, Jackson Jones. When a small windfall relocates them to a condemned mansion on the water, the siblings are forbidden traditional schooling and left to live off the land. As Jackson uses their new home to create a communal cult, the siblings are forced to raise themselves in a carefree, chaotic oasis. Living amidst the vagrant seekers who take up residence in Jackson’s utopia, Sienna and Siddhartha strive to protect their unconventional family.

Janna Brooke Wallack writes with warmth, compassion and comic brilliance in Naked Girl, an enthralling debut novel brimming with the adventure, resilience, humor and heartbreak of growing up on the fringe of decency and longing for the unattainable comfort of home.



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Janna Brooke Wallack’s debut novel, Naked Girl, has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize in fiction. She also received recognition from Book Viral’s Golden Quill, Book Reader’s Association Group’s BRAG Medallion, and a silver medal in the Colorado Independent Publishers Association EVVY Award for Literary/Contemporary Fiction.

Her stories have been published or shortlisted by literary publications such as Hobart, Upstreet, Glimmer Train Press, American Literary Review, and many more. Her short story “Campaigning” was a finalist for the Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction. This novel’s prologue, “Five Pictures” was a finalist for Glimmer Train Press’s Short Story Award for New Writers, and her story “Cat and Rose” received a Pushcart nomination by The MacGuffin.

In addition to her writing career, she’s worked as a grant writer, a substance abuse prevention counselor, a wetlands manual editor, a theatre production assistant, and an actress.  After spending a couple of years in Hong Kong, she moved to Hoboken, NJ. She raised five children and moved to Stone Ridge in the Catskills of New York, where she ran a permaculture gentleman’s farm.

“In Wallack’s novel, a brother and sister survive a shocking upbringing of drugs, cults, and neglect.… “An endearing and fascinating perspective on a uniquely volatile and dangerous childhood.” —Kirkus Reviews


https://jannabrookewallack.com

www.facebook.com/jannabrooke.cohen

www.instagram.com/jannakowan


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MH25-14. Don Mesibov on Autisic Poetry


Mental Health Awareness with Sara Troy and her guest Don Mesibov, on air from April 8th

I met Connor Newcombe at a reading of my book on autism. He’s a college graduate, but due to the anxiety and stress rooted in his experience growing up with autism, holding a traditional job isn’t possible for him. Tasks that require long focus become overwhelming. Still, he’s found purpose by joining me in autism workshops.

At one session, a two-hour workshop a 45-minute drive from our town, Connor spoke for just five minutes about what it’s like to live with autism. The 25 participants applauded him warmly. Though he only added a few comments afterward, several attendees made a point to thank him personally.

On the way home, Connor turned to me and said, “Don, this has been one of the best days of my life.” It was a powerful moment—this is someone who’s rarely felt affirmed.

Then, as we drove, Connor told me he writes poetry and asked if our Institute could help publish his work. The next day, he emailed me 43 poems. They were beautiful—reflections on nature, his grandmother, cats, and everyday observations. I had several English teachers read them, and they agreed: his talent was real.

I told Connor, “Your poems are wonderful, but if you want your collection to stand out, write more about your experiences as someone living with autism.”

“How many do I need?” he asked.

“101 sounds like a good number,” I replied.

Without missing a beat, he said, “Then I need 58 more. I’ll send you one poem a day.”

That’s the kind of spirit we believe in, the voices that deserve to be heard, the stories that deserve to be told. That’s why we do this work. Because it matters.

Our ideal customer is one who wants to make the world a better place for ALL people, including but not limited to people with autism.

We are an all-volunteer 30 30-year-old 501 (c) (3) organization of 150 people interested in helping people become aware of what autism is and what it is not.



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In recent months, we’ve held eight two-hour Discussion Sessions and reached 175 individuals—educators, first responders, and community members—who regularly engage with people on the autism spectrum, often with little training or support. More sessions are coming in January to Northern NY, North Carolina, and California. These are the people we aim to empower—with understanding, compassion, and practical knowledge.

Don’s commitment runs deep. His brother, Gary, was a global leader in autism education from 1973 to 2018, directing the renowned TEACCH program in Chapel Hill, NC. Gary’s expertise was sought by figures as prominently as the King of Saudi Arabia and a top Russian official whose daughter was autistic.

Why does Don continue this mission with such heart?
“We do it because we can, and we do it because it’s right.”Don

As for Connor, like many on the spectrum, he thrives on structure. When I asked for more poems to help shape his story into a book, he promised one a day. True to his word, he delivered—day after day.

Because with the right encouragement, people rise. And with the right support, voices long unheard begin to sing.





https://www.learningcentered.org

https://www.alignable.com/potsdam-ny/institute-for-learning-centered-education-autism-initiative

To join our mailing list: 

demesibov@gmail.com


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IG25-14. Renae Peterson Unstoppable Woman


Ignite Your Heart and Soul with Sara Troy and her guest Ranae Peterson, on air from April 8th

Master Spiritual Coach/Practitioner | International Speaker | Founder of Unwritten: The Teen Girl Empowerment Academy | Award-Winning Empowerment Coach 

For nearly two decades, Renae Peterson has been on a mission to transform lives from the inside out. As a spiritual psychologist, empowerment coach, and international speaker, she helps women and teen girls break free from generational wounds, limiting beliefs, and emotional blocks—guiding them to rise with clarity, confidence, and unshakable self-trust.

Renae’s work blends spiritual intelligence, emotional mastery, and conscious leadership, empowering her clients to not just heal, but to reclaim their power and rewrite the narratives that have kept them small. Her approach isn’t about surface-level change; it’s about deep identity evolution, nervous system healing, and stepping into full energetic sovereignty.



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As the founder of Unwritten: The Teen Girl Empowerment Academy (formerly Beautiful Inside Academy), Renae has helped thousands of teen girls own their worth, trust their inner knowing, and lead themselves without external validation. But the deeper she went, the more she realized: that healing isn’t just for the next generation—it’s for their mothers, aunts, teachers, and every woman who carries untold stories and unseen wounds. That realization sparked a movement, one that supports women across all stages of life in stepping into their fullest expression.

With over 20 years of experience as a registered nurse specializing in palliative and home care, Renae has walked alongside individuals at the most vulnerable moments of life. She has witnessed firsthand that true healing begins on the inside and that the most powerful work we can do is to deprogram societal conditioning, consciously rewire our identity, and reclaim the power of our own intuition.

At the core of her mission is a simple yet profound truth:

 When a woman remembers who she is, she becomes unstoppable.

https://renaepeterson.hbportal.co/public/Energetic-Reset-Giveaway-Entry

www.renaepeterson.com

www.beautifulinsideacademy.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile

https://www.instagram.com/itsrenaepeterson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/renae-peterson


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TSM25-14. Lacy Fewer & “Yankeeland”


Their Story Matters with Sara Troy and her guest Lacy Fewer, on air from April 8th

Inspired by the real-life discovery of hundreds of letters between her grandmother in Ireland and her great aunt, who emigrated to America, revealing family secrets from a century ago.

Imagine uncovering generations of family secrets hidden in two mailbags filled with letters and postcards—some never opened for 70 years. That’s what happened to Lacy Fewer in Ireland when she inherited the belongings of her late grand aunt. Through the correspondence between two sisters—one in Ireland, one in America—Fewer unearthed a moving family saga shaped by hope, silence, and struggle. She discovered the painful truth of her great-aunt’s 30-year institutionalization for being unable to conceive, a tragic reflection of how mental health and womanhood were misunderstood in the early 20th century. Now, decades after first reading the letters and with her own experience of growing up with siblings facing mental health challenges, Fewer has penned Yankeeland, an award-winning novel inspired by these revelations. Her story reflects the immigrant dream shadowed by stigma and hardship, capturing not only what was, but what might have been.



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Lacy Fewer, born and raised in Ireland, has nearly three decades of experience working in the financial services sector. Fewer started out as mortgage consultant and then became mortgage specialists. She went on to work for six years as a premier wealth planner at the Bank of Ireland. She then spent 15 years as an area manager for Ulster Bank Financial Planning.
She earned numerous degrees and certifications, including QFA from the Institute of Bankers; CFP Master Degree from them as well; and a Master of Science in Financial Planning and Services, and then a professional diploma in Fintech, both from University of College in Dublin. She recently earned a Certificate in ESG Investing from CFA.

Fewer enjoys the theatre, travel, reading literature, storytelling, and studying history. She resides, with her husband, in a small village close to Dublin City, County Meath. They have three children.

 Literary Titan says: “Yankeeland is a sweeping tale of hope, resilience, and transformation that weaves through decades and continents. Centered on Brigid Kelly’s journey from a stifling Irish village to the promise-filled shores of America, the novel explores family dynamics, societal expectations, and personal ambition. Brigid’s dreams clash with her father’s traditions and her stepmother’s rigid control, culminating in her determined escape to the New World with her husband, Ben. What unfolds is a compelling narrative of immigrants grappling with love, identity, and survival in a land where opportunities are as abundant as the challenges.


www.lacyfewer.com 

https://linktr.ee/LacyFewer
instagram.com/lacyfewer

FacebookLacyFewer


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