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.
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 288: The Suffering of Uber with Samuel Tavares
1w ago01:07:10Tap 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
2w ago01:21:34Tap 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
3w ago01:08:40Tap 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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Episode 285: The Suffering of Roll The Bones with Chris Stoddard
4w ago01:03:20Tap to summarizeChris Stoddard’s story doesn’t begin with strength—it begins with survival. Raised in a financially strained household, Chris grew up watching his mother fight tirelessly to keep them afloat, while enduring the chaos of an abusive, alcoholic stepfather. On the other side, love from his biological father was complicated by manipulation and psychological pressure, leaving Chris feeling like the cause of his parents’ divorce and fundamentally broken from a young age. By third grade, he was already battling thoughts no child should carry. The only refuge came from his Uncle John and Aunt Kathy, who showed him what real family looked like—until that foundation was shaken by his uncle’s passing. As the years went on, the weight of abuse and bullying began to take its toll. Chris’s teenage years marked a turning point—not toward healing, but toward darkness. Placed in an alternative program for troubled youth, he found connection, but also a gateway into crime, drugs, and violence. The loss of his close friend Andy to a heroin overdose became a defining moment, hitting him at one of the most vulnerable times in his life. What followed was a deeper descent into a dangerous world, including ties to a 1%er motorcycle club. But everything changed when Chris met the woman who would become his wife. Faced with the reality of becoming a father, he made a choice—to walk away from the life that was consuming him and break the cycle he was born into. Chris’s journey didn’t magically resolve from there. He endured a severe nervous breakdown, time in a psych ward, and moments where he came dangerously close to ending his life. But in one of those darkest moments, something small—a video—pulled him back. From there, he began rebuilding piece by piece. He found stability in real estate, but more importantly, he found purpose in storytelling. After losing a close friend who helped spark the idea, Chris eventually launched Roll The Bones—a podcast rooted in real conversations, real struggles, and real transformation. Today, as a father of three and a committed husband, Chris is focused on one mission: turning pain into purpose, and using his voice to speak on addiction, mental health, and the silent battles many are still fighting. Find Chis Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rollthebonespodcast203/ Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@Rollthebones203 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 284: The Suffering of Peace, Power, Purpose with Steve Morris
May 2401:13:10Tap to summarizeSteve Morris is the host of the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast. He served his country as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy and later served his community as a police officer working patrol, bringing a leadership style grounded in discipline, accountability, and real-world experience. A father of two, Steve has direct, unfiltered conversations with veterans, first responders, and leaders about faith, mental health, leadership, and overcoming adversity. Now sober for over four and a half years, he shares his journey of rebuilding with honesty and intent. His mission is to spread awareness for men’s mental health, share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and help men find the courage to seek help. Through his platform, he speaks from real-world experience to encourage and challenge others to pursue a life built on peace, power, and purpose. Where to find the Peace • Power • & Purpose Podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@peacepowerpurposepodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78oFBZdrhuUyymvHHBobkK Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-power-and-purpose-podcast/id1874673063 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f525fff6-2b5d-4d65-a701-52cd7dd8f4e7/peace-power-and-purpose-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacepowerpurposepodcast 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 283: The Suffering of The US Marshals with Robert Ledoger
May 1701:12:40Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Suffering Podcast, we sit down with Robert Ledogar, a former U.S. Marshal, to explore the weight behind one of America’s most historic badges. From the battlefields of Desert Storm to the relentless pursuit of justice on the streets, Robert shares what it truly means to carry responsibility in a profession built on courage, sacrifice, and integrity. This conversation goes beyond the job—it dives into the moments that test your values, the cost of standing up when it matters most, and the personal toll of doing what’s right in a system that doesn’t always reward it. It’s a raw look at leadership, resilience, and the unseen battles that come with protecting others. Real stories. Real scars. Real survival. 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 282: The Suffering of an Entertainer with Frankie Anne
May 1001:11:23Tap to summarizeFrankie Anne is a multi-talented performer and stand-up comic, opening for comedy greats such as Mike Marino, Craig Shoemaker, Dana Eagle and more. With a diverse career that spans producing and directing shows featuring icons like Tom Bergeron (DWTS), Dee Wallace (ET), and Sam Tripoli, Frankie has also produced Showtime's Live Nude Comedy, which included Whitney Cummings, Chris D’Elia, and Tig Notaro. A former lead vocalist for Big Brother and the Holding Company, Frankie’s stage presence was shaped by her Broadway tours of West Side Story and Smokey Joe’s Café, and performing with Barbra Streisand on her Timeless tour. Her TV credits include Sunset Beach and Strong Medicine, and she co-produced and starred in the comedy film Artie, alongside Heather McComb (Ray Donovan), Kevin Farley (The Waterboy), and Dee Wallace. Her stand-up blends Jersey grit with Hollywood survival, riffing on everything from dating disasters to life after being a Chief Operations Officer, all with her uniquely bold comedic style. Find Frankie Ann Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frankie_anne_productions/reels/ 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 281: The Suffering of A Life Unfolding with Dr. Dorothy Novitskie and Sherrie Allsup
May 301:06:01Tap to summarizeWhat does it take to tell the truth about something most people spend a lifetime trying to forget? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Suffering Podcast, Kevin Donaldson sits down with co-authors Sherrie Allsup and Dr. Dorothy Novitskie to discuss their new book, A Life Unfolding: Carrying the Secrets of Childhood Sexual Abuse. This conversation pulls back the curtain on what it really means to write from the depths of lived trauma while balancing the responsibility of telling that story with honesty, purpose, and care. Sherrie Allsup shares the emotional weight of revisiting her past—what it cost her to put those experiences into words, and what it means to finally be seen after years of silence. Alongside her, Dr. Dorothy Novitskie provides a clinical lens, breaking down the psychological impact of childhood sexual abuse, the long-term effects on identity and relationships, and the difficult but necessary process of healing. Together, they reveal the tension between raw human experience and clinical understanding—and how both are essential in telling the full story. This episode is not easy—but it is necessary. It’s for survivors who feel alone, for professionals who work in the shadows of trauma, and for anyone willing to listen, learn, and understand. Because some stories don’t just deserve to be told… they demand it. Find Sherrie Allsup Website https://sherrieallsup.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesherrieallsup/ Find Dr. Dorothy Novitskie Website https://www.novitskiepsych.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drdorothynovitskie/ 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 280: The Suffering of Survivors with Sherrie Allsup
Apr 2601:06:26Tap to summarizeIn this deeply powerful and unflinching episode of The Suffering Podcast, Sherrie Allsup sits down with host Kevin Donaldson to explore a reality many live with—but few are able to speak about: the lifelong suffering carried by survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Through raw honesty and hard-earned insight, Sherrie shares her personal journey of survival, healing, and reclaiming her voice after trauma. Together, she and Kevin navigate the emotional aftermath that lingers long after the abuse ends—the silence, the shame, the fractured identity—and the strength it takes to confront it all. This conversation does not look away. It steps directly into the darkness that survivors know too well, while also illuminating the path forward. It’s about breaking cycles, understanding the hidden wounds, and finding purpose through pain. This episode is for survivors, for those who support them, and for anyone willing to listen with an open heart. Because healing begins the moment the truth is spoken out loud. Find Sherrie Allsup Website https://sherrieallsup.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesherrieallsup/ 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 279: The Suffering of Prison With Shawn Johnson
Apr 1901:10:15Tap to summarizeShawn Robert Johnson grew up in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where much of his childhood was shaped by poverty, instability, and his parents’ struggles with drug addiction. Basketball became his escape, but when his family could no longer afford the costs of playing, Shawn was pulled into the streets—eventually becoming involved in drug dealing and gang life. In 2006, a violent altercation led to two incidents where Shawn says he acted in self-defense. He was arrested in Pittsburgh, extradited to New Jersey, and after losing at trial was sentenced to 60 years in prison. While incarcerated at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, Shawn transformed his life. He deepened his faith, focused on rehabilitation, and wrote books on youth mentorship, financial literacy, motivation, spirituality, and men’s mental health, while also sharing motivational messages on social media. After years of denied appeals, Shawn’s case was reviewed under New Jersey’s clemency initiative. Represented by Joseph Krakora, 41 years were commuted from his sentence, recognizing both his rehabilitation and evidence supporting his self-defense claim. On December 4, 2025, Shawn was released—granted a second chance at life. Today he uses his story to mentor, motivate, and help others avoid the path he once walked. Follow Shawn: TikTok & Instagram: @shawjohn1222 YouTube 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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