Grief ,Growth and The Magic of Connections

The Teaching Journeys Podcast

In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes back Michael Gershe, a survivor of a drunk driving crash that claimed his mother's life and almost his own. Gershe shares his journey from trauma to triumph, detailing his accomplishments as a collegiate swimmer, comedian, speaker, author, college educator, and photographer. They discuss the impact of connections in Gershe's life, spotlighting his latest TED Talk 'Saved by Our Connections,' and highlight the role of humor and personal relationships in healing. Gershe reflects on his significant life events, including his work to prevent impaired driving through The Magic of Life Foundation, and he offers insights into male grief and the importance of asking for help. The episode wraps with a discussion of Gershe’s ongoing projects and the profound impact of connections on resilience and recovery.

Michael's Bio

Michael Gershe is a survivor of a drunk driving crash that killed his mother and nearly himself when he was 8 weeks old. Despite breaking almost all his bones in the crash, he went on to become a collegiate swimmer, comedian, speaker, author, college educator and photographer.

Raised in Miami, Florida, he attended Ashland University on a swimming scholarship where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications. Michael earned his Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Akron. He has been at Kent State University for 24 years and is the Senior Advisor for the College of Aeronautics and Engineering where he advises the Professional Pilot major.

With over 25 years’ experience on stage as a comedian and speaker, Michael has presented his programs at schools, colleges, military bases and two TedxTalk presentations. Michael has been presenting his program for 11 years at the Stow Municipal Court for first time drunk driver offenders. He has been a guest on several national podcasts regarding grief and trauma speaking from the male’s perspective.

In 2015 he founded The Magic of Life Foundation, a non-profit organization, that helps his mission in eliminating impaired driving making communities safer and empowering people to make better choices in life.

In 2019, he published his memoir, “The Magic of Life: A Son’s Story After Tragedy, Grief and a Speedo.” One Amazon reader said, “This book will inspire any reader to be a better person! This is one of the best books I have read in a long time!” The book can be bought on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Contact Info:

michaelgershe.com

The Teaching Journeys Podcast can be found on your favorite podcast platforms.

To find out more about Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page, psychologyprofessorandminister.com