Hard To Be Human

On this episode of H2BH, Dave shares his personal story of how he uses cannabis as an alternative to opioids, how he became addicted to heroin, speaks on the years and friends he lost to heavy drug use, and how self-care and exercise are the most important tools he uses in his recovery today. Dave's story is wild and incredible and inspiring, especially because we were close friends and I had NO idea he did any hard drugs until years later, when he was in a rehab center in Prescott, AZ. I am thankful and honored he shared his struggles, stories, and pain with me. You are my hero and my friend, Dave. I am proud to know you. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please know that you are not alone. The Promise Resource Network is an incredible place of community in Charlotte, NC for recovery from mental illness and addiction. Please reach out if you need to be directed to other resources or something in Dave's story resonates in your own heart and experience. This was recorded on May 25, 2020. While Dave's story is incredibly important--I felt it necessary, with the death of George Floyd and the current conversations happening in the world, for me to pause and take a step back for a few weeks and really think about what my voice was saying. I have found a lot of strength in the quiet. I am very proud of this podcast and look forward to more storytelling and connection in the future. If you enjoy the podcast and want to support my work, please consider becoming a Patron of Hard To Be Human here. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hardtobehuman/message

In this episode of H2BH, I sit down with the lovely Spotify software engineer, Kaity Hallman, as she talks about what it's like living and working in the heart of New York City. In a pandemic! We talk internet trolls, what the word ‘productivity' means to us, and she tells me the great things Spotify is doing for both their employees and artists! She also talks openly about body dysmorphia and not feeling comfortable in your own skin. She even overcomes her fear of being on camera with me! An honor. She is a true delight and I can't wait for her to become a regular on Hard To Be Human. Thank you for giving me your time and energy, Kaity. You are an inspiration to me. Find Kaity at : https://kaityhallman.com/ Instagram - @kaityhall Twitter - @kaityhallman --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hardtobehuman/message

It is really freakin hard to miss your friends. Especially when you have been friends for over 20 years and they live in another country during a pandemic. In this episode on H2BH, I sit down with my best friend and one of my most favorite people in the whole wide world, Emily Smith. She talks about life in the U.K., how hard it is to miss your family during a crisis, and we talk about how a family goes way deeper than blood. We also share a lot of stories, including the origin of our "fun" tattoos on our fingers! Family is love. Friends are love. Imagine meeting someone who even understood the dustiest corners of your mixed-up soul. I am, once again, so acutely aware of how “temporary” it all is, our precious time together. And yet, the bonds we co-create here on earth feel so ancient as we come and go, weaving in and out of the “oh-so-familiar places — and faces.” Especially the ones that remind us we are here, and we are alive. Someone who will see in me a kindred spirit, and make me believe that souls do travel in packs. And that someone will awaken within an ancient truth, that real friendship has no beginning or end — and can never really die. That someone will easily pick up where we left off and become in a holy instant, an instant friend, no matter how far away. I love you, Emily. Thank you for being my family forever. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hardtobehuman/message

Suicide. It's a scary word. Most of the time, a shameful word. We live in a culture where talking about your feelings is looked down upon, we stuff our feelings down into the pit of our stomachs and wonder why we are all sick and dying. Nearly 450 million people worldwide are currently living with a mental illness, yet nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental illness never seek treatment. Most people are too afraid to talk about it. I want to change that. In this very special episode of H2BH, I sit down with the one and only, Fonda Bryant, as we talk about her childhood trauma, the importance of suicide prevention in the wake of a pandemic, and we share our self-care tips since we can't go the gym! She is a suicide prevention and mental health advocate. She teaches QPR Suicide Prevention training and other classes with Mental Health America of the Central Carolinas (that I have taken!) She was awarded the MHA Advocacy of the Year Award in 2019. She has worked tirelessly to put up suicide prevention signs on rooftops all over Charlotte and beyond. She speaks to schools and colleges on the importance of mental health, and she gives the best damn hugs. I am so honored to have shared so many spaces with her. What does it mean to advocate for suicide prevention and mental health? What does that look work look like in the real world? Can anyone be an advocate? Can anyone prevent suicide? My dear friend, Fonda Bryant, thinks so. This episode is in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness, most very very alone. If you are one of those millions, Fonda and I are here to tell you…you can ALWAYS rekindle hope. You are NOT alone. Here is a place to start: NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness Mental Health America of the Central Carolinas Promise Resource Network Hard To Be Human --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hardtobehuman/message

EDIT*****fast forward 60 seconds!! It is there! I promise! May 8th, 2020 In this new post-pandemic season of H2BH, I turn the podcast into a weed-friendly morning talk show about mental wellness and life in a pandemic. One hour of an honest, unedited conversation with another human. That's it. ;) In this episode, I spend the morning with one of my dear friends and local Charlotte artist, Libby Reynolds, as we gush over Hayley Williams and the Petals For Armor release, discuss how we are staying creative in quarantine, literally walk through my extreme anxiety of being on camera, and Libby talks about what it's like to get engaged during a pandemic! Here are the links for the incredible organizations we talked about during this episode. She is currently raising money for these groups with her latest print, 'Nobodys illegal on stolen land.' Both groups are doing incredible work in the Charlotte community, and I would encourage you to check them out. Real people helping others. ourBRIDGE for KIDS : https://www.joinourbridge.org/ Comunidad Colectiva : https://comunidadcolectiva.org/donate/ Stay connected with me on Instagram for more.

March 22, 2020. It's really hard to be a human right now. So hard that every time I try to record an episode about the current state of the world, I just freak out, and get too worked up to understand. We all have a lot of feelings to work through and that is v a l i d. Here is a little clip from my trip to Orlando that made me smile today. I hope it will do the same for you. Stay strong, humans. We can do this.

It is SO hard to lose someone and grief is one of the most confusing emotions we feel as humans. In this episode, I sit down with the vibrant wedding photographer, Rebecca Stone, as she tells her story of recently losing her long-time friend, Yuli Babayan, to her battle with cancer and how heavy the responsibility of documenting someone's most precious (and last) moments can feel. Is it harder to deal with grief and death when you can prepare for it? Or when it happens suddenly and unexpectedly, like my brother passing away 6 years ago when he went out skateboarding with his friends and never came home again? Is death forever? https://rebeccastonephotography.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hardtobehuman/message

It's hard to be human, right? In this episode, I talk about how hard it is to feel anger, I tell the story of why I left two jobs in an industry I loved and why standing up your bullies is TOTALLY worth it. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hardtobehuman/message