Episodes

Part 2 of 2 If there is one man who is responsible for the concept of the suffering podcast, it is Dr. Eugene Stefanelli. Dr. Stefanelli brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to The Suffering Podcast. Doc. Is the past Exec. Dir. of the Boland Rehabilitation Center for Catholic Charities, W. Essex Voc. Rehabilitation center, Past Dir. of the NW Essex Community Healthcare Network, Past Pres. of the NJ Association of Rehab Facilities, past Pres. of NJ National Rehabilitation Association. P...

Part 1 of 2 If there is one man who is responsible for the concept of the suffering podcast, it is Dr. Eugene Stefanelli. Dr. Stefanelli brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to The Suffering Podcast. Doc. Is the past Exec. Dir. of the Boland Rehabilitation Center for Catholic Charities, W. Essex Voc. Rehabilitation center, Past Dir. of the NW Essex Community Healthcare Network, Past Pres. of the NJ Association of Rehab Facilities, past Pres. of NJ National Rehabilitation Association. P...

Michele Traina is a stand up comedian and creator of Divorce Diaries a national one woman comedy show and TV series in development. Michele has performed all over the country and made appearances on Tamron Hall, Wendy Williams, Tea with Gary Vee, and onstage with Chippendales Las Vegas- for the Ultimate Divorce Party. Michele uses humor to poke fun at divorce, being a single mom, and a former theatre teacher. Michele has won awards for Divorce Diaries TV Pilot, her short film 180, and has a come...

When John Capone was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) at the young age of 39, he never imagined acting in a movie with A-list celebrities. The news of his diagnosis was tough to handle at first, and he quickly became overwhelmed overwhelmed by depression and anxiety. But this tough guy was determined to not let PD get the best of him. With the help of his friends, family, faith, and the power of social media, he chose a more optimistic path. With six years of life with PD under his ...

Angela Pisano grew up in Rutherford New Jersey during the 1960's and '70's. Rutherford was a tree lined bedroom community of NYC. She was an only child who lived with her mom and dad, and their terrier, Cindy. She had a typical suburban childhood filled with all the trimmings; Mitzie and Larry made sure of that. There was one exception, that was a secret, which she held close since the age of seven. Dad was in the Mafia. He worked in NY and NJ often with various families, however if he had to be...

While doing the Suffering Podcast, Kevin and Mike, have taken a journey through some of the deepest, darkest traumas that humans can experience. As a commemoration to this very somber time of year, the guys revisit their personal 9/11 experiences. From the day of till the present day, the loss of friends and family haunt them forever. Find The Suffering Podcast The Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram Mike Failace Instagram Buzzsprout Apple Podcast Spotify Facebook TikTok YouTu...

Bill MAZUR is a 25-year law enforcement veteran and retired in 2017 at the rank of Deputy Chief of Police. Bill holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Stockton University and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Training and Development in the Police Graduate Studies Program from Seton Hall University. Bill is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session #256, and served as a Master Instructor with the FBI National Academy Associates, in their Comprehensive Officer Resiliency Trai...

Blake Rosell grew up in South Jersey near the Atlantic City area in a little shore town called Margate attending high school at Saint Augustine Prep in Richland , NJ were he played basketball and baseball. Basketball came out on top as his dominate sport and Blake received a scholarship to play basketball at DeSales University in Center Valley, PA for the Bulldogs finally transferring and finishing out his college basketball career right in his own backyard at Stockton University for the Ospreys...

Tom Flynn has been around lawn enforcement since January 1997 starting as a civilian dispatcher. Tom was promoted to sergeant in 2005 and then to Lieutenant in 2015. His most enjoyable assignment was being a member of the swat team from 2002 to 2004. Most of Tom‘s experience was in uniform but for 7 1/2 years Tom worked as the agencies accreditation manager developing and writing policy and procedure. all of these accomplishments, pale in comparison to being a father to his 3 Children. Being exp...

Matt Stanislao just wanted to be a cop. His father warned him, and after serving 27 years himself, he knew exactly what the problems Matt would face, which had nothing to do with the public or criminals. After two wrongful terminations rooted in discrimination for being gay, Matt fought back and won. However, he’s not the same officer or the same person. In his near 3 year separation from the police department, he was accepted into Columbia University to earn a Masters in advanced clinical socia...

Tom Smith began in the NYPD in 1990 and after the Academy was assigned to the 30 Pct in West Harlem. One of the busiest Pct in the NYPD at the time. While at the 3-0 he was assigned to Anti Crime Unit (Plainclothes) and handled all the gun runs, in progress calls, and Robbery patterns. 1996-1999 Tom was transferred to the Bronx Narcotics Unit. Involved in numerous large scale Narcotics cases, one of which involved the DEA which resulted in the seizure on 125 kilos of cocaine from Venezuela 1999-...

Stanley (Tony) Woods was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. He is a proud graduate of Seton Hall Prep High School and the University of Pittsburgh with a B. A. in Communications. Tony had a successful NFL career from 1987 to 1996. Stanley (Tony) Woods is a member of the Seton Hall Prep Hall of Fame, the Newark Hall of Fame and the New Jersey State Hall of Fame. Tony’s Career highlights 10 Year NFL Playing Career: Linebacker/Defensive End - played in 145 NFL games and started 125 of those g...

James Gardner lives in New Jersey with his wife of forty years, Kelly. Together they have three daughters and five grandchildren. James had a lengthy career in corporate finance, accounting and auditing before retiring in 2019. In 2020, James began substitute teaching at a local elementary school. In the same year he and Kelly launched their podcast, Your History Your Story. A history enthusiast since childhood, James loves encouraging people to share stories about themselves and members from th...

John Sullivan was born January 1, 1960 and was raised on the tough streets of Yorkville on the East Side of NYC. His father was killed when he was 2 years old his Mother left his sister and John to be raised by his Grandmother. Raising a young child was tough in that neighborhood and John’s Grandmother did her best until the streets got the best of him. John found himself getting into trouble frequently and eventually ended up in some of the toughest prisons on the east coast. His reputation in...

Gene Hauburger grew up, and raised his family, in Orangeburg NY located in Rockland County. He married his wife, Noreen O’Shea, in 1993. Gene worked as a Supreme Court Officer for 31 years and retired in 2014. He has two daughters, Amanda and Kelly and a son, Jimmy, who was tragically lost to suicide at the age of 17 after being bullied and cyber bullied. After Jimmy’s passing in 2015, family and friends organized the Jimmy Hauburger Memorial Foundation (Jimmyhauburgermemorialfoundation.org)who...

Mark Hettinger Jr (Firefighter, EMT, Fire, Inspector, Arson Investigator, Firearms Instructor, ECT.) is a highly decorated first responder with over 20+ years of experience with numerous Awards, comondations and citations for his work and life-saving efforts. When not saving or protecting lives, he's teaching other people how to, as an educator. Born the oldest of three boys, and coming to terms with his own sexuality at a very young age struggled his way through his coming of age and his fashio...

Dennis Benigno is the founder and CEO of Street Cop Training and began formal police instruction in 2012. His law enforcement career began in 2001 at 19 years of age as an NJ Corrections Officer. In 2004, Benigno became a police officer with the US Park Police Dept. in Washington, DC, and in 2005 moved over to the position of a police officer in one of NJ’s largest municipalities. He has received multiple awards including but not limited to Lifesaving, Meritorious Service, Mayor’s Award for Exce...

Chance meetings are never by chance. Lavana Wilson and Tashiann Yasmine are two strong and spirited women who empower their community in all the positive ways possible. Together they create to change the face of empowerment in the face of adversity through love and life’s purpose. Lavana (Slayer V) Wilson is a Mom, YouTube Podcaster, creative director, lifestyle blogger, influencer, community activist, motivational speaker, life coach and fashion expert whom was born and raised in the city of P...

Bobby Crudele comes from a family that has deep roots in Jersey City and Belleville and as a kid moved to North Arlington. After living in Jersey City for a decade as an adult, Bobby met his wife Kara and eventually bought a house in North Arlington where he currently resides and raises his 3 children. Bobby has served honorably as a Sergeant in the North Arlington Police department and will finish his career with distinction this year. His deep love of sports rose out of I growing up on the pla...

Part 2 Mike Arena began his law enforcement career in 2011 at 19 years of age starting out as a Special Law Enforcement Officer with the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department. He was then hired by The New Jersey Department of Corrections and became a Corrections Officer and worked in multiple prisons throughout the state. After a few years of working in corrections, Mike became a police officer with Prince George’s County Police Department located in Maryland. In 2017, he transferred back to N...

Part 1 Mike Arena began his law enforcement career in 2011 at 19 years of age starting out as a Special Law Enforcement Officer with the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department. He was then hired by The New Jersey Department of Corrections and became a Corrections Officer and worked in multiple prisons throughout the state. After a few years of working in corrections, Mike became a police officer with Prince George’s County Police Department located in Maryland. In 2017, he transferred back to N...

Jose L. Medina is currently a 27-year veteran and leader of Law Enforcement and 20 year owner of Awareness Protective consultants, doing business as Team APC-Medina Tactical Dynamics. Jose has an extensive background in training and consulting for various groups such as Law Enforcement, Military, School Educators, and Corporate Industries. Jose Medina started his consulting firm when he saw the need for both the Police and Civilian side organizations requiring more advanced education in the fiel...

Tammie Starnes has taken a journey with multiple traumas and found a new direction on healing. Finding an avenue of healing through the Harmonic Egg therapy. When hope was waining for her 11 year old daughter to come out of her shell, Tammie was out of options and sought help in any place that was offered. Almost non-verbal, a new therapy method was found in the Harmonic Egg Vibration healing. The results were staggering and almost immediate leading a new path in Tammies life showing the possibi...

Episode 129: The Suffering of Bullying with Jay Aponte We welcome back Jay Aponte to The Suffering Podcast. Jay gave a second chance to Kevin in Episode 12 (original air date 3/7/21). (Original show notes) We get a second chance to right a wrong in the episode of The Suffering Podcast. We talk with Jay Aponte who 34 years ago I put through hell. Jay gets the opportunity to confront his childhood bully -- Me. We sit down and hash it out to reach an understanding about events that have shaped my...