Professor of Perseverance Podcast

Ep 317 Childhood Trauma to Triumph: Darren Richardson Shares His Perseverance Story

Darren Richardson is a former firefighter/ paramedic and 2-time amputee turned mindset/ resilience/mental performance coach and motivational speaker. His hope is that his story from childhood trauma to hitting rock bottom and rising up several times throughout his life will resonate with the listeners and offer inspiration to those who may need it.

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In 2010, Michael Gomoll's 4-year-old son Joe died after battling a rare form of epilepsy, Dravet's Syndrome, his entire life. After years of misdiagnosis and wrong medications, Joe was finally able to be seizure-free. Upon his passing, they as a family decided they needed to do what they could to help "the next family". Somewhere, there is a set of parents in a neurologist's office getting a terrifying and confusing diagnosis. They...

Davis Bain sustained a concussion in Air Force ROTC training that turned into Post-Concussion Syndrome. His injury has affected everything in his life from relationships to work to generally not feeling like himself. Despite this, he feels more alive than ever and is passionate about trying to help others who are also struggling with chronic conditions. He just finished writing Chronic Pain Warrior.

Website: https://www.chronicpain...

Nancy Deyo, at 16,000 feet on Mount Kilimanjaro, collapsed in pain so severe she thought she was dying. That moment marked the start of a fifteen-year medical odyssey. As doctors told her she was “fine,” chronic pain took over her life. She lost the ability to sit and lived lying down.’ Website: https://nancydeyo.substack.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancy.deyo.5 You may also contact Professor of Persev...

In September of 2024, Katie Rizzo lost her firstborn son to addiction. In a tragic irony, she found that grief mirrored pregnancy. After joining grief groups, listening to podcasts, and reading everything she could get her hands on, Katie carried her grief as long as she could. Finally, she found ways to help cope with the trauma and deliver this ‘grief baby.’

Her memoir, The Trimesters of Grief, will be released on Oct...

At 18 years old, John Thompson had both arms ripped off below the shoulders when his shirt became caught in a tractor's power takeoff shaft on his family’s North Dakota farm. After his arms were ripped off, he walked to his home, used his mouth to dial for help, and was later successful in having his arms reattached. Get inspired, learn to persevere, and order his book.

Website: https://linktr.ee/johnwaynethompson92?fbclid=Iw...

On January 6, 2000, Sam Schmidt, who had just won his first IndyCar Series race in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas, backed his racecar into a wall at the Walt Disney World Speedway. He did so at around 200 mph, and the impact broke his neck. Sam spent six months in rehab before going home to his new life with his loving wife, Sheila, and two young children, Savannah and Spencer. Get inspired, learn to persevere, and order his boo...

Merry Korn was fired and as she was falling into a professional abyss, Merry chose to build a social enterprise employing 1,300 people, giving hiring priority to people with the greatest barriers to work: disabled veterans, veterans, military spouses, people with disabilities and people living in economically challenged areas.

Website: https://firedtoinspired.com/

Free WorkBook: https://firedtoinspired.com/workbooks/

Facebook: http...

Joe Gonzalez is a modern day Alchemist who’s knocked on heaven's door 3x and was turned away. Fought thru depression, rage, PTSD and is dedicated to helping other vets heal. Joe Gonzalez aka Scuba Joe a disabled Navy Seabee who’s seen his share of tragedies both on the battle field and off. Tragedies that have not only crushed him, his spirit, complete altered his way of life for the worse. After the 3rd time, he couldn...

Jesse Crosson was sentenced to 32 years in prison when he was 18 years old. While inside, he earned a bachelor's degree, became a journeyman electrician, taught yoga and Spanish, and helped start a peer support mental health program. Since coming home in August 2021, he has built the Second Chancer Foundation to help formerly incarcerated people and at-risk youth find their footing.

Website: https://jessecrosson.com/

Facebook: http...

In 2018, Joe DiMeo got in a car crash that left his body 80 percent burned. Two years later, he received a historic face and double hand transplant at age 22. His donor was 47 years old.

Website: https://www.thecoremediagroup.com/product-page/eighty-percent-gone

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/80PercentGone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/80percentgone/reels/

You may also contact him through email, Jamesperduespeaks@comcast...

Chris Moore used the tragedy of the loss of his wife of 33 years to lung cancer in July of 2022 to lead him to reassess his entire life.

Website: https://ageoutloudbook.com/

https://seniorremodelingexperts.com/

Email: cmoore@seniorremodelingexperts.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.moore.616651/about/?id=100005452758215&sk=about

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

Linkedin: https://www...

As Stanley Bronstein was turning 50, he had a "right now" moment and realized that if he did not start eating better, exercising, and stopping a few other bad habits, He would be dead within five years - so he changed his life and never looked back, losing 220+ pounds naturally - no drugs or surgery - going from a max of 367 to around 145 today through healthy nutrition and daily walking.

Website: https://thewayofexcellence.com/

Li...

Adaku Mbagwu has overcome brief homelessness, depression and a failed suicide attempt. She works with high-achieving first-born daughters who are entrepreneurs and executives - women who are often the go-to person for everyone else but silently struggle with burnout, perfectionism, and pressure to always "hold it all together."

Website: https://healedhero.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www...

Cam Cordin, at 46, after 25 years of corporate stress destroying his body and mind, he signed what he called a death contract. 911 days to completely transform — or he was done. Not metaphorically. He meant it.

Website: https://savagechillstyle.com/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GNQ4C56Y?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_DQ1H4Q2GHVE726AMN2BC&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_DQ1H4Q2GHVE726AMN2BC&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_u...

Stephen Wagstaff, at 19, was paralyzed in a diving accident that left him a C5 quadriplegic — but that moment became the start of his mission, not the end of his story. Today, he is the founder and CEO of SwagAbility, a nonprofit empowering people with disabilities and caregivers to thrive wherever life finds them. Together with his wife Julie — a cancer survivor and full-time caregiver — they share life as an int...