In this deeply honest episode of RESILIENT A.F., Blair Kaplan Venables sits down with Dr. Jason Newell, a licensed clinical social worker, researcher, and single father, to explore what resilience really looks like when life hits hard on multiple fronts.

Jason shares his personal journey through co-parenting after his wife’s affair, raising his daughter with intention and compassion, and navigating the recent loss of his father to cancer. What makes this conversation especially powerful is how Jason bridges his academic research on resilience with his lived experience, revealing what happens when theory meets real life grief.

Together, Blair and Jason unpack the quiet, often overlooked truth about resilience: it is not built through grand gestures, but through small, consistent acts of self-care and self-compassion, especially for those in helping professions.

This episode is a must-listen for therapists, coaches, caregivers, single parents, and anyone learning how to hold grief while still showing up for work, family, and themselves.

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who is quietly holding too much. And remember: resilience is not about doing more. Sometimes, it starts with a glass of water and a deep breath.

Sponsorship opportunities: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15oZsxAigvb6e4wbAmvW_El_1_laeyK4shMY1md6zVWI/edit?usp=sharing

Subscribe to our Substack: https://theglobalresilienceproject.substack.com/

Buy our books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/

About the Guest:

Dr. Jason Newell received his B.A. in Psychology from Auburn University and an M.S.W. and Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Dr. Newell is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) and a private individual practitioner (PIP) with an endorsement in clinical and social casework. Dr. Newell has been in the fields of social work practice, research, and education for over nineteen years. His research and specialty areas include clinical social work practice with the mentally ill; treatment of anxiety, trauma-related, and mood disorders; self-care and professional resilience, practice with veterans and military families, and child welfare.

Links:

https://jasonmnewell.com/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/jason-m-newell-pelham-al/717094

https://titles.cognella.com/doing-men-s-work-9798823333030

https://cup.columbia.edu/book/cultivating-professional-resilience-in-direct-practice/9780231176583/

⚠️ Content Note: Some episodes may contain themes that could be distressing. Please take care of yourself while listening, and don’t hesitate to seek support from a mental health professional if needed.

About the Hosts:

Blair Kaplan Venables is a British Columbia-based grief and resilience expert and coach, motivational speaker and the Founder of The Global Resilience Project. Her expertise has been...