Mental

Fred Zielonko’s Journey Through St. Louis Radio and Building Mental Resilience | Mental

In this episode of "Mental," host Corey Schonhorst interviews Fred Zielonko, a seasoned media professional with a rich history in radio, currently associated with FamilyVisionMedia.org. Fred shares his journey into the radio industry, starting from his high school days when he first caught the "radio bug" while doing closed-circuit commentary for high school basketball and football games. This passion led him to pursue a degree in mass communications at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.Fred discusses how he secured an internship at KMOX, a major radio station in St. Louis, thanks to his persistence and a referral from his academic advisor. During his internship, Fred impressed prominent radio personalities like Bob Costas and Bill Wilkerson with his strong writing skills, leading to his immediate hire as a sports producer.The conversation delves deeper into Fred’s experience as a producer for the legendary Jack Carney, who hosted the number one show in St. Louis at the time. Fred reflects on the invaluable lessons Jack taught him, particularly about making radio personal and engaging by always focusing on the individual listener. Fred's tenure at KMOX lasted from 1980 to 1996, during which he produced, trained other producers and hosts, and created special segments like the Saturday Morning Comedy Show.The episode also covers Fred’s experiences working closely with other radio legends, his role in producing celebrity interviews, and the creative freedom he was given to craft memorable radio content. Fred highlights some of his favorite moments, such as creating in-depth biographies for guests like Glenn Campbell and recounts the challenges and rewards of working with Jack Carney until Carney’s unexpected passing in 1984.Overall, the episode provides an insightful look into the evolution of radio, Fred’s personal growth in the industry, and the importance of mentorship and passion in building a successful career.https://familyvisionmedia.org/

The Healthiest Addict: Samantha Lander’s Story of Addiction and Recovery | Mental

In this powerful and candid episode of Mental, Corey Schonhorst welcomes back Samantha Lander to dive deeper into her journey through addiction, relapse, and recovery. Samantha opens up about the emotional trauma that led to her relapse after 13 years of sobriety, triggered by postpartum struggles and life challenges. She shares how drinking became a daily coping mechanism as she navigated personal difficulties, including divorce and raising her son. Samantha reflects on the turning point when her addiction began impacting relationships, leading to a wake-up call that motivated her to embrace sobriety again.Samantha also discusses her passion for health and wellness, which persisted even during her struggles with addiction. She explains how this passion evolved into launching Three Degrees, a business that combines breathwork, cold plunges, and sauna therapy to foster physical and emotional healing. Samantha describes the transformative power of contrast therapy and how it has helped her and others heal by creating a sense of community, vulnerability, and support.This episode offers an inspiring exploration of personal resilience, the complexity of addiction, and the importance of emotional healing through both traditional and non-traditional methods.Connect with Samantha:https://www.instagram.com/seefitliving/https://seefitpt.com/https://www.instagram.com/plunge_3d/