Podcast
The Suffering Podcast
Hosted by Kevin Donaldson · EN
Adversity is the common thread throughout the lives of all living human beings. This human condition can either make us or break us. Nothing great comes easy and it's the overcoming of adversity that makes us who we are. Living by the ethos Suffering is THE way to sustainable success and the path to greatness. Always remember Mike Failace.
32episodes
Episodes
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Episode 295: The Suffering of a Homicide Detective with Tony Bova
2d ago01:15:10Tap to summarizeFor more than 20 years, Tony Bova served in law enforcement and emergency medical services, spending much of his career as a State Police Homicide Detective. When lives were shattered and families needed answers, Tony was the person people trusted to remain calm under unimaginable pressure. What few people saw, however, was the personal cost of carrying that responsibility. While he excelled in one of the most demanding professions imaginable, Tony struggled with the same challenges that affect so many high-performing men—finding balance between professional success and personal fulfillment. The strength that made him effective on the job didn't automatically translate into healthy relationships or peace at home. After confronting his own failures and rebuilding his life, Tony transformed those hard-earned lessons into a new purpose. Today, alongside his partner Sabrina, he co-founded Respect Gains, where they help high-achieving men strengthen their relationships, reconnect with their families, and become the leaders at home that they already are in their careers. Tony often says he earned a "PhD in relationship failure" the hard way—and it's that honesty, experience, and transformation that make his message so powerful. Find Tony Bova Website Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Website The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Episode 294: The Suffering of Domestic Violence Pt 2 with Kelly Sutliff
1w ago00:51:13Tap to summarizePart 2 THE CONCLUSION Kelly Sutliff is a Licensed Professional Counselor, advocate, speaker, and the Founder and Executive Director of Kelly’s K9s, Tails of Courage, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing highly trained personal protection dogs to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at no cost. With over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, Kelly has dedicated her career to helping others heal, rebuild, and rediscover their strength. Her work as a psychotherapist, combined with her own lived experience as a survivor, gives her a unique and powerful perspective on trauma, resilience, and empowerment. After surviving a life changing domestic violence incident in 2019, Kelly transformed her pain into purpose. Her own protection dog, Stella, became a crucial part of reclaiming her safety, independence, and confidence. That bond inspired the creation of Kelly’s K9s, where she now helps other survivors experience that same sense of security and freedom. Her journey has been featured nationally on the television series Toxic: Sleeping With a Stranger on Investigation Discovery and streaming platforms, where she shared her story to raise awareness about domestic violence, survivor safety, and the gaps that still exist within the system. Today, Kelly continues to turn survival into action through advocacy, education, and her work with both people and dogs. She speaks openly about domestic violence, healing after trauma, and the importance of empowering survivors beyond simply surviving. Through Kelly’s K9s, her clinical work, and her public advocacy, Kelly’s mission is to change the conversation around survivor support and prove that even from the darkest chapters, strength, purpose, and courage can rise. Links: www.kellysk9s.org IG- @real_talk_with_kelly IG- @kellys_k9s_tailsofcourage Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Website The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Episode 293: The Suffering of Domestic Violence Pt 1 with Kelly Sutliff
2w ago00:55:25Tap to summarizePart 1 Kelly Sutliff is a Licensed Professional Counselor, advocate, speaker, and the Founder and Executive Director of Kelly’s K9s, Tails of Courage, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing highly trained personal protection dogs to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at no cost. With over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, Kelly has dedicated her career to helping others heal, rebuild, and rediscover their strength. Her work as a psychotherapist, combined with her own lived experience as a survivor, gives her a unique and powerful perspective on trauma, resilience, and empowerment. After surviving a life changing domestic violence incident in 2019, Kelly transformed her pain into purpose. Her own protection dog, Stella, became a crucial part of reclaiming her safety, independence, and confidence. That bond inspired the creation of Kelly’s K9s, where she now helps other survivors experience that same sense of security and freedom. Her journey has been featured nationally on the television series Toxic: Sleeping With a Stranger on Investigation Discovery and streaming platforms, where she shared her story to raise awareness about domestic violence, survivor safety, and the gaps that still exist within the system. Today, Kelly continues to turn survival into action through advocacy, education, and her work with both people and dogs. She speaks openly about domestic violence, healing after trauma, and the importance of empowering survivors beyond simply surviving. Through Kelly’s K9s, her clinical work, and her public advocacy, Kelly’s mission is to change the conversation around survivor support and prove that even from the darkest chapters, strength, purpose, and courage can rise. Links: www.kellysk9s.org IG- @real_talk_with_kelly IG- @kellys_k9s_tailsofcourage Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Website The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Episode 292: The Suffering of Personal Development with Erik Malmstrom
3w ago01:03:42Tap to summarizeWhat happens when the career that defined your identity suddenly disappears? This week on The Suffering Podcast, we sit down with Erik Malmstrom, whose life journey is one of loyalty, loss, resilience, and rediscovering purpose after unimaginable change. Raised in the tight-knit neighborhood of Crum Lynne in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Erik grew up surrounded by generations of family, lifelong friendships, and a home filled with both love and chaos. As a child, he often found himself in the middle of his parents' conflicts while fiercely protecting the person he cared about most—his younger sister. Sports became his outlet, and ice hockey became his passion. A captain on his high school team, Erik learned early lessons in leadership, brotherhood, and perseverance that would shape the rest of his life. After college, Erik unexpectedly discovered his calling working with court-adjudicated youth. For 15 years, he served in a role that demanded equal parts law enforcement officer, teacher, counselor, and father figure. He found purpose in helping young people navigate difficult circumstances while building deep bonds with coworkers who became family. But everything changed. After years of dedication—including more than a decade of being on call 24/7—the program that had become his home was shut down. At just 39 years old, Erik lost not only his career, but also his identity, community, and sense of purpose. Faced with unemployment, financial uncertainty, and the responsibility of supporting a wife and three children, Erik took whatever work he could find—including loading trucks at UPS at 3 a.m. for $10 an hour. The financial loss was painful, but the emotional loss was even greater. He describes it as feeling like "a body without a soul." Like so many people who dedicate themselves to service professions, Erik struggled with trauma, toxic family dynamics, alcohol use, and the difficult question many ask after major life changes: Who am I when the job is gone? Through self-reflection, recovery, family, and eventually rediscovering his purpose working with adult offenders, Erik began rebuilding his life from the ground up. Today, Erik is the founder of EM Personal Development, where he uses over two decades of professional experience and personal adversity to help others navigate change, leadership, mental health, relationships, and personal growth. This episode is about much more than career loss. It's about identity. It's about brotherhood. It's about trauma. And ultimately, it's about finding purpose again when life forces you to start over. In This Episode: Growing up in Delco and navigating family chaos Protecting loved ones while carrying adult burdens as a child Brotherhood, hockey, and lifelong friendships Finding purpose working with court-adjudicated youth Leadership in high-stress environments Losing a career and identity overnight The hidden grief of losing camaraderie and mission Alcohol as a coping mechanism Fatherhood, marriage, and rebuilding after loss Mental health and middle-aged reinvention Creating EM Personal Development Helping others navigate change and adversity Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Episode 291: The Suffering of 20 Years with Richard Veltre
Jul 1201:11:55Tap to summarizeBut this episode isn't about crime. It's about redemption. After serving his sentence and walking out of prison, Richie faced the challenge that countless formerly incarcerated individuals know all too well: rebuilding a life from the ground up. Rather than allowing his past to define his future, he chose a different path—one built on perseverance, accountability, resilience, and personal transformation. In this powerful conversation, Richie shares his experiences with prison, organized crime, second chances, personal growth, and the difficult journey of starting over after incarceration. His story serves as a reminder that no matter how far someone has fallen, meaningful change is possible, and hope can be found even in life's darkest chapters. If you've ever wondered whether people can truly change, this episode provides an unforgettable answer. Topics Covered: Life inside prison Organized crime and mob culture Russell Bufalino and prison experiences Motorcycle club culture Redemption and second chances Reentry after incarceration Personal transformation Overcoming adversity Resilience and perseverance Finding purpose after prison Subscribe to The Suffering Podcast for more powerful stories of trauma, resilience, redemption, and the human capacity to overcome adversity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Episode 290: The Suffering of Analysis with Dr. Dorothy Novitskie
Jul 501:12:01Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Suffering Podcast, host Kevin Donaldson sits down with licensed psychologist Dr. Dorothy Novitskie to analyze one of the internet's most controversial conversations: Jubilee's "Surrounded: 1 Cop Vs. 20 Criminals." Unlike a typical reaction video, this episode dives beneath the surface of the debate to explore the psychology, trauma, emotions, and lived experiences driving every exchange. As the discussion unfolds, Kevin offers a unique perspective as the very police officer featured in the Jubilee episode, providing behind-the-scenes insight into what viewers didn't see, what was happening internally during the conversation, and the realities of standing alone while facing criticism, confrontation, and deeply personal questions. Dr. Novitskie brings her expertise in trauma, mental health, and human behavior to help unpack the emotional dynamics at play on all sides. Together, they examine the body language, emotional triggers, communication patterns, and underlying pain that emerge throughout the discussion. From issues of crime and policing to accountability, trust, trauma, and redemption, they explore how personal experiences shape our beliefs and why conversations like these often become emotionally charged long before the cameras start rolling. This episode is not about declaring winners and losers. It's about understanding the human beings behind the viewpoints. Whether you're in law enforcement, have been impacted by crime, struggle with trust in institutions, or simply want a deeper understanding of why people see the world so differently, this conversation offers powerful insight into the complexities of human suffering and resilience. Watch until the end as Kevin reflects on what it was like to be in the center of the debate and Dr. Novitskie helps reveal the deeper psychological forces influencing everyone in the room. You may come away seeing the conversation—and perhaps yourself—in a completely different light. What moment from the Jubilee episode stood out to you most? What perspective challenged your thinking? Let us know in the comments. #TheSufferingPodcast #KevinDonaldson #DrDorothyNovitskie #Jubilee #PoliceVsCriminals #LawEnforcement #MentalHealth #Trauma #Psychology #Redemption Find Dr. Dorothy Novitskie Website https://www.novitskiepsych.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drdorothynovitskie/ Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Website The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Episode 289: The Suffering of Survival with Dave Velasquez
Jun 2801:22:54Tap to summarizeDave Velasquez grew up in chaos long before he ever wore a badge. Raised in Minnesota in a home consumed by addiction, instability, and repeated trauma, his childhood was defined by survival. With an absent father and a mother battling severe substance abuse and suicide attempts, Dave spent his early years moving from place to place, never knowing what “normal” looked like. At just 15 years old, he was abandoned and left behind — until one family connected through the Police Explorer program stepped in and changed the course of his life forever. Determined to build something better, Dave fought his way into law enforcement through grit, loans, grants, and relentless hard work. From working security at the Mall of America to serving with six different law enforcement agencies, he dedicated 16 years to policing, eventually serving with the Minneapolis Police Department in the infamous 3rd Precinct. In 2020, Dave was inside the precinct when it was overtaken and burned during the riots following George Floyd’s death. What followed was years of cumulative trauma, emotional exhaustion, and the crushing realities of modern policing. By 2022, the weight became too much. Diagnosed with Complex PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Treatment-Resistant Depression, Dave was medically retired from the career that had defined his identity. Months later, he attempted suicide and nearly lost everything — his relationships, stability, family, and even time with his children. But this is not a story about giving up. It’s a story about rebuilding from absolute rock bottom. From intensive therapies and ECT treatments to a life-altering psychedelic healing retreat in Mexico now being developed into a documentary, Dave committed himself to healing no matter how painful the process became. Along the way, he reinvented himself once again — earning his FAA Aircraft Dispatcher certification and beginning a new chapter in aviation. Today, Dave speaks openly about first responder mental health, trauma, resilience, and breaking generational cycles. As a father of three, a survivor, and a man refusing to let suffering write the ending of his story, he proves that even after losing everything, healing is still possible — and a new life can still be built. Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Episode 288: The Suffering of Uber with Samuel Tavares
Jun 2101:07:10Tap to summarizeSamuel Taveras’s story begins before he ever had a chance to speak. Born prematurely at just six months in a developing country, he spent the first three months of his life fighting to survive through constant medical emergencies and uncertainty. Complications from his birth left him blind in one eye, but the physical challenges were only the beginning. By the age of five, Samuel had already witnessed death, violence, and chaos firsthand including a fatal car crash outside his home and a violent police encounter that would leave lasting psychological scars and shape the way he viewed the world. At six years old, Samuel immigrated to New York City, stepping into an entirely new life filled with culture shock, fear, and survival. Growing up surrounded by gang activity and even experiencing a school shooting during middle school, he learned early how fragile life could be. Yet despite the darkness around him, Samuel refused to follow the destructive paths so many others did. Through discipline, structure, and determination, he stayed focused through high school and college, trying to build a life different from the chaos he had witnessed. But it was his years working as an Uber driver that exposed him to humanity in its rawest form. From robberies and violent crime scenes to transporting injured victims to hospitals, Samuel found himself face-to-face with trauma once again. Conversations with first responders and people living dangerous lifestyles gave him an unfiltered look into violence, addiction, death, and survival. Rather than becoming hardened by it, Samuel became a voice of influence for those around him encouraging friends to leave behind destructive lifestyles and pursue something better before it was too late. One life-altering moment came during a violent road rage incident that spiraled out of control in seconds. What began as frustration at a stoplight turned into a brutal physical confrontation that left Samuel shaken emotionally and mentally. In the aftermath, he was forced to confront difficult truths about anger, escalation, and the unpredictability of people. Instead of allowing the experience to consume him, he transformed it into fuel for growth dedicating himself to jiu-jitsu training, tactical shooting, and a deeper commitment to discipline, accountability, and emotional control. In this powerful episode, Samuel Taveras opens up about survival, trauma, fear, resilience, and the lessons learned from living in constant proximity to violence. His story is not just about enduring hardship, it's about what happens when someone chooses growth over bitterness and self-awareness over destruction. This conversation explores the psychological weight of trauma, the importance of personal responsibility, and the lifelong pursuit of becoming stronger mentally, emotionally, and physically in a world that can change forever in a single moment. Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Episode 287: The Suffering of a Purple Heart with Cody Boden
Jun 1401:21:34Tap to summarizeBorn in Grand Junction, Colorado, our guest’s story begins in the rugged working-class towns of the American West and South—places where grit wasn’t optional, it was survival. Raised in a coal mining family, with both parents working under his grandfather and a father who spent years as a roughneck, he grew up surrounded by hard labor, discipline, and resilience. Life wasn’t always easy. His father battled alcoholism and could be harsh at times, but through the chaos came lessons in toughness, accountability, and perseverance. Sports like hockey, baseball, and football became an outlet during an otherwise grounded, blue-collar upbringing that would shape the man he would later become. In December 2004, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, beginning a journey that would forever alter the course of his life. After completing infantry school and Airborne training at Fort Benning, he earned his place as a sniper with 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry. Deployed to Southeast Baghdad in 2006, he endured the brutal realities of combat, surviving multiple near-death experiences and earning two Purple Hearts after a bombing and a devastating VBIED attack on his patrol base. The scars of war followed him home—both visible and invisible—and the battle for survival didn’t end when the deployment did. What came next was a downward spiral few saw coming. Struggling to adjust after the military, one bad decision led to another—eventually pulling him into addiction, drug dealing, and a prison sentence that could have defined the rest of his life. But in June 2017, everything changed when he got sober from opiates and began rebuilding from the ground up. After his release, he met the woman who would become his wife, started a family, and rediscovered his faith. Today, while continuing to battle a liver disease connected to illnesses contracted during deployment, he stands as a living example of resilience, redemption, and the possibility of rebuilding a life after trauma, addiction, and war. Find Cody Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cody.boden/ Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Episode 286: The Suffering of Sex Trafficking with Melony Feliciano
Jun 701:08:40Tap to summarizeMelony Feliciano is a media executive, producer, distributor, and entrepreneur from New York City. She is the Founder and CEO of B.A.R. TV Show, LLC, a multimedia company specializing in television, film, podcast production, distribution, and media consulting. Since launching B.A.R. TV in 2018, Melony has built a reputation for helping creators, filmmakers, and podcasters monetize and expand their brands across major platforms. She is also the host of the B.A.R. TV Podcast and has grown her media footprint to reach audiences across the United States and internationally. In addition to her work in media, Melony has served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Super O Mgmt, Inc. since 2019, where she has helped facilitate major cultural initiatives, including work connected to the Big Pun Estate and the co-naming of Big Pun Plaza in the Bronx. She is also the creator and subject of the documentary “UNBREAKABLE: The Melony Feliciano Story,” which shares her journey from surviving sex trafficking, incarceration, and addiction within her family to becoming a successful entrepreneur and media figure. Through every project, Melony continues to live by her motto: Brilliant & Resilient. Find Melony https://pod.link/1854864211 Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Apple Podcast Spotify Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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