In 2005 Eric was diagnosed with Bipolar 2, depression, and anxiety; after learning more about his condition, he began to realize how much his dogs helped him cope with symptoms. He knows firsthand about the power of connecting with animals, and is also a huge animal rights advocate. Although he is a Pennsylvania native, after bouncing around for a little while, Eric decided to make Toledo, OH, his home. Opportunities seemingly fall into his lap here and the people are always so warm and open towards him.
He most recently hosted a morning talk radio show called, The Morning Rush on Kiss FM, a top 40 station with no music during his segment; a real gutsy thing, but it worked. Many people listened in and called each morning, and the show became a therapy of sorts for the fans. Eric hopes to take the same light hearted listening ear he gained as a radio host and transfer that into using animal therapy to help people living with mental illness. He is already in process of talking with a local healthcare provider to create such a program. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx