Their Story Matters with Sara Troy and her guest JoAnn Erwin, on air from June 7th
JoAnn Ewin was an exemplary nurse working at Little Sandy Correctional, but one day she said no to a date with the warden and her life was sent upside down. Today nearly 8 years later she is still fighting for her wrongful dismissal and the justification of being blacklisted and persecuted.
Former Prison Nurse tells all in her memoir. Sexual harassment, lies, and court cases that seem to never be brought to a closure. Elliott County, Kentucky, 2022 JoAnn Erwin has released her first book, a memoir about her time as a prison nurse, for preorder. Her ongoing court case, because of her wrongful termination, is continually delayed. While waiting for the judge to make a final ruling, JoAnn is ready to tell her story to the public. Preorder will be available till June 30, 2022, when the eBook will be available for purchase. A paperback edition is planned to be released after June 30, 2022, as well.
Will justice prevail or will she be caught in the big man’s cluTS20-20 Sexual harassment and wrongful dismissal accountability of sweeping it all under the rug? She shares her story with us and prays that justice will prevail in June at her next court hearing.
JoAnn set out to write her memoir to bring awareness to the corruption in the prison and court systems in the state of Kentucky. Her experiences are not exclusive to just her own story but have happened to others. What started as a hostile work environment where favoritism and sexual innuendos were prevalent turned into a wrongful termination when JoAnn refused to have a drink with the warden. After daring to stand up for the rights of inmates to receive doctor ordered medical care provisions and refusing the warden’s proposition for a date, JoAnn found herself declared a security risk. She was also blocked from holding any nursing position at any of Kentucky’s state prisons. Now, after several years of court, her case is still unresolved.
Sexual harassment, lies, cover-ups, mistreatment of staff and inmates. These wrongs have happened at one time or other in the thirteen Kentucky state prison facilities. Every attempt is made to keep things that happen behind these walls quiet. The public does not know what goes on in a state prison. I have experienced all the above and more during my employment at Little Sandy Correctional Complex. I am Jodie Erwin, and this is my experience as a prison nurse. This memoir includes firsthand experiences inside of a Kentucky state prison. A must read for those considering going into the field of prison nursing. This memoir gives insight into nursing inside of a prison and the challenges that arise from being a caregiver for prisoners. With the constant pressure to both give adequate medical care and to do what is in the prison’s inner circles’ best interests, this book exposes the brokenness of the system and those who are in charge. Even working inside a prison for a short time has emotional, mental, and physical consequences. With the added pressure of unchecked sexism and harassment, this memoir reveals the darker side of this type of work. Behind These Walls will be available for purchase in both eBook and paperback editions
JoAnn (Jodie) Erwin was born in Olive Hill, Kentucky. She is the oldest of six children. She worked as a factory worker in Morehead, Kentucky till she lost her job in 2002. Seeking a more stable career she returned to college to pursue a nursing degree. Jodie was forty-seven years old when she went to nursing school. In December 2005, Jodie graduated from the LPN program and went to work at a nursing home. It was 2012 when she took a position at a prison and her life was set on its current course. She would face some of the darkest and most difficult times of her life. Turning to writing Jodie has started a journey of healing by sharing her memories of being a prison LPN with her readers.
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Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air from May 31st
Everyone of us has needed some support in our live, be it physical or mental or spiritual support, we have needed it, but was it there for us? I have had my own journey when I needed support, and some times, one does not know what it is we need, maybe just someone who hears us, feels us, and knows how to help us move fast the pain, anguish or just feeling stuck.
For the last 10 years I have been bringing you people who have been the answer to your needs because they too know what it is like, and because they have already gone through the process and now have the skills and knowledge to help you go through it too. Some of these people have known real hell, but decided to find the courage, strength and discovery their skills into wholeness and self love, and are now helping others to do the same.
Inspiration begets Invitation, and when we are inspired, we are invited to take that first leap, which is our first step on the road of recovery. BUT, we have to want it, we have to LISTEN, READ, LEARN AND AND APPLY. It does not just materialize, but can be fond when you consciously look, when you truly hear, and when you are ready to apply and reach out to the ones who are here to help you.
They maybe they are the answer to your question, but you are the application with those answers, there is no escape, of denial or blaming of others, there is just action and a choice to hear those that wish to support you on your way to FLAWESOMENESS AND PERSONAL ABUNDANCE. WILL YOU LISTEN? WILL YOU HEAR? WILL YOU CHOOSE ANOTHER PATH AND HEAL BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HEAL? IT IS ALL UP TO YOU.
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Your Health is your choice with Sara Troy and her guest Dr Ernst von Schwarz, on air from May 31st
World-renowned cardiologist and stem cell research pioneer, Dr. Ernst von Schwarz, author of the new book, The Secret World of Stem Cell Therapy: What YOU Need to Know About the Health, Beauty, and Anti-Aging Breakthrough
“Stem cell therapy is considered to be the most important discovery in modern medicine, likely bigger than the discovery of penicillin or the detection of the tuberculous bacteria.”
In our current healthcare system, physicians perform reactive medicine, which means diagnostic testing and pharmaceutical therapy is aimed at improving symptoms that occur secondary to damage or loss of function. Regenerative medicine, on the other hand, aims to repair damaged tissue and restore functionality by recruiting the body’s self-healing properties. With our aging bodies, we do lose the regenerative power of stem cells. Stem cell therapy has the ability to partially induce regeneration of acutely injured or chronically damaged tissues. In fact, most clinical studies testing stem cell therapy for different conditions have shown beneficial results with very little adverse events (unlike the pharmaceutical therapies). However, stem cell therapy outside the frame of ongoing clinical trials is not FDA-approved and is considered experimental.
In this interview, Dr. Ernst von Schwarz can talk about:
The “squaring the circle” challenge: The dilemma of modern stem cell therapy that is the problem of translating reliable basic research into daily clinical practice without business-driven delays by regulatory agencies or avoiding companies and providers who sell false promises to patients for thousands of dollars for the cure of diseases without knowing the risks and potential outcomes.
The process of approvals, costs, why this therapy is not FDA approved: The lack of understanding behind the scientific breakthroughs.
The Relationship Between Aging and Anti-Aging Medicine: The causes of cellular aging, reactive medicine today and sick care versus health care
The Secret World of Stem Cells: Examining these power engines that are a resource for life, growth, and repair in living creatures. Stem cells have the ability to generate and replace cells with unlimited replication.
Heart/vascular & sexual problems and stem cell therapy solutions
His Personal Doubts: The experts, the experiments, the standard of therapies, his basic research and the KISS technique
Dr. Ernst R. von Schwarz, MD, PhD is an Austrian-German-American physician and researcher who is a descendent of a family consisting of more than twenty doctors of medicine throughout the centuries. Dr. Schwarz grew up in Germany and received his Venia Legendi (Professor of Medicine) at the RWTH University of Technology in Aachen/Germany. He is a triple board-certified internist, cardiologist, and heart transplant cardiologist in Los Angeles. He is also a Professor of Medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and a Clinical Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and UC Riverside. Dr. Schwarz is a world-renowned clinical and academic heart specialist and serves as the Director of Cardiology and Director of the Heart Institute of the Southern California Hospital in Los Angeles, as well as Director and President of the Pacific Heart Medical Group in Murrieta, CEO of Dr. Schwarz Medical Institute of California, Medical Media Lab, and Medical Director of HeartStem, Inc. Dr. Schwarz has published more than 150 scientific articles in international, peer-reviewed journals, several book chapters, and books in cardiology and medicine. He is a sought-after speaker at international scientific conferences worldwide. Dr. Schwarz is one of the thought leaders in modern future technologies, including stem cell therapies for chronic diseases for the heart and other organs. Students from universities from all over the world seek internships with Dr. Schwarz on an ongoing basis. Dr. Schwarz studied medicine at the Universities of Vienna in Austria and the Philipps University in Marburg, Germany, and he worked and earned academic positions at the RWTH University of Technology in Aachen, Germany, the University of Ife in Ile-Ife in Nigeria, a Harvard affiliated hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the University of Texas in Galveston, Texas, and Cedars Sinai Medical Center and UCLA. He resides in Los Angeles and Germany and has clinical practices in Los Angeles, Culver City, and Temecula, California.
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for the LOVE of Music with Sara Troy and her guest John Armato, on air May 31st.
The Drummer Loves Ballads is the debut album of John Armato. Featuring extraordinary music, musicians and moods, it was produced and engineered by some of the industry’s top talent. The album was designed to be a new soundtrack for lazy Sunday afternoons, romantic evenings, and melancholy midnights, but you’ll swear it’s a long-lost jazz favorite.
Featuring more than 25 musicians, including the legends Houston Person and Warren Vaché, The Drummer Loves Ballads is a story more than 40 years in the making. From intimate quartet settings to sweeping orchestral arrangements, it is as rewarding to listen to closely as it is relaxing to listen to casually.
From Christmas toy drums to first lessons, from his first professional gig to a tour of Russia, drums have been John Armato’s constant companion. He has played clubs and concerts from New York City to Napa Valley and was a member of the trio behind Lisa Henry, a winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute Vocal Jazz Competition.
While the beat and burst of high-energy drums captured his attention early on, it was the swish and sizzle of ballads that captured his heart. It was always about the beauty, not just the bang. (As a kid, after seeing Buddy Rich repeatedly on the “Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” Armato asked his parents for an album by the drum legend for his birthday, but “one with a whole band playing, not just a bunch of drum solos.”)
Forty years ago, Armato played one of his first jam sessions. That’s where the story of The Drummer Loves Ballads — and the album itself — begins.
A Kansas City native, New York City ex-pat, and now a Sacramento resident, Armato appears on the CDs “Claudette,” by Sacramento vocalist Claudette Stone and “Comfort” by Texas praise singer Lisa Bloecher. The Drummer Loves Ballads is his first release as leader.
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support on Patreon.
Mental Health Awareness with Sara Troy and her guest Shanell Parrish-Brown, on air from May 24th
GIFTS IN BROWN PAPER PACKAGES,AN EMOTIONALLY HARD-HITTINGCOMING OF AGE STORY BASED ONHER REAL LIFE TRIUMPH OVER ADVERSITY
The Narrative’s No Holds Barred ThemesOf Domestic Violence Tie In PerfectlyWith the Author’s Dedicated Work OnBehalf of The Safe Center of Long Island (TSCLI),A Non-Profit Serving Nassau County, NY
Drawing courageously from painful experiences of her childhood while embracing and sharing her hard-won self-truths for the first time, author S.P. Brown’s powerful debut novel Gifts in Brown Paper Packages has earned out of the box acclaim and success – including debuting at #1 in three categories on Amazon within the first 72 hours of its Christmas week release.
Driven by the powerful, often harrowing but ultimately life affirming and triumphant narrative of 17-year-old protagonist Kyrie, the emotionally impactful book ended its second day at #38 in the highly competitive “New Releases Coming of Age” category and #1 “Musical Reference” due to the author’s inclusion of both old school and contemporary artists (from Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell to Deniece Williams, Lauryn Hill, Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars) as the soundtrack to Kyrie’s experiences. Currently, it is also ranked on the Kindle Store’s Black & African American Christian Fiction list.
Evoking some difficult experiences from her own childhood growing up in Harlem, Brown uses the fictional character of Kyrie as a vehicle to reflect on her ability to overcome the trauma of domestic abuse and somehow, miraculously, turn her physical and emotional survival into a triumphant and thriving life. The New York based author wrote the hard-hitting, flashback driven coming of age narrative over the course of one year while working her demanding high profile job as Vice President, Employment Counsel for a major entertainment conglomerate, often in quiet stolen hours in the middle of the night after her three children (now ages 14, 17 and 23) were in bed.
The breathtaking journey chronicled in Gifts in Brown Paper Packages hinges on a single question. In the wake of another emotionally and physically abusive episode with the person she refers to as “Man,” should she take the leap through her bedroom window into the unknown? Leaving her mother and young brother behind, she has no idea if she can make it on her own, but choosing the risk of the streets seemed like a better option than staying. With no plan but survival, Kyrie’s story is driven by strength, personal growth, a journey to self-awareness and ultimately acknowledging her deepest truths.
The theme of Gifts in Brown Paper Packages ties in perfectly with Brown’s dedicated involvement with The Safe Center of Long Island (TSCLI), a non profit agency comprehensively serving the needs of victims of domestic violence and inner personal trauma in Nassau County – and the only organization in the county providing free services to child and adult victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking. In addition helping to raise funds for a Capital Campaign project to build an expanded new safe house facility, she has served on the nominating committee for the past two years, with the goal of helping to identify diverse talent for TSCLI’s Board of Directors; she is currently their only African American Board Member. In 2020, Brown was named Vice President of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. She has agreed to become President of the Board in May 2022.
“For many years, I felt a lot of guilt and shame associated with those stories and felt like sharing them in my professional circles as a lawyer and even in my social circles wouldn’t engender real respect,” Brown says. “Eventually I realized my truth and that every part of my background, including the terrible, painful memories, served a purpose and informed what I consider this fabulous end product. That strength and resilience came from my path. It’s not necessary for readers to know the real life experiences versus the instances where I employed creative license or drew from other’s real life experiences.
“The point of the book,” she adds, “is to inspire readers to look at their lives with the proper lens, and allow those hard knocks and terrible experiences to ultimately work towards defining greatness in them as opposed to defeat. Those lessons don’t always show up beautifully adorned. Sometimes you have to dig through the ugly wrapping to discover the strength within the package. Everyone experiences difficult trials in their lives. The difference between a person who rises above them and succeeds and the one who doesn’t is perspective.”
S.P. Brown’s out of the box acclaim and success with her first novel Gifts in Brown Paper Packages is stunning proof that wherever we may be in our life’s journey, it’s never too late to embrace, share and inspire the world with our inner truths – no matter how raw and painful they may be and how vulnerable they make us feel.
Drawing from some difficult experiences of her own childhood growing up in Harlem, the author uses the fictional character of 17-year old Kyrie as a vehicle to reflect on her ability to overcome the trauma of domestic abuse and somehow, miraculously, turn her physical and emotional survival into a triumphant and thriving life. The New York based author wrote the hard-hitting, flashback driven coming of age narrative over the course of several years while working her demanding high profile job as Vice President, Employment Counsel for a major entertainment conglomerate, often in quiet stolen hours in the middle of the night after her three children (now ages 14, 17 and 23) were in bed.
In the first 72 hours of its Christmas week release, Gifts in Brown Paper Packages debuted at #1 in three categories on Amazon, including ending the second day at #38 in the highly competitive “New Releases Coming Of Age” category and #1 in “Musical Reference” due to her dynamic inclusion of both old school and contemporary artists (from Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell to Deniece Williams, Lauryn Hill, Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars) as the soundtrack to experiences. Currently, it is also ranked on the Kindle Store’s Black & African American Christian Fiction list.
Of the dozens of five-star customer reviews posted so far, perhaps this says it best about the book’s enduring impact on its readers: “I truly enjoyed following Kyrie’s journey through life and how she was able to overcome everything that life threw at her. Reading this story and enjoying every page as much as I did has reconnected me with my love for reading. I cannot wait for more from S.P. Brown.”
The breathtaking journey chronicled in Gifts in Brown Paper Packages hinges on a single life changing question. In the wake of another emotionally and physically abusive episode with the person she refers to as “Man,” should she take the leap through her bedroom window into the unknown? Leaving her mother and young brother behind, she has no idea if she can make it on her own, but choosing the risk of the streets seemed like a better option than staying. With no plan but survival, Kyrie’s story is driven by strength, personal growth, a journey to self-awareness and ultimately acknowledging her deepest realities.
Kyrie’s experiences are sometimes amusing, often shocking and so real and intense that it almost reads like a memoir rather than fiction. Along the way, she learns how to embrace the life lessons (gifts) that strife, struggle, perseverance and the tackling of overwhelming challenges can ultimately grace us with, if only we’re open to seeing life’s hardships that way.
The theme of Gifts in Brown Paper Packages ties in perfectly with Brown’s dedicated involvement with The Safe Center of Long Island (TSCLI), a non-profit agency comprehensively serving the needs of victims of domestic violence and inner personal trauma in Nassau County – and the only organization in the county providing free services to child and adult victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking. In addition to helping to raise funds for a Capital Campaign project to build an expanded new safe house, she has also served on the nominating committee for the past two years, with the goal of helping to identify diverse talent for TSCLI’s Board of Directors; she is currently their only African American Board Member. In 2020, Brown was named Vice President of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. She recently agreed to accept the role of President of the Board beginning May 2022.
Brown laid the foundation for her emergence as an influential first time novelist back in 2009, when she began writing fantasy fiction at night to, as she says, “assuage an undeniable creative itch to write something other than corporate policy and emails chock full of legal advice.” Her choice of genre was inspired by her childhood passion for books, and particularly stories that took her mind far from the day to day dark reality. She wrote seven chapters in six months and received incredible encouragement from her long ago literature professor at Hunter College, where Brown earned her BA in Human Communications. But then, for whatever reason, she got a crippling case of writer’s block and shut down.
As a person of deep faith, the author has come to trust that God sets us on certain paths for specific, sometimes mysterious reasons. In Brown’s case, her creative output was on the back burner for years until a lawyer friend who was running a program at the DA’s office for youth development and community reentry of former felons, invited her to audit a writing program – some of whose attendees were formerly incarcerated felons. Though she attended as an observer, she felt challenged when the facilitator asked, “What is your ‘Day One’ story if you had to talk about a specific time in your life? What is the lightbulb moment your life was changed?’”
She felt prompted to share some of her experiences with the group, and the sense of catharsis she felt led her to write what ultimately became the first chapter of Gifts in Brown Paper Packages that night on the plane en route to a conference. After she had written four or five entries, Brown made the decision that she would develop it into a novel written from a third person perspective, telling parts of her story, with fictionalized elements, through Kyrie’s eyes. For a time, she was concerned about writing explicitly about the domestic violence she endured in her youth, but ultimately decided that the narrative could have tremendous impact on others. She felt it was an important part of her life, even though her life had not historically been defined as a domestic violence survivor.
“For many years, I felt a lot of guilt and shame associated with those stories and so felt like sharing them in my professional circles as a lawyer wouldn’t engender real respect,” Brown says. “Eventually, I realized that my truth is characterized by every aspect of my background, including the terrible, painful memories, which served a purpose and informed what I consider this fabulous end product. I acknowledged that strength and resilience came from my path. It’s not necessary for readers to know the real life experiences versus the instances where I employed creative license or drew from other’s real life experiences.
“The point of the book,” she adds, “is to motivate people to look at their lives through the proper lens, and allow those hard knocks and terrible experiences to ultimately work towards cultivating greatness in them as opposed to defeat. Those lessons don’t always show up beautifully adorned. Sometimes you have to dig through the ugly wrapping to discover the strength within the package. Everyone goes through difficult trials in their lives. The difference between a person who rises above them and succeeds and the one who doesn’t, is perspective.”
“I am proud of the story I tell in Gifts in Brown Paper Packages, and the way I was able to put it together,” the author says. “In line with all the musical references, I truly feel there is a melody in the way it was written. What will make me the happiest is if the book is exposed to the masses and people get something out of it and feel inspired. I am so grateful for all the wonderful feedback I have received thus far, and I want to put myself in the position where I have more opportunities to speak to people who need to hear it. I want Kyrie’s story – and ultimately my own – to touch people and make an important difference in their lives.”
All of our shows/interviews are done by donation, if you enjoyed this show please support us here with either a one-time donation or subscribe and support on Patreon.
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