Podcast appearances and mentions of joshua tree

Send a textIn this solo episode, Wil Fisher explores the energetic invitation of the Year of the Fire Horse and what it's calling forward—especially for the Achiever-Performer archetype in gay culture: the successful, polished man who looks like he's thriving… but feels a quiet ache underneath. This is a conversation about moving from performance to presence, from being admired to being known, and from surface-level connection into real intimacy, community, and spiritual aliveness.Wil shares a personal Fire Island story about “curating belonging,” unpacks how people-pleasing and performative confidence keep us from being truly seen, and offers a simple somatic check-in to help you distinguish anxiety from intuition—including the moment many of us recognize: the quiet “Uber home” realization that enough is enough.What You'll Hear In This EpisodeWhat “Fire Horse energy” symbolizes: momentum, intensity, and the end of stagnationWhy performative success can still leave you feeling lonely and unseenThe Achiever-Performer pattern in dating, friendship, masculinity, and spiritualityThe difference between being desired vs. being nourished“Stop auditioning. Start choosing.” (and what that means for dating)A grounded take on spirituality for queer men: spiritual without religiousA quick somatic practice to listen to your body's truth3 practical actions to choose depth this weekKey Takeaways / Quotes“This is not the year to be impressive. This is the year to be true.”“Not playing it safe isn't being reckless—it's being honest.”“Admiration without being known is a beautiful-looking loneliness.”“Anxiety is fear about the future. Intuition is a quiet voice of knowing.”“If your inner voice is saying ‘enough is enough,' trust it.”Somatic Check-In (Try This During the Episode)Take one deeper breath than usual.Ask: What do I know that I've been avoiding?Ask: Where do I feel it in my body?Ask: If I trusted this knowing, what would I do differently this week?Your “Permission Slip” Challenge (3 Actions This Week)Tell one friend the truth about what you're craving.Ask a deeper question on a date (and answer it honestly too).Say yes to support—choose a space that's built for depth and real connection.Retreats MentionedAwakened Hearts for Singles (May 7–10, Joshua Tree) -  https://www.wil-fullyliving.com/singlesAwakened Hearts for Community (April 16–19) - https://www.wil-fullyliving.com/eventsConnect with Wil here- https://www.wil-fullyliving.com/Support the show

Send a textAfter retreats, vacations, competitions, and breakthrough experiences, motivation often drops. This episode explores the neuroscience behind dopamine recalibration and how to prevent regression using the LOF 4-Step Integration Formula.Topics Covered:Dopamine drop after peak experiencesReflection research (23% retention increase)Environmental behavior designIdentity-based habitsPractical integration tools

This week we welcome a musician, mixer of fine cocktails, tasty cook, party co-ordinator, mezcal proprietor and humble host of Rancho de la Luna recording studio, Dave Catching. Dave introduces us to his first resident studio dog Chunk, a 3 1/2 year old Frenchie who has numerous fans among the countless musicians that pass through the revered recording studio in Joshua Tree, CA. We discuss the various dogs who've graced the hallowed grounds of the studio over its 33 year history, what a studio dog adds to the creative experience and what dangers lurk for dogs in the desert. Great talk with a well respected figure in the music world. For more information on Rancho de la Luna, music, mech and more, visit their website at ranchodelaluna.comDave's shout out goes to the Joshua Tree No-Kill Shelter, a community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit who are a small shelter with a big mission to be the only no-kill shelter in the Morongo Basin, and to end euthanasia in the region by giving dogs and cats the time, care, and support they need to heal, decompress, and find the right homes. To adopt, foster, volunteer or donate to their new shelter project visit joshuatreenokillshelter.orgFor more pics and clips of Dave, Chunk and all of our guests and their canine companions follow the show on Instagram at rockerdogcastPhoto: Justin Molhman

Stories featured in this episode:The Folded Balloon by Thomas Ha - https://www.thomashawrites.com/ -music by TSG - https://tsgmusic.bandcamp.com/ -read by Jean-Paul L. Garnier -Accidental Curses by Jenna Hanchey - https://jennahanchey.com/ -music by Phog Masheeen - https://phogmasheeen.com/ -    read by the author -theme music by Dain Luscombe -Simultaneous Times is a monthly science fiction podcast produced by Space Cowboy Books in Joshua Tree, CA. -https://www.spacecowboybooks.com -https://ko-fi.com/spacecowboybooks7054 -

In this episode, brought to you by The Landscaping School(!), I speak with Josh Meaden from Joshua Tree Outdoor Construction, a landscape construction company based in Melbourne.Josh is a true construction artist and it was awesome to hear his story about how he wanted to leave school, his parents suggested he stay, and then he discovered a horticulture class, loved working with his hands and ended up getting a landscaping apprenticeship years later.He also has a great attitude towards his learning experiences in the early days and is building his own shed house using mainly recycled materials, and it's looking amazing!You can follow Josh on Instagram @joshuatreeocYou can now sign up to The Landscaping School! It's live and ready for you to increase your landscaping skills. Head to TheLandscapingSchool.com where you'll find 6 separate courses, as well as a free course in pondless waterfall construction. You can also bundle 4 courses together and only pay for 3. Check it out!You can follow along with the projects we're currently working on via our Instagram page@instyle_gardens@thelandscapingpodcastYou can view each episode on our YouTube channel

We've invited ceramic sculptor Brock DeBoer whose solo exhibition, So Far, was presented at Compound YV in the spring of 2025. DeBoer's work utilizes porcelain, historical motifs and surface treatments to re-contextualize everyday objects and items from his past. He draws influence from his South Dakota upbringing, combined with the ever-changing and vastly diverse landscape of Los Angeles and the Joshua Tree area. In this episode, DeBoer describes two separate encounters with Umberto Boccioni's Unique Forms of Continuity in Space."I imagine it unpacking and unfolding itself as it's tumbling through this space and those really futurist angular lines. It's unwrapping itself and re-wrapping at the same time all the life that's captured in it."

On this episode, Jeff Hinshaw guides you through a somatic meditation and energy update connectd to the Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse (February 17, 2026), a powerful threshold moment inviting radical freedom, collective liberation, and visionary action. As we stand between major shift, Neptune newly in Aries (since January 26), Saturn entering Aries on February 13, and their historic conjunction at 0° Aries on February 20, we're asked to merge dream with discipline and take courageous steps toward a new 29-year cycle. With the North Node set to enter Aquarius in July and the Year of the Fire Horse igniting bold momentum, this eclipse offers a preview of emerging collective storylines around collaboration, mutual aid, and shared vision. In addition, on this Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse episode, Jeff Hinshaw is joined by Chef Stephanie Shershow for a conversation on friendship, service, ritual, and soul evolution. We reflect on meeting in India in January 2024 as Pluto entered Aquarius, the karmic bond that formed between us, and the many initiations Stephanie has moved through since—losing her home in a hurricane, the passing of her father, relationship endings, and her cross-country move west. Through it all, she shares how decades of sobriety, Kundalini yoga, and daily spiritual practice have become a non-negotiable anchor. Together we explore the Aquarian archetype of the water bearer—the outsider who returns to nourish the collective—and how Stephanie embodies this through her Aquarius Sun, Taurus Moon, and Libra Rising: the friendly humanitarian in a field of rolling greens, ensuring the revolution is well fed. We also dive into the power of food as ritual and how feeding someone can be an act of dignity and devotion. Stephanie shares stories from her work in recovery centers and her intuitive relationship to nourishment, while we preview our upcoming Aquarius New Moon gathering in Joshua Tree celebrating the launch of the Lonely Planet Travel Tarot. Inspired by tarot archetypes, Morocco, Kyoto, and shared global journeys, the evening weaves together mocktails, cherry blossoms, cacao, music, and collective intention. This episode is ultimately an invocation: to practice radical service, to make meaning through personal myth, and to remember that gathering around food and ritual is ancient. Plus, we celebrate the launch of the Lonely Planet Travel Tarot at  Maha Rose in Brooklyn, New York on February 20 with special guest Lindsay Mack—a gathering aligned with this rare cosmic turning point.   Mentorship & Sessions Cosmic Cousins!  I have openings for one-on-one mentorships for those seeking ongoing guidance and support on their personal or astrological journey. As well as openings for Deep Dive Astrology Readings and Tarot Soul Journey sessions. These are available online, so you can join from anywhere in the world.   Cosmic Cousins Links Newsletter 6-Month Online Fools Tarot Journey Mentorship Deep Dive Astrology Readings Tarot Soul Journey  Cosmic Cousins Substack & Memberships Intro & Outro Music by:  Felix III

On this episode, I'm joined by Jennifer Whalen, a California-based adventure elopement photographer. Jennifer shares her captivating journey from being a traditional wedding photographer in urban settings to capturing intimate, adventurous elopements in stunning natural landscapes like Yosemite, Big Sur, and Joshua Tree. The episode delves into Jennifer's passion for travel, the inspiration behind her shift to adventure elopements, the logistical challenges she navigates in planning these unique ceremonies, and offers insights for couples looking for non-traditional wedding experiences. Whether you're a couple planning an elopement or simply a nature lover, this episode is packed with inspiration and valuable advice.Check out Jennifer Whalen Weddings on https://jenniferwhalenweddings.com/Follow Jenn on https://www.instagram.com/jenniferwhalenweddingsFollow Just Trek on https://instagram.com/just.trekShop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠justtrekofficial@gmail.com⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

Send a textIn this episode, we recap the 2026 LOF Lifestyle Retreat in Joshua Tree and break down:Why sleep matters more than supplementsThe science behind protein intakeCaffeine half-life and energy timingSkin is the body's largest organWhy community changes everythingHow insurance can now support lifestyle coachingGrab the replay passShop the tools

Send us a message, so we know what you're thinking!In Season 5 (2025), we talked about how double albums came about, and talked about some of the best double albums of the 70's.  This episode, we look at some of the best double albums of the 80's.  Our Album You Must Listen to Before You Die is “Out of the Blue”, by ELO. It WAS a huge hit in the 80's. But was it any good? Hmmm.  In “Knockin' on Heaven's Door”, we pay tribute to Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil), Ted Egan (a legend of the Northern Territory), and Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) among others.  A big episode! References: Ultimate Classic Rock, Rob Hirst, Midnight Oil, Ghostwriters, Ted Egan, Drinkers of the Northern Territory, Bob Taylor, Dragon, Chris Rea, Bob Weir, Zen Arcade, Husker Du, Layla, Derek & The Dominos, Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street, Pink Floyd, The Wall, Prince, 1999, Little Red Corvette, Delirious, Sign "O" the Times, U2, Rattle and Hum, The Joshua Tree, Bono's “Messiah” complex, Husker Du, Zen Arcade, Talking Heads, The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads, The Cure, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me,  Just Like Heaven, Why Can't I be You, Iron Maiden, Live After Death, Eddie, Bruce Springsteen, The River, Cadillac Ranch, Hungry Heart, The River, English Settlement, XTC, No Thugs in our House, Senses Working Overtime PlaylistMusic Lollypop

The Christian Nerd Podcast is back and keeping it short. Scott had a busy week filled with taxes and sick kids, so he keeps this episode short. He talks about Joshua Tree, Animal Crossing, and the Super Bowl. Be sure to check out The Christian Nerd Like The Christian Nerd on Facebook Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a comment Or use our RSS Feed to subscribe: http://thechristiannerd.libsyn.com/rss Follow The Christian Nerd on Twitter Follow Scott on Twitter Support The Christian Nerd on Patreon Email Scott at Scott@TheChristianNerd.com to get added to The Octagon. Thanks to Nick for The Christian Nerd theme music.

Craniotomy Stroke Recovery: How a Massive Medical Event Reshaped One Man's Identity and Way of Living When Brandon Barre woke up after his stroke, half of his skull was missing. Doctors had performed an emergency craniotomy to save his life after a severe brain bleed. His left side barely worked. His memory felt fragmented. Time itself seemed unreliable; days, weeks, even months blurred together into what he later described as a kind of perpetual Groundhog Day. And yet, amid one of the most extreme medical experiences a person can survive, Brandon remained unexpectedly calm. This is a story about craniotomy stroke recovery, but it's not just about surgery, rehab, or timelines. It's about identity, mindset, and what happens when your old life disappears overnight, and you're forced to rebuild from the inside out. Life Before the Stroke: Movement, Freedom, and Identity Before his stroke, Brandon lived a life defined by movement and autonomy. He worked in the oil fields as an MWD specialist, spending weeks at a time on drilling rigs. Later, he left what he called “traditional life” behind and spent years traveling the United States in an RV. He found work wherever he went, producing music festivals, building large-scale art installations, and immersing himself in creative communities. Stability, for Brandon, never meant stillness. It meant freedom. Stroke wasn't on his radar. At 46, he was active, independent, and deeply connected to his sense of self. The Stroke and Emergency Craniotomy The stroke happened in Northern California after a long day of rock climbing with friends. Brandon didn't notice the warning signs himself; it was others who saw that his arm wasn't working properly. Later that night, he became profoundly disoriented. He was found the next morning, still sitting upright in his truck, barely conscious. Within hours, Brandon was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center, where doctors removed a blood clot and performed a large craniotomy due to dangerous swelling. Part of his skull was removed and stored while his brain recovered. He spent 10 days in intensive care, followed by weeks in inpatient rehabilitation. Remarkably, he reports no physical pain throughout the entire process, a detail that underscores how differently each brain injury unfolds. Early Craniotomy Stroke Recovery: Regaining Movement, Losing Certainty Physically, Brandon's recovery followed a familiar but still daunting path. Initially, he couldn't walk. His left arm hung uselessly by his side. Foot drop made even short distances difficult. But what challenged him most wasn't just movement; it was orientation. He struggled to track days, months, and time itself. Short-term memory lapses made planning almost impossible. Writing, once a core part of his identity, became inaccessible. He could form letters, but not their meaning. This is a common but under-discussed aspect of craniotomy stroke recovery: the loss isn't only physical. It's cognitive, emotional, and deeply personal. “It's kind of like I'm in this perpetual day ever since the stroke… like Groundhog Day.” Technology as Independence, Not Convenience One of the quiet heroes of Brandon's recovery has been voice-to-text technology. Because writing and spelling no longer function reliably, Brandon relies on dictation to communicate. Tools like Whisper Flow and built-in phone dictation restored his ability to express ideas, stay connected, and remain independent. This matters. For stroke survivors, technology isn't about productivity. It's about dignity. Identity Reset: Slower, Calmer, More Intentional Perhaps the most striking part of Brandon's story is how little resentment he carries. He doesn't deny frustration. He doesn't pretend recovery is easy. But he refuses to live in constant rumination. Instead, he adopted a simple principle: one problem at a time. That mindset reshaped his lifestyle. He stopped drinking, smoking, and using marijuana. He slowed his pace. He became more deliberate with relationships, finances, and health decisions. He grew closer to his adult daughter than ever before. The stroke didn't erase his identity, it refined it. Taking Ownership of Craniotomy Stroke Recovery A turning point came when Brandon realized he couldn't rely solely on the medical system. Insurance changes, rotating doctors, and long waits forced him to educate himself. He turned to what he jokingly calls “YouTube University,” learning from other survivors and clinicians online. That self-directed approach extended to major medical decisions, including choosing monitoring over immediate invasive heart procedures and calmly approaching a newly discovered brain aneurysm with information rather than fear. His conclusion is clear: Recovery belongs to the survivor. Doctors guide. Therapists assist. But ownership sits with the person doing the living. A Message for Others on the Journey Toward the end of the conversation, Brandon offered advice that cuts through fear-based recovery narratives: Don't let timelines define you. Don't rush because someone says you should. Don't stop because someone says you're “done.” Every stroke is different. Every brain heals differently. And recovery, especially after a craniotomy, continues far longer than most people are told. Moving Forward, One Intentional Step at a Time Craniotomy stroke recovery isn't just about regaining movement. It's about rebuilding trust with your body, reshaping identity, and learning how to live with uncertainty without letting it dominate your life. Brandon's story reminds us that even after the most extreme medical events, calm is possible. Growth is possible. And a meaningful life, though different, can still unfold. Continue Your Recovery Journey Learn more: https://recoveryafterstroke.com/book Support the podcast: https://patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health or recovery plan. Brandon's Story: Surviving a Craniotomy, Redefining Identity, and Recovering on His Own Terms He survived a stroke and craniotomy, then calmly rebuilt his identity, habits, and life one deliberate step at a time. Research shortcut I use (Turnto.ai) I used Turnto.ai to find relevant papers and sources in minutes instead of hours. If you want to try it, here’s my affiliate LINK You'll get 10% off, it's about $2/week, and it supports the podcast. Highlights: 00:00 Introduction and Background01:52 Life Before the Stroke03:32 The Stroke Experience11:03 Craniotomy Stroke Recovery Journey17:09 Adjusting to Life Post-Stroke28:46 Living Independently After Stroke35:09 Facing New Challenges: Aneurysms and Uncertainty42:13 Support Systems: Finding Community After Stroke47:06 Identity Shift: Life Changes Post-Stroke58:39 Lessons Learned: Insights from the Journey Transcript: Introduction and Background Brandon (00:00)next morning was still in the driver’s seat with my head on the steering wheel. and I couldn’t make either of my arms work I had been bleeding into my brain for 12 hours overnight they had to go ahead and do a, craniotomy. And so they took this whole side. It was a big craniotomy. They took that whole section of my skull out, put it in the freezer Bill Gasiamis (00:27)Before we begin today’s episode, want to take a moment to speak to you directly. If you’ve had a stroke, you already know this part. The hospital phase ends, but the questions don’t. You’re sent home expecting to get on with it. And suddenly you’re left trying to work out recovery, mindset, fatigue, emotions, sleep and motivation all on your own. You shouldn’t have to. That’s why I wrote my book, The Unexpected Way That a Stroke Became the Best Thing That Happened. Not to tell you what to do, but to walk beside you and show you the tools real stroke survivors use to rebuild their lives when the system stopped helping. and now with this book, you won’t have to figure it out alone. You can find that at recoveryafterstroke.com/book. All right, let’s get into today’s episode. Today, you’re going to hear from Brandon Barre. Brandon was 46 years old, active, independent and living an unconventional life when he had a stroke that led to a craniotomy. where part of his skull was removed to save his life. What stood out to me immediately about Brandon wasn’t just the severity of what he went through. It was the calm grounded way he approached recovery, identity and rebuilding his life. This is a conversation about stroke recovery. Yes, but it is also about mindset, ownership and what happens when you decide to take recovery into your own hands. Life Before the Stroke (01:52)Brendan Barre, welcome to the podcast. Brandon (01:54)Thank you, man. (01:56)You struggled a little bit getting here. There’s a couple of little things that caused a bit of a challenge for you. What are those things? Brandon (02:05)Well, I mean, first of all, I’m, I’m, I’m, even before my stroke, I was never very computer-y. Um, so using my phone for more than just making phone calls is kind of new to me. Um, so yeah, a new microphone, that was fun. And then I had made a bunch of notes, not realizing that I probably wasn’t gonna be able to see those notes. Um, you know, so that was also a little bit of a issue, but uh, but yeah, other than that, man. Not much, you know, I mean I’m here. (02:37)Yeah. I remember receiving your emails about, I’m not sure what day we’re on. I need to reschedule all that kind of stuff. Stuff that I used to do heaps. I remember in the early days of my kind of stroke recovery, I used to make appointments, put them in my calendar, get reminders about my appointments and still be confused about the day, the time and the location of the appointment. Brandon (03:04)Yes, absolutely. That’s a big thing for me too. know, and I mean even just, you know, remembering from minute to minute where of what day, what month and everything I’m in right now is a little bit tricky still. It’s getting better, but ⁓ but yeah, I still have a lot of trouble. I can always think of every month except for the month that we’re currently in. (03:24)Okay, so you have like a short term memory thing, is it? Or… The Stroke Experience Brandon (03:28)Yes, yes, have short-term memory issues. ⁓ A lot of times ⁓ I struggle to find, like I said, the date and everything else. ⁓ But I don’t know, man. It’s kind of like I’m in this perpetual day ever since the stroke, and I have trouble keeping track of exactly what that is on everybody else’s time frame. (03:53)Like a, like a groundhog day. Brandon (03:55)Yes. Yeah. You know, I mean, if I really work hard and think about it, I can figure out what day it is, but it takes a while generally to get the month. The day of the month isn’t quite as difficult anymore, but at the beginning I had trouble with the whole thing. (04:11)I hear you man, I totally hear you. I reckon there’s been a ton of people that relate to what you’re saying. ⁓ Tell me, day like before stroke? What’d you get up to? What type of things did you involve yourself with? Brandon (04:23)Well, ⁓ you know, I was, I was really involved in, ⁓ production of music festivals and, ⁓ doing that kind of work. ⁓ I’ve always kind of freelanced. Well, you know, I actually, ⁓ left traditional life in 2000 and ⁓ January 1st of 2012 and started traveling and, you know, living out of an RV and whatnot. Before that, I was in the oil field. I’ve worked as an MWD specialist on a drilling rig, which means that I used to ⁓ take down all the information about where the actual drill bit was underground and send that off to all the geologists and everybody else so they can make sure that the well was going in the right direction. And, ⁓ you know, I just really didn’t feel happy in life, man. So I decided to take off and see the states out of my RV. And that started about 10 years of travel. And then In 2019 I bought some property and started to kind of slowly come off the road and started to be on my property more often but you know it just yeah I don’t know man my life has been a lot of different transitions one thing to another I move around a lot in life. (05:25)you Yeah, so the RV was kind of just exploring seeing the country Doing that type of thing or was it going somewhere with a purpose say to get work or to? Hang out there for a little while. What was that all about? Brandon (05:57)A little bit of all of it. A little bit of all of it. I’ve always been able to find work where I go, you know, doing different things. But I kind of fell into music festival work, like setting up and tearing down for music festivals and building art installations, doing like mandalas out of trash and stuff like that. And just kind of always did kind of the artist thing, I guess you could say. Even before, while I was still in the oil field doing the traditional life thing, I was always very art motivated. (06:30)Yeah, when you talk about traditional life, you’re talking about nine to five kind of routine and working for the man type of thing. Is that what you mean by traditional life? Brandon (06:43)Yes, except mine was a little bit different. My work in the oil field involved me being on site on the drilling rig for up to six weeks sometimes. So it wasn’t really nine to five. I would stay gone for a lot more than that. But then when I would go home, I’d be off for three weeks, a month. So yeah, just ⁓ doing that. (07:07)Where were these oil rigs? Were they in the middle of a desert? Were they in the ocean? Brandon (07:13)No, they were all onshore and I worked a lot in like Pennsylvania, but also a lot in Texas ⁓ Just you know anywhere where they were doing natural gas drilling (07:27)And is that a remote kind of existence in that if you’re on the rig for six weeks, are you getting off it? Are you going into town? Are you doing any of that stuff? Brandon (07:38)Usually the rigs are within an hour of some type of small town usually a Walmart that type of thing So I would go and get groceries a couple of times a week You know me and the other guys would go out and get you know dinner times and whatnot but ⁓ but yeah, basically just sitting in a little trailer a directional trailer is what they called it because it was me and ⁓ Two two other three other guys two more ⁓ directional drillers and then one other MWD hand which is what I was and so there was a night shift and a day shift of two guys each. (08:16)12 hour shifts. Brandon (08:17)Yes. (08:18)Dude, hard work. Brandon (08:21)Yeah, I mean on paper it was hard work. In real life, I mean there were those really problematic jobs where you know everything went wrong but in most cases it was just you know taking a bunch of measurements on the computer whenever they would add another link of pipe to the drilling string and drill down further so every time they would add another length of pipe I would have to take more measurements. (08:47)I hear you. So not physical, but still mental. And you’ve to be on the go for a long amount of time. Brandon (08:56)Right, but yeah, I mean it did when I would have to go up on the rig floor to like change the tool out or to put something You know together or what not so there was a little bit of that but still not as physical as like a traditional drilling rig roughneck (09:04)Uh-huh. I hear you. Yeah. Everyone’s seen those videos on YouTube with those guys getting covered in that sludge and working at breakneck speeds so that they can make sure that they put the next piece on. Brandon (09:24)Yeah, yeah, no, I, you know, and I mean, I wore my share of that mud, but not near as much as a floor hand would. (09:34)I hear, I feel like you’re, ⁓ you’re toning it down and you’re making it sound a lot more ⁓ pleasant than what it might be. But I appreciate that, man. like the way you talk about things. I couldn’t imagine myself doing that, that level of physical labor. Maybe I’m just a bit too soft myself. Brandon (09:54)Yeah, no, I don’t know, man. I consider myself soft in a lot of ways, too, man. You know, it’s just, we’re all different in our softness. (10:02)yeah. ⁓ tell me a little bit about, ⁓ your stroke, man. Like what was that particular week? Like the day? Like how did the lead up happen? Bill Gasiamis (10:12)Let’s pause for a moment. If you’re listening to this and thinking, I wish someone had explained this part to me earlier. You’re not alone. One of the hardest parts of stroke recovery isn’t the hospital. It’s what comes after when the appointments slow down, the support fades and you’re left trying to make sense of what your life looks like now. That’s exactly why I wrote the unexpected way that a stroke became the best thing that happened. It’s not a medical book. It’s a recovery companion built from real experiences. real mistakes and real breakthroughs that stroke survivors discovered along the way. If you want something that helps you think differently about recovery and reminds you that you’re not broken, you can find the book at recoveryafterstroke.com/book. Let’s get back to the conversation with Brandon. Craniotomy Stroke Recovery Journey Brandon (10:59)Okay, so I was helping a friend in Northern California to clean a property that was owned by an artist who had died and we went on to his 10 acre property and we’re just cleaning up for his family. But he had like all kinds of art stuff everywhere and so it was kind of right up my alley and ⁓ We were just trying to get the property clean for these people and we decided to take off and go and do a little bit of rock climbing. so we took off early one morning and drove to a town called Willets, California where there’s good rock climbing and we spent the day doing rock climbing which was a fairly new thing to me but the guys that I was with were very experienced lifelong climbers. And so I was kind of the new guy and they were showing me the ropes and we climbed all day. I did really well, I thought, and didn’t really notice anything. No problems. ⁓ Got back in the car. We’re headed back to the house about an hour away, a friend’s house where we were all going to stay the night. And on the way there, I noticed that I was really thirsty and I stopped and I got two 40 ounce bottles of Gatorade and I drank them both immediately and like just downed them and still didn’t notice anything was a problem was in the truck by myself with my two dogs and eventually I guess about an hour later we got to the house And I went inside to hang out with everybody. And one of my friends said that my arm wasn’t working well. I didn’t notice it at all, but he said that my arm wasn’t working very well. ⁓ so ⁓ I just kind of went on with my life. a couple of, I guess about an hour later, I decided that I was really tired. and I could not quench my thirst so I just grabbed a whole bunch of water and went out to my truck and I was gonna go and lay down and sleep in the back of my truck for the night and ⁓ when I got out to my truck ⁓ by this time my friend had said that my arm was working fine again and he noticed that I he felt like I had gotten over whatever it was and so I went out to my truck got into the driver’s seat of the truck And that’s about the last of my recollection that night. next morning when I wasn’t up making breakfast before everyone else, they realized there was a problem because I was usually the first one up making breakfast and doing all that stuff and I wasn’t there. So my friend came out to my truck to check on me and I was still in the driver’s seat with my head on the steering wheel. I never even fell over. (14:05)Hmm. Brandon (14:17)And so this is 12 hours later. And so ⁓ he tried to wake me up and I was only halfway coherent and I couldn’t make either of my arms work and only one of my legs could I get any response from. So he realized there was a problem immediately, pushed me over into the passenger side of the truck got in and drove me an hour to the closest hospital, just a small little regional hospital. And they were pretty quick about realizing that I was having a stroke. And they didn’t even, I don’t even remember them putting me in a room. They brought me straight up to the roof and put me in a helicopter and helicopter and helicoptered me to UC Davis hospital in Sacramento. (14:59)Wow Wow Brandon (15:15)And I got into the hospital and within, I think about an hour and a half, they had called my mom and my brothers who were all in Louisiana at the time. And they had gotten permission to start treatment and they brought me into the surgery. at first they just (15:25)The The following is a video of the first year of Brandon (15:45)removed a three millimeter blood clot from my main artery on the right side. But then the swelling was so bad because I had been bleeding into my brain for 12 hours overnight that they had to go ahead and do ⁓ a, what do you call it? The craniotomy. Yeah, craniotomy. And so they took this whole side. It was a big craniotomy. (16:05)Craniotomy Brandon (16:12)They took this whole side, everything to the center of my forehead, above my eye, down to just above my ear, front to back. ⁓ They took that whole section of my skull out, put it in the freezer so that my brain had room. then I spent 10 days in intensive care recovering from that. And then they moved me to a rehab hospital where I spent four weeks. And yeah, so in that rehab hospital, yeah, immediately after the surgery, I couldn’t walk and I had pretty much no function on my left side, know, arm or leg. But by the time I got to the rehab hospital, I had gotten some control back, but I still couldn’t walk. ⁓ (16:44)Wow, man. Adjusting to Life Post-Stroke Brandon (17:10)And that about a week after I was in the rehab hospital is when I started to walk again without assistance. So that came back fairly quickly, but I still had really bad foot drop and my left arm wasn’t working. It was hanging, you know? And then, so they kept me in there, ⁓ you know, going through, I guess, regular rehab. (17:24)Thank Yep. Brandon (17:36)They the series of lights on the ground in front of me and I’d have to like run around and touch the different lights as they would activate and you know, I don’t know I mean, I guess it’s the same type of rehab stuff that most people go through and ⁓ (17:51)Yeah, it’s probably similar. Mate, ⁓ this is what I really want to know is what’s it like to experience having half of your skull removed? Can you somehow paint a picture of what it’s like to go through that process and how aware were you of it? Because you just had a stroke, right? So you’re in a bit of a challenged sort of healthy health state. Brandon (18:14)Right. No. Yes. ⁓ well, I think that that deliriousness was actually kind of helpful. First of all, I have not experienced any pain through the entire process. From the stroke, no pain from the craniotomy, no pain through rehab. I have not experienced any pain through this entire experience. None whatsoever. Now the doctors say that I might have lost some of that ability to sense it But you know, I mean whatever it took I Really, you know, I didn’t you know, whatever the reason was The effect of it was that I had a pretty fame pain free experience, you know (19:07)and you’re like looking in the mirror and seeing yourself and you know, like experiencing your head and how do you kind of deal with all of that? Brandon (19:21)Well, ⁓ I couldn’t feel a whole lot. I still have a lot of, or not so very much sensation on my scalp on that side. So, you know, but as far as looking in the mirror, that was kind of interesting. You know, it took a little while to get used to it, you know, and, it, ⁓ was definitely not something that I would recommend. Anybody else going through if they don’t have to you know, but ⁓ But I don’t know man. I mean, I’ve always tried to stay pretty positive about things and so, you know, I just Kept going, you know, I mean they shaved my head. I had dreadlocks for a very long time I had dreadlocks and And so this is all the hair that I’ve gotten since they put my skull back together, which was January or it’s actually It’ll be one year tomorrow since they put my skull back together. So, ⁓ my hair is coming back, which I’m really grateful for. About this time next year, I’m gonna start trying to put my dreadlocks back in. you know, but yeah, it’s, I don’t know, man. It’s really been an interesting ride. ⁓ You know, ⁓ learned a lot more about stroke than I ever thought I would need to. You know, I mean, I’m 48 right now. I was 46 when the stroke happened. So it wasn’t even on my radar, man. I wasn’t paying any attention at all. I didn’t know the anagrams or whatever. I didn’t know the symptoms of stroke. So I just kind of rolled with the punches as they came. I took it one step at a time. And that’s kind of the way it’s been with my recovery too. is I try to address one problem at a time so I don’t overwhelm myself. So after I started to get my leg back, I started to shift my influence to my shoulder and my arm. And at this point, I’ve got almost full range of motion back to the left side. I still can’t write. ⁓ Well, actually, technically, I can make my whole alphabet and all of my numbers with (21:16)Yep. Brandon (21:37)both hands at this point. trained myself to use the other hand and then about the time I was able to get that back the other hand started to come back online. So now I can do all that with both hands but words I’m word blind and numbers and letters don’t make a lot of sense to me. So even though I can make the shapes I have a lot of trouble associating the sounds of certain letters and the functions. of different numbers and letters, you know? That’s where a lot of my trouble is now, and that’s where most of my work is at the moment. (22:14)I hear you. So you sound like you’re very cool, and collected. How do you remain positive when you wake up from a stroke? You’re missing half of your skull. Your body doesn’t work on half the side. Is it your default? Do you have to work on that? Have you been working on being positive over? the decades that you’ve been on the planet, give us a bit of an insight into that part of you. Brandon (22:47)Okay, so yeah, I think I’ve always maintained a pretty positive demeanor, you know, I mean I’ve gone through some rough stuff in life, but I’ve just kind of kept going, you know, rolling with the punches. So I really don’t think that I have had much difficulty remaining positive through it. You know, there’s ⁓ definitely, you know, ⁓ days that I don’t feel as good as other days, you know, and you know, I definitely have… ⁓ things that I have to work through. have to, you know, I have to make an effort to remain positive, you know, at times. But my default has always been to be a pretty positive and happy person. So I think that that was really the majority of it is that I’ve always even in the light of extreme adversity, I’ve always been able to remain positive. You know, ⁓ so that that’s always been, you know, key even before the stroke. But (23:39)Yeah. Brandon (23:46)Yeah, I mean definitely waking up and realizing that half of my body didn’t work anymore was not fun, but it’s what I was given. I couldn’t change it, you know, only time and work was gonna change it. So I just kinda accepted it, you know, I mean, ⁓ one of the biggest things that helped me out was by the time I got out of surgery and started to get coherent, My mom and my brother had already flown from Louisiana to be with me in California at the hospital. And that was huge just to know that my family was there. And they stayed with me for the whole time that I was ⁓ in the hospital for the 10 days. And then when I went to the rehab hospital, they went home. ⁓ But yeah, so that was ⁓ just really, that was a big part of it too, you know, I mean. My mom and my brothers are pretty much the most important people in my life. Of course, my daughter as well. yeah, so, you know, to have them all there and just to have that support and have them there to help me because when I first came out, from the time I came out of surgery, I could still speak very clearly. So I did not know what I was saying. (24:56)Mm-hmm. Brandon (25:15)Nobody could tell like I wasn’t making a lot of sense, but I never lost my voice They think that that’s because of my left-handedness Because I’m left-handed I store things like that differently in my brain So because of that I was able to keep my speech even though I cannot write I can’t do you know I mean I can write my letters, but if I try to (25:32)Okay. Brandon (25:44)make a word this was yesterday (25:48)Aha! Lux- Brandon (25:50)But I can, yeah, it’s just scribble. It’s just scribble. Yeah, but, you know, if I try to like draw a letter or a number, I can do it, but I have trouble assigning it to its value. (25:53)Yeah. Understood. So before that, were quite capable of stringing sentences together, writing things down, doing all that kind of stuff. So that’s a very big contrast. Brandon (26:14)I have always been known. Huge contrast. (26:22)Is it frustrating that you can’t write in the way that you did before? it matter? Brandon (26:27)Yes, yes, I used to write all the time, know, poetry, things like that. I’ve always been considered, you know, a good writer, a good orator, public speaker, you know, that kind of thing was a big part of my life, for my whole life. And so to go from that to not being able to write a sentence on a piece of paper or even a word is really a big change for me. You know, and I mean I do use my phone for voice to text. If I wouldn’t have had voice to text, I really don’t know where I would be right now. (27:06)Is that how you communicate most things? Brandon (27:09)Yes, absolutely. it’s- if I can’t say it, like speak it, I have to use voice to text. I can’t spell- I can’t- I can’t spell my own name half the time. (27:17)Dude, I love that. Yeah, I hear you. I love voice to text. So I was told by a friend of mine about a product called Whisper Flow. I’m gonna have links in the show notes and in the description on the YouTube video, right? And it’s spelled W-I-S-P-R-F-L-O-W, Whisper Flow. And what you do is you program one key on your keyboard. And then what you do is you press that key and it activates Brandon (27:36)Yes. (27:52)the app and then you speak and it types beautifully. It types at all. And I’m a terrible like typist. I could never be one of those really quick secretary kind of people and take notes because I’m not fast enough, but it can type for me by speaking like beyond 99 words per minute, which I think is crazy fast. Living Independently After Stroke And I do it because it just saves a heck of a lot of time, me looking down at the keyboard and all that kind of stuff. My left hand does work, but I can type with it, but often my left hand, you know, we’ll miss the key and I’ve got to go back and do corrections and all that kind of stuff. So voice to text, this comes such a long way and everyone needs to know, especially if they’ve had a stroke and one of their limbs is affected, especially if it’s their… they’re riding limb or if they have a challenge like you, everyone needs to know about the fact that technology can really solve that problem. I’m pretty sure, I know this sounds like an ad for Whisper Flow, it probably is, but I’m not getting paid for it. I think they cost, it costs about hundred bucks a year to have this ⁓ service. So it’s so affordable and it does everything for you just at the touch of one button on your computer. And for some people you can also use it on your phone. But I think phones are pretty awesome at doing voice to text already. So you don’t really need ⁓ it for the phone, but you definitely need to check it out for the computer. Brandon (29:27)Okay, yeah, well, you know, I pretty much have my phone. I don’t have a computer, so… But, ⁓ it does sound like an amazing product, and I am looking to get myself a computer because I really, ⁓ like, I haven’t touched a keyboard since my stroke. So, it would be nice to get myself a laptop with a keyboard so that I could start working on trying to see how that interface works for me. (29:33)Yeah. Yeah. How was the transition out of hospital and rehab back to your place? and how long after the initial strike did you end up back at home? Brandon (30:04)Okay, so, when I, I left the hospital after, or I’m sorry, after 10 days in intensive care, they put me in the rehab hospital and I was there for four weeks. After that, they still didn’t think that I was ready to live by myself yet. So I had to, ⁓ rent a house in Joshua tree from a friend of mine who lived on the property in another house. And so I had a whole house to myself still which allowed me to keep my independence. But I still had somebody close enough to holler if I needed anything. And so I kind of, you know, baby stepped by renting a house, you know, for a while. And, And I have property in Northern Arizona where I normally would take my off time when I wasn’t traveling. But, ⁓ But, ⁓ because of the stroke, I wasn’t able to go back to that property for quite a while. And only about Christmas of last year did I start to be able to spend some more time on my property, you know. But at this point, I’m still renting the house in Joshua Tree and starting ⁓ to branch out a little bit more, do a little bit more traveling, things like that. Now with that said… I have been ever since the stroke happened about two months after the stroke I went back to my first music festival. So I didn’t have half of my skull. I had to wear a helmet for six months. And so here I am at a music festival with all of my friends and I’m in a helmet with half of my skull missing. But I still was able to be there and then ⁓ you know, be a part of the festival. So I got back to the activity that I enjoyed pretty fast. (32:07)What genre of music? Brandon (32:09)Well, it’s actually the Joshua Tree Music Festival in particular, which is the only music festival that I’m really involved with anymore. ⁓ They do world music. We get artists from all over the world in. And that’s kind of one of the reasons I’ve continued to be a part of this music festival and really haven’t been that big of a part of the other ones is because I’m always learning about new music when I go there. And that’s a big important part of it to me. (32:40)Understood. So your transition back to living alone took a little bit of time. You’re renting a place. Are you alone there? Are you living with anyone else? How is the home set up? Brandon (32:55)I have a home all to myself but there is a shared home on the other or on the property that a friend of mine lives in and he’s actually the one that I’m renting from so yeah (33:09)So you have access to support to help to people around you if necessary. Brandon (33:15)if I need it. also another big part of one of the symptoms of my stroke is that I don’t recognize my own disabilities. I have a lot of trouble with that. So I generally do not ask for help with things, which in a lot of cases has made me a lot stronger and I think been a big part of a speedy recovery. But at the same time, I can put myself in some kind of sketchy situations at times. (33:43)It’s not, are you sure it’s not just your male ego going, I can do this, I don’t need help. Brandon (33:49)I mean, I’m sure that that does tie into it, I’m certain. But yeah, that’s one of the things that I’ve struggled with from the beginning. And I didn’t recognize the left side of my body as my own. I thought it was somebody else’s. That wasn’t very long, just for maybe the first couple of weeks. But that was a very interesting sensation, that I felt like there was somebody else there. (34:06)Wow. Yeah, it just feels like it’s my, I kind of describe my left side as if it’s because my star sign is Gemini, right? So now I describe it as being the other twin, like the other part of me, which is me, but not me. And it’s so strange to experience 50 % of my body feeling one way and then 50 % of my body feeling a completely different way, which is Brandon (34:25)Yeah. Facing New Challenges: Aneurysms and Uncertainty (34:44)the only way I remember and then tying them together, like bringing them together has been a bit of a wild ride, like just getting them to operate together. When they have different needs, my left side has different needs than my right side. And sometimes one side is getting all the love and the other side is missing out. And I’m always conflicted between where do I allocate resources? Who gets… how much of my time and effort and who I listen to when one of them’s going, my left side’s going, I’m tired, I’m tired. My right side’s going, the party’s just started. Let’s keep going. Don’t worry about it. Brandon (35:25)I have to deal with that. Of course, my left gets a lot tighter than my right side, but I don’t know. think I’ve done a pretty good job of giving it that care. And a big part of where I measured my success was getting my shoulder back online and being able to pronate and go above my head. It took months to get my hand over my head. But But at this point, you know, I’m pretty much back to physically normal except for the fine motor skills on my right, on my left side. You know. (35:59)Sounds like things are going really well in really small increments. And if you’re only, what, two years post stroke, sounds like recovery is gonna continue. You’re gonna get smaller, more and more small wins and they’re gonna kinda accumulate and make it pretty significant in some time ahead. Brandon (36:17)Right. It’s a year and a half. So my stroke was on the 4th of November of 2024. (36:32)Yeah. Do you know in this whole time, did you ever have the… like, this is too hard, I don’t want to do this. Why is this happening to me kind of moment? Did you ever have any of that type of negative self talk or thoughts? Brandon (36:50)no, I mean, I suppose there probably were moments, but I don’t pay a lot of attention to those kinds of moments. You know what I mean? I do kind of even without the stroke, maintain a pretty positive mental attitude, you know, and I think that that’s been one of my biggest blessings through this. ⁓ yeah. So yeah, that’s never really been a good emotion. (37:12)I get a sense that you have those moments, but you don’t spend a lot of time there. Is that right? Is that what you just sort of alluded to that you have those moments, you just don’t give them a lot of time. Therefore they don’t really have the opportunity ⁓ to sort of take up residence. And then you just move on to whatever it is that you’re getting results with or makes you feel better or… ⁓ supports your project which is ⁓ recovery or overcoming or… Brandon (37:48)Yes. No, I completely agree. ⁓ You know, I mean, speaking of which, four days ago, I got ⁓ a phone call from the doctors. ⁓ They found an aneurysm in my brain. So I have to go and meet with a neurosurgeon on Tuesday to discuss what we’re going to do about a brain aneurysm. So I thought, you know, I was just about back to normal. And here I go into another situation. But again, until I know what’s going on, there’s no point in worrying about it, you know? So I’ll know more about it on Tuesday, but until then, I’m not spending a whole lot of time wondering, you know, am I just going to have an aneurysm and collapse tonight? You know? (38:36)that tends to be my default as well. I was really good as a kid. ⁓ When I was being cheeky and not doing my homework for school, I would go to bed and I would remember, I haven’t done my homework. And then I’d be like, yeah, but you can’t solve that problem now. Now you got to sleep, right? So you got to worry about that in the morning after you’ve had a good night’s sleep and you wake up and then deal with it. And that was a strategy to help me forget about that. minor problem, which back then, if you haven’t done your homework as a teenager, that was a big problem. If your teachers found out, if your parents found out, but the idea was that, don’t I just pause all of the overthinking? Why don’t I just pause all of the rumination and all the problems and all that stuff that it could cause for now. And I’ll worry about it when there’s a opportunity to have the resources to do something about it. And the classic example was in the morning, I would have an hour before school where I could reach out to one of my friends, take their homework, copy their homework, and then hand in my homework. Brandon (39:46)Absolutely. Yep, that was very much like me in school. (39:51)Yeah, not much point worrying about things you can’t change or control in the moment. Just pause it, deal with it later. I had a similar situation with my bleed in my brain, because I had a number of different bleeds and it was kind of in the back of my mind a little bit. What if it happens again? But it actually never stopped me from going about life from bleed one through to bleed two. was only six weeks, but like through blade two to blade three, it was about a year and a half. But I got so much done. I was, we were just going about life. was struggling with memory and all different types of deficits because of the blood clot that was in my head. But I never once kind of thought about what if something goes wrong, unless I was traveling. to another country, because we did go to the United States when I was about almost a year after the first and second bleed, we went to the United States. And then I did worry about it from a practical sense. It’s like, if I have a bleed in Australia, I’m near my hospital and then they can take over from where they left off previously and healthcare is paid for here. So there was no issue. But if I’m overseas and something goes wrong, I’m far away from home, we got to have the expensive insurance policy. Cause if something goes, I want to be totally covered when I’m in the United States, we don’t know the system. don’t know all these things. So that was a practical worry that I had, but I didn’t worry about my health and wellbeing. Do you know? I worried about the practicality of having another blade in the airplane because then I’m in the middle of the ocean. over halfway between Australia and the United States. And that’s eight hours one way or another or something. And I thought about that, but I didn’t think about how I would be personally ⁓ negatively impacted by the medical issue. I just thought about the, do we get help as quickly as possible if something were to happen? So I know a lot of people have a stroke and they, Brandon (41:55)Right. Support Systems: Finding Community After Stroke (42:18)⁓ They overthink about what if it happens again and they’re constantly kind of got that on their mind, but I was dealing with just the moments that made me feel like perhaps I should do something about this headache that I’m getting. I dealt with things as they appeared, as they turned up, I didn’t try to plan ahead and solve every problem before it happened. Brandon (42:24)Yeah. Yes, I agree. I’m very much the same way. You see, before my stroke, I didn’t have medical insurance. I hadn’t seen a doctor since my early 20s. just, I was, I was, I had always been extremely healthy. You know, I’ve always been very physically active, you know, and, so it just, I never really, I never really ⁓ went out and looked for medical. I just didn’t need it, you know? And so, When the stroke happened, I was very lucky to get put on California’s healthcare plan. And they’ve taken care of all of my medical bills. ⁓ You know, I’ve never pulled a single dollar out of my pocket for all the rehab, all the doctors since. And I mean, I have doctors still once every week, two weeks at the most, doctor visits, you know? And so I’m extremely fortunate. that it happened to me where I was, you know, because not all states here are like that, but California is extremely good. So, you know, I’m really grateful that it worked out the way it has because it could have been a whole different situation, man. (44:00)I have heard some horror stories about medical insurance for people who are not covered, have a stroke and then they leave hospital with like a $150,000 bill or something. Is that a thing? Brandon (44:13)Yes, it really is. I mean, I was extremely fortunate. By the time I got out of that first 10 days with the helicopter ride and everything else, I was close to $2 million in bills. (44:25)Dude, that’s mental. Brandon (44:26)Yeah. And, ⁓ yeah, I mean, it just doesn’t really, I mean, you know, I mean, I’m not a big fan of, the way that the medical system works money wise. think it’s all just paper or fake money, just fake numbers, you know, but yeah, I don’t know. I just, ⁓ I was extremely fortunate that it all happened the way that it did and that California is so good and they really do take care of their citizens, you know, so. (44:54)Yeah, I love that. Brandon (44:55)Yeah, very fortunate. (44:57)You know, in your recovery, did you have somebody that you kind of leaned on for support that was a confident, ⁓ that was like a mentor or did you have somebody like that in your life that was really helpful in your recovery? Brandon (45:15)Actually in about the year before my stroke I lost the three gentlemen that I had always considered my mentors, older guys that I’ve known for years. They all three passed away the year before my stroke. So I really kind of felt on my own. You know, I have a lot of friends, you know, but ⁓ but after my stroke I really don’t have the brain space for like Facebook or anything like that. So I really, closed down my very active Facebook account and when I did that, I lost so many people that would have been my support because I just, they weren’t there, you know, in real life. They’re only there on the computer, you know? And so, but luckily, you know, I’m a part of the community in Joshua Tree. So I had a lot of support from people there and… ⁓ Then I have probably four or five other friends that are scattered around the United States that I keep in touch with pretty closely. But I went down from talking to hundreds of people a month and all of that on the internet to really a very small closed social circle, you know? And then in addition to that, surprisingly, people that I’ve known for years just are not very good at accepting the differences in who I am as a person since the stroke, you know? And so, you know, I hate to say it, but a lot of friendships have kind of gotten a lot more distant since the stroke. you know, it’s just, I mean, it is what it is. You know, people have to do what they feel is right for themselves, you know? But yeah, I really… ⁓ Identity Shift: Life Changes Post-Stroke (47:06)Yeah. Brandon (47:07)I don’t have a very large support network. You know, I just basically kind of take care of a lot of it myself. You know, I mean, I did two and a half months of outpatient rehab with a occupational therapist. And what’s the other one? Occupational and physical therapy. (47:33)Mm-hmm. Brandon (47:33)So I did occupational and physical therapy for about two and a half months after I got out of the hospital. And that was all really good and helpful. And ⁓ I’m really grateful for those therapists that worked with me. And they helped me get ⁓ basically back to a normal cadence because I was having trouble putting one foot in front of the other. And they really helped me work on my cadence and getting my walk back to fairly normal. ⁓ My arm. has been mostly me. It has never been able to be rushed. It takes its own time. So even with the physical therapy, my hand coming back, it works at its own pace. That was never really influenced that much by physical therapy. And then my actual use of my hand, I was balled up. I was curled up and balled up to the wrist. after the stroke and eventually I got to where I could hold it out flat and I still tremor a lot there but it’s a lot better than it was and but yeah all of that had to come back at its own pace the physical therapy and stuff was helpful for a lot of other aspects of my recovery but that was all just taking its own time and coming back as I guess as it did my brain learn to re-communicate (48:58)Yeah, it sounds, it sounds like you’re kind of really well made up somehow, like you picked up the skills early on in your life to be able to deal with this situation. The way that you do is just amazing. Like it’s seems like it’s second nature, the way that you go about approaching the problems, the challenges, the difficulties, know, the missing half your skull, all that thing. It just seems really innate that you have that within you. you, people are listening and going, you know, that’s not me or I didn’t experience that or I’m overthinking things. Do you think that’s the way that you’re approaching things is teachable, learnable? Can people change the way that they’re going about ⁓ relating to their stroke or dealing with their stroke or managing it. Brandon (49:53)⁓ you know, I think that that you’re going to find that a lot of people, can be taught and a lot of people, can’t be taught. You know, some people’s nature just is not going to be able to handle that. But other people, you know, I think that you can go through very real processes to gain, ⁓ knowledge base, you know, to be able to start working with it. You see another big aspect of my recovery. is that I immediately after my stroke and getting out of the hospital moved eight hours away from UC Davis Hospital where my original care providers were. So I had to go through a whole new medical plan, a whole new set of doctors and everything else. And that changed on me like three times over the first six months. So I really couldn’t rely on the doctors for support either. because they were changing so often I would just meet one and the next thing I would know I would have a new doctor coming in or a new healthcare plan and so it took about six months for me to start seeing the same healthcare providers routinely so I went to YouTube University man I found you I found several other people that had these just these huge amounts of information you know, on how to handle my own recovery. So I took a lot of my own recovery into my own hands. And actually, ⁓ a week ago, I was talking to my neurologist, who is a really amazing lady, and, you know, and had to tell her pretty much that same story that, you know, I couldn’t leave it up to the doctors to fix me. I had to take care of myself. because of my situation and switching insurance and everything else that I went through, there was just not that much option. ⁓ so, you know, and she was like, I wish that all of my patients had that kind of an outlook. You cannot rely on the medical system to fix you. You know, we were talking about what can help people. I think that’s a really big thing that could help a lot of people is to realize that you have to take care of your health care decisions. You know, they found a PFO in my heart, a ⁓ Framon Parabot. (52:24)A patent for Ramen Ovali. Hole in your heart. Brandon (52:28)Yes, yeah, they found that and they wanted to fix it and I was like, you know, I’m 47 years old. This is a one-time thing. So I opted to have a loop recorder installed, a loop recorder to measure my heart rhythm and everything and send messages to the doctors at nights about my heart. So that because I thought that was a little bit less invasive. For my age, the last thing I want is for later in life, my body to start having problems with an implant that’s in my heart. So I decided not to go with that and to go with the less invasive loop recorder, which is still implanted under the skin in my chest, but it doesn’t affect my heart. (53:08)Thank you. Brandon (53:21)It just sends the information about my heart rhythm to the doctors so that they can keep track. (53:26)and it can be easily accessed and removed. Brandon (53:30)Exactly, exactly. So, you know, I mean, if I have another stroke or if I find through the little device that I’m having trouble with that PFO, you know, then I’ll get the PFO closure done. But until then, I didn’t want to just jump straight to that, you know, three months out of my out of my stroke. You know, I want to make sure that that’s the problem. because they did pull a 3mm blood clot out of my brain. So there’s a good chance that that went through the PFO and into my brain. But I was also way outside of my normal activity range trying to rock climb the day before. So there’s just, there are too many variables about the experience for me to just want to go and have something installed in my heart permanently, you know? (54:28)I hear you. What about the aneurysm? Where is that? What’s the long-term kind of approach to that? Brandon (54:35)Don’t know yet. I do not know anything about it. I’ll find out more information on Tuesday They said it’s not it’s not in the same part of my brain that my stroke was So that’s a good thing and there’s a good chance that it may have been there for a long time before the stroke So we just don’t know I don’t know anything about it So that I’m gonna go and meet with this neurosurgeon and decide what we’re gonna do about it (54:42)that’s right. Brandon (55:03)I think the most likely option, as long as it’s not big, is that they just wait and they monitor it. But there’s also a process where they coil it. They put a coil of platinum into it and pack it off so that it can’t become a problem later. And then the third scenario is that they take another piece of my skull off and go in and actually put a clip on it. to stop the blood from going into it. So I may actually have to have my skull open back up again. But, again, there’s no point in thinking about it now. I’ll think about it after Tuesday when I figure out where this thing is, what size it is, and all the details of it, you know? (55:46)Yeah. I love it. I love it. I love that man. That’s a great way to approach it. Also, ⁓ I love your comment about YouTube University. I love the fact that people find my podcast sometimes when they’re in hospital because clearly they realize I need to ⁓ learn more about this, understand it and ⁓ straight away they’ve got answers because of YouTube. it’s such a great service. It’s free. If you don’t want to pay for a paid service and all you got to do is put up with ads that you can skip through most of the time. So I think that’s brilliant. ⁓ What about your identity, man? People have a lot of kind of ⁓ examples of how they have a shift in their identity, how they perceive themselves, how they fit into the world. Did you feel like you have a shift in your identity or the way that you fit into the world? What’s that like for you? Brandon (56:46)Well, I mean, I definitely do feel like there was a big shift. Now at the core, I feel like the same person. know, mentally, I still feel like I know who I am, but it definitely has shifted my priorities in life a lot. ⁓ I did not raise my daughter and I developed a much closer relationship to her since the stroke. and we’ve been spending more time together and just really working on our relationship together. She’s 28 years old. So, you know, that has really been an amazing aspect of my stroke recovery is that I’m closer with my daughter than I ever was. But yeah, I mean, you know, I do things a lot differently. I was a heavy smoker, a heavy drinker, and a heavy marijuana user. I don’t smoke marijuana, don’t smoke cigarettes, and I don’t drink alcohol anymore. So huge change in my lifestyle as well. ⁓ But you know, I just I’m not as much of a hurry as I used to. I was always accused of my mind working on too many levels at one time, you know, and had too much on my plate, too much going on in my brain all the time. Now. My brain doesn’t keep up as well. So I struggle to stay on one subject, much less juggle multiple things in my brain. So it’s really kind of slowed down my whole mental process. But I think that again, that’s in a good way. I think that ⁓ I needed to slow down a little bit in a lot of ways. Lessons Learned: Insights from the Journey (58:31)I hear you. With the alcohol, marijuana and the smoking. So you might’ve been doing that for decades, I imagine, smoking, drinking. Brandon (58:43)Yes. (58:44)how do you experience your body differently now that it doesn’t have those substances in it anymore? Like, cause that’s a mass, that’s probably one of the biggest shifts your consumption of, we’ll call them, I don’t know, like harmful ⁓ things, you know, like how, so how do you relate to yourself differently now that those things are not necessary? Brandon (59:12)You know, I never really had like an addictive aspect. So I really don’t, I don’t feel like, ⁓ I mean, I don’t feel like it’s changed me a whole lot. I just had to take the daily habits out. But after spending a month in the hospital, all of the physical wants, all of the physical aspects of it were already taken care of, you know? So I just had to kind of maintain and not go back to old habits. So really, I mean, I don’t feel like it was that big of a difference. But now physically, I’ve always been an extremely skinny person. You know, I’m six foot one and I’ve always weighed 135 to 145. Now I weigh 165. So I did put on some weight after stopping all that. But other than that, really don’t notice a lot of ⁓ physical differences. Now, I have not coughed since my stroke. I used to wake myself up at night coughing, but for some reason, like literally when I had the stroke, I have not coughed since. Now I clear my throat a lot more and I have a lot of, we’re trying to figure out why, but I have a lot of problems with my sinuses. and stuff like that all on the side that I my injury was on this side but on the side the mental side like where it’s all mental stuff that changed the you know all of that I have problems with my sinuses and drainage and things like that so right now I’m seeing an ear nose and throat specialist and we just did a cat scan of my sinuses so I’ll see on the 13th of this next month I’ll get more information on about what’s going on there. ⁓ really, if that’s all I have to deal with is a one-sided sinus infection, I’m okay with that, you know? (1:01:23)Brandon, you’re all over it, man. I love your approach. It’s ⁓ refreshing to hear somebody who’s just so all over getting to the bottom of things rather than kind of just letting them kind of fester, which kind of leads me to my next question is you seem to have gained a lot of learning and growth from all of this. So what… ⁓ What are some of the insights that you gained from this experience that you didn’t expect? Brandon (1:01:54)⁓ No, I’m really not sure, man. I’m really not sure. I mean, again, I feel like pretty much going back to the same person. I mean, I have, I think, a little bit more respect for the human lifespan. You know, I was one of those people that always felt like, since I’ve never died, I can’t tell you that I’m going to die. Even though everybody else on the planet has to die, I never necessarily felt like that. I definitely feel mortal now, you know? I used to tell everybody that I still felt 25, but as soon as I had my stroke, felt 48. I felt every bit of my age. So it kind of cured me of that. You know, I pay a lot more attention to like, you know, things like, setting up my daughter for the future, you know, and like, Purchasing property for her and things like that to make sure that she’s gonna be taken care of when I’m not here anymore Things that I never paid attention to beforehand, you know, I always just lived in the moment Really didn’t care about the rest But now I’m more prone to put the work into my vehicle before it breaks down Instead of just waiting for it to be on the side of the road to fix it You know, I just I I think that I handle my life responsibilities more like a grown up than I used to, you know, but ⁓ but really, I don’t know, I’d say overall though, it’s still really difficult question to answer, man. I don’t I don’t feel like I live a lot differently. I feel like I’m still the same person, you know. (1:03:35)You nailed it, man. You answered it beautifully, especially the part about mortality. That’s a hap that happened to me. I realized at 37 that, ⁓ I actually might not be around in 12 months, six months, three months. So who knows like tomorrow. And that made me pay attention to my relationships and make sure that they were mostly mended healed. Reach. I reached out to people who I needed to reach out to. cut off people who I didn’t need to continue connecting with. Brandon (1:03:51)Right? (1:04:05)You know, like I realized that this, I’ve got to attend, attend to certain things that I hadn’t been attending to because if, ⁓ if the shit hit the fan, if things go really ugly, then I wouldn’t be able to attend to those things. And I, now that I had the ability to do it, was my responsibility to do that. Brandon (1:04:28)Absolutely, absolutely. I completely agree. I did the same thing. I cleared out a lot of the people that really weren’t being, you know, or that weren’t adding benefit to my life and causing problems in my life. I cleared all of that out. I started to focus more on the core group of people that were a big part of my life and, you know, my recovery and just, you know, who I am as a person. And just, you know, it really made me take a better look at the life that I had created for myself and and ⁓ and Just take care of the things that I should be taking care of and don’t pay as much attention to the things that weren’t serving me (1:05:12)Yeah, it’s a great way to continue moving forward. Your daughter, does she live nearby or does she live in another state? Brandon (1:05:21)She lives in another state. She lives in Alabama right now, but we’re starting to consider her coming out here to Arizona. Her and her boyfriend have lived there for several years, but the only reason she was living there is because her grandparents lived there on her maternal side, and she was very close to them for her whole life. But they passed, both of them, over the last several years. And, you know, she enjoys her work. She enjoys her friend group. But she also feels like she might need to go and explore a little bit more and move out of her comfort zone. So she might be a little bit closer sooner. Her and her boyfriend might actually move out here. we’ll just, know, only time will tell, but it’s just, it’s a fun thought, you know? (1:06:08)Yeah, I hear you. So we’ve shared a whole bunch of amazing things on this episode right now. The last question I want to ask you is there are people watching and listening that had either been listening for a little bit of time. They’ve just started their stroke recovery or they’r

Disappearances and More from Joshua TreeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/missing-persons-mysteries--5624803/support.

Send us a textIn this Office Hours episode, Michael Caulo explores how to make aligned decisions under stress, drawing on real-world experience and behavioral science. From sitting for his national board certification exam during chaos to navigating unexpected family emergencies, Michael explains how stress impacts the brain, why identity-based habits matter, and how alignment outperforms certainty for long-term health, fitness, and life performance.

Send us a textSkin health is not cosmetic—it's foundational to longevity. In this episode, Michael Caulo sits down with holistic health practitioner Michelle Kolcan of Natural Health and Skin to explore how stress, recovery, ingredient awareness, and daily rituals shape skin health and long-term well-being. From phenoxyethanol avoidance to reducing toxic load, this conversation breaks down what actually supports health from the inside out.

Die Karriere von U2 beginnt in einer Küche in Dublin. Elf Jahre später macht das Album "The Joshua Tree" die Band zu Superstars. Roland nimmt einen der prägenden Songs des Albums unter die Lupe: "I still haven't found what I'm looking for".

This Leo Full Moon episode of the Cosmic Cousins: Soul Centered Astrology Podcast weaves ritual, astrology, and embodied reflection into a heart-centered invitation to be seen. Jeff Hinshaw guides listeners through Leo Full Moon affirmations, creative practices, and somatic awareness while celebrating the global launch of the Lonely Planet Travel Tarot and sharing details about upcoming ceremonial gatherings in Joshua Tree and Brooklyn. ***See links below for more information Also, on this week's podcast episode of Cosmic Cousins, Jeff Hinshaw is joined by Leo astrologer Jason Dilts for a rich, embodied conversation under the glow of the Leo Full Moon. Together they explore the Leo–Aquarius polarity as a living practice, where personal radiance becomes a sacred responsibility in service of community. Through astrology, Kundalini yoga, ritual, music, and myth, this episode weaves Jason's Leo Sun–Capricorn Moon–Libra Rising into themes of leadership, discipline, and joyful devotion. Touching on planetary nodes, Neptune's long arc through Aries, and the coming winds of Uranus in Gemini, the Jeff and Jason encourage courage, presence, and participation. While listening to songs, ‘Sad & Beautiful' by Leo Rising Lindsey Mills and ‘The Me in Your Mind' by Leo Rising Hannah Ramone, Jeff and Jason also explore how music can act as a muse to better understand astrology through a creative and embodied lens.  This is then followed by a guided Leo embodiment journey and a closing tarot pull (Knight of Swords). This conversation invites you to move cosmic insight from the mind into the body, as a soulful meditation on creative expression, collective ritual, and loving your life so fully that it animates others. We hope you enjoy! I am beyond excited to share that the Lonely Planet Travel Tarot is officially making its way into the world — and this launch is global.  Australia — launching Tuesday, February 3  United Kingdom — launching Tuesday, February 10  United States — launching Tuesday, February 17This deck has been a long-held dream, and watching it step into the world feels both surreal and deeply meaningful. Joshua Tree Tarot Launch Gathering – Tuesday, February 17 If you're in the Southern California area, I'm hosting an epic, intimate tarot launch gathering in the Joshua Tree region to celebrate the US release. This night will be ceremonial, connective, and infused with desert magic. Special guests include: Lindsay Mack Mary Evans Heidi Rose Robbins …and more beloved collaborators and friends This is a private gathering, so if you feel the call to join us, please reach out to me personally. And truly — if you are reading this, you are invited. You are welcome. East Coast Launch at Maha Rose — Brooklyn, NY – Friday, February 20 I'm also thrilled to share that there will be a second launch celebration on the East Coast at Maha Rose in Brooklyn, New York — a place that holds profound personal meaning for me. This is where my journey with tarot truly took root, and where I hosted the Brooklyn Fools Tarot Journey for two years here in the early days of my journey. Lindsay Mack and I will be together in NYC for a ceremony-style book signing gathering, honoring tarot as a living, relational practice.  This event is open to the public, and pre-registration is available. The price of the gathering includes a Lonely Planet Travel Tarot deck. I can't wait to celebrate with you, on the Saturn-Neptune conjunction, as this deck finds its way into loving hands around the world.   Mentorship & Sessions Cosmic Cousins!  I have openings for one-on-one mentorships for those seeking ongoing guidance and support on their personal or astrological journey. As well as openings for Deep Dive Astrology Readings and Tarot Soul Journey sessions. These are available online, so you can join from anywhere in the world.   Cosmic Cousins Links Newsletter 6-Month Online Fools Tarot Journey Mentorship Deep Dive Astrology Readings Tarot Soul Journey  Cosmic Cousins Substack & Memberships Intro & Outro Music by:  Felix III

Adulting isn't cheap and life doesn't come with instructions.In this episode, we sit down with Angela and get real about moving into your first place, the stress nobody warns you about, and what it means to level up mentally and spiritually. The conversation goes everywhere: from living in a car to having your own spot, weed and creativity, energy vampires, setting boundaries, conspiracies, religion, and dating after trauma. Follow Angelievsworld!https://www.instagram.com/angelievsworld/ Buy The Bueno Coffee Hoodie here! 50% OFF!https://www.inlandentertainment.com/product-page/bueno-coffee-hoodie More Content On Patreon!patreon.com/buenobueno Call Us To Be On The Show!https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdV8WNMg69TLL4nYttVh_mKAoLRYzRtnCT226InJqh3ixQR5g/viewform Want to send us a gift?PO BOX 311145Fontana, Ca 92331 Follow Us!https://linktr.ee/buenobuenopdc Saul V GomezInstagram -  https://www.instagram.com/saulvgomez/Twitter - https://twitter.com/Saulvgomez_Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@saulvgomez Hans EsquivelInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/hans_esquivel/Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hanss444 RexxInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/rexxb/Twitter - https://twitter.com/rexxgodbTik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@rexx.b1 Bueno Bueno00:00 – Welcome Back & Introducing Today's Guest01:10 – Moving Into Your First Place Is Stressful03:05 – Nobody Tells You About Utility Bills04:10 – HOA Fees Are a Scam05:55 – Why Birds Attacked His Freshly Detailed Car07:20 – Bad Energy, Flies & Spiritual Signs09:10 – The “Don't Accept the Gift” Energy Rule11:45 – Why Giving Advice Can Drain You14:00 – Weed, Anxiety & Creativity17:00 – Attention Spans Are Cooked by Social Media20:05 – Old-School Weed vs Today's Cannabis Culture24:00 – Can Weed Become a Creative Crutch?27:40 – Joshua Tree, Shrooms & Tripping Stories30:10 – Traveling & Seeing the World Differently32:00 – Conspiracy Theories That Might Be Real36:00 – Government, Religion & Power41:15 – Why New Movies Feel Soulless44:50 – Calling a Listener: Dating After Divorce50:00 – When Love Is a Distraction vs Healing55:00 – Final Thoughts & Real Talk

On this episode, I'm joined by Scotty Hsieh, a dance and art educator, community builder, and van life explorer, along with his beloved wolf dog Nanooki. The episode explores Scotty's journey from city life to embracing the camper van lifestyle, his spiritual and outdoor experiences, and the deep bond he shares with Nanooki. We discussed their adventures across stunning landscapes like Sedona, Mammoth Lakes, and Joshua Tree, and more emphasizing the transformative power of nature and introspection. The episode features discussions on the challenges and rewards of van life, significant moments with Nanooki, and the lessons learned from reconnecting with nature. Additionally, Scotty shares his aspirations for future projects emphasizing community and personal growth through outdoor exploration with Nanooki by his side. Follow Nanooki on https://www.instagram.com/nanooki_the_wolf/#Follow Scotty on https://www.instagram.com/scotty.hsieh/Follow Just Trek on https://instagram.com/just.trekShop Just Trek merch on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net/shop⁠⁠Listen to more podcast episodes on ⁠⁠https://www.justtrek.net⁠⁠Want to send me a message? Email me at ⁠⁠justtrekofficial@gmail.com⁠⁠ or DM on Instagram @just.trek

It’s time for Strange & Unusual Facts. Mostly about the desert, the wilderness, critters and criminals. We are not using our usual flurry of em-dashes because we've heard that's a sign of AI-slop writings. New soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver, for this new year and new springtime on the way.Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/desertoracleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Photographer Dennys Ilic and Paris Chong dive into the challenging art of capturing truly breathtaking landscapes, reminiscing about the beautiful, yet elusive, scenery of Joshua Tree. The conversation quickly shifts to the technical side as Dennys discusses his preference for the Leica SL3-S for its superior low-light performance during concert shoots, leading to an incredible recap of his time on the road with Alanis Morissette, including the "jaw-dropping" experience of photographing her performance in front of 150,000 people at Glastonbury and the grand finale at the O2 Arena.Show Clip from The Paris Chong Show with Dennys Ilichttps://youtu.be/c_IR4DRVq6ohttps://www.theparischongshow.com

Send us a textChoose Self-Care or Choose ResentmentMost resentment isn't caused by other people.It's caused by what you've been neglecting in yourself.In this Lifestyle of Fitness Office Hours, Michael Caulo breaks down why self-care isn't selfish—and how neglecting it quietly turns into burnout, resentment, and emotional dysregulation.This isn't motivational fluff. It's behavioral science, physiology, and real-world application.Check out the Lifestyle of Fitness blog post for the full breakdown!

In this conversation, Joshua Crone discusses the various programs and initiatives at Yellow Bicycle, a theater space in Philadelphia. He shares insights on community engagement, the challenges of running a small venue, and the importance of planning and research in theater management. Crone also highlights the upcoming Fringe Theater Masterclass, aimed at educating aspiring theater artists on the intricacies of production and collaboration in the arts.Chapters00:00 The Birth of Yellow Bicycle02:27 Community Engagement and Support05:25 Navigating the Challenges of Theater Production08:08 Lessons Learned in Venue Management10:47 The Importance of Business Acumen in the Arts13:43 Building a Collaborative Artistic Community16:29 The Journey of Creating a Theater Space19:08 Fringe Theater Masterclass Overview21:49 The Value of Diverse Skills in Theater24:27 Engaging with the Audience and Community27:18 Final Thoughts and Future AspirationsThe original yellow bicycle was a vintage Schwinn rescued from an LA landfill. It served as a commuter bike, camera dolly, and grip truck during YBC founder Joshua Crone's first two years in Hollywood. When actors came by the studio they would find it parked outside to make room for rehearsal or filming. Over time the yellow bicycle became a signpost, a symbol of the collective: a loose-knit group of theater and film artists committed to doing ambitious work, even under humble circumstances. A group that was going places, even if it meant cycling uphill against the wind. When Crone moved to New York in 2018, the bike stayed behind in Joshua Tree. But its spirit lives on in its successor, a 1975 Raleigh (pictured here at Lyons Falls, NY), and in its namesake: Yellow Bicycle Collective.As a resident theater company of the new Yellow Bicycle Theater in Center City, Philadelphia, Yellow Bicycle Collective is now a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit corporation committed to producing edgy new writing, experimental reworking of classic plays, and training in all aspects of fringe theater and indie film production. Its mission, as outlined in its Articles of Incorporation, is to enrich, educate and entertain the community by providing unique experiences at the interface of theater and film.FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://yellowbicycle.org | https://yellowbicycle.com/

This Week on America's Podcast… U2 hits the reset button ⚡

Stories featured in this episode:DNR Motorcycle Club for Seniors by Mark Soden, Jr.  -music by Phog Masheeen - https://phogmasheeen.com/ -read by the author -Supper's Ready by Jean-Paul L. Garnier -music by TSG - https://tsgmusic.bandcamp.com/ -read by the author -theme music by Dain Luscombe -Simultaneous Times is a monthly science fiction podcast produced by Space Cowboy Books in Joshua Tree, CA. -https://www.spacecowboybooks.com -https://ko-fi.com/spacecowboybooks7054

From Rolling Stone Magazine to the latest instagram feed, celebrity has always meant being seen and hopefully in the coolest way.  Icons are built on innate talent, personality and a well crafted image of who they are and want to be believed to be. Musicians in particular rely heavily on photographers to capture their essence and persona to become known legends. So when my dear, wildly creative, friend since the third grade, Brian Lima grew up to be an insanely talented and successful music photographer, I had to share him and his all access pass with you. Hang out with us as we shoot the s%#t like the old friends we are about our shared love/hate relationship with photography, the trajectory of his creative career in the music scene, Joni Mitchell at Newport Folk last year and so much more. Join us as we explore: How photography can shape how you look at life.What it means to be a seer in the world and its many lessons.How to fuel your creativity and stay in relationship with your art.The ways being present allows you to experience more of the momentThe unexpected way listening informs how you see and beyond. Connect with Robyn Ivy here: Website:: https://www.brianlima.com/Instagram:: https://www.instagram.com/limaphoto/ Quick note, I just want to say thank you for listening to this episode. I know it means a lot to myself and my guests.  If you enjoyed this episode, you will also like: Episode #46: Mary Jo Hoffman: Everyday Stillness Episode #42: Onne van der Wal: Live Your Adventure Episode #6o: Fred Poisson: Illuminating Creativity and Process   MORE ABOUT BRIAN LIMA: I remember getting my first couple of vinyl LP's as a kid and falling in love with the album art and the photography that told the visual story of the music I loved listening to. Anton Corbijn black & white images for The Joshua Tree by U2 blew my mind. Dennis Morris's candids and portraits of Bob Marley are magic, Henry Diltz's Laurel Canyon work just so dreamy. To this day I'm constantly inspired by so many other photographers work.   ​ I'm constantly in search of new projects and ideas. 2023 will mark 13 years of being one of the principal photographers for the historic Newport Folk Festival & Newport Jazz Festival. I'm proud of the images I'm creating with this amazingly talented team of creatives. ​ I'm also part of the creative team for Coachella Music Festival. 2020 is Coachella's 20th anniversary. It has been fun to watch this idea blossom into what it has become.   Staff Photographer :  Coachella Music Festival | Newport Folk Festival | Newport Jazz Festival | Stage Coach Music Festival | Day In Vegas Music Festival ​ Clients: ​Golden Voice Entertainment | AEG World Wide | TuneIn Radio | Rolling Stone Magazine | Billboard Magazine | New York Times

Send us a textIn this episode of Lifestyle of Fitness Office Hours, Coach Mike Caulo builds on the One Word framework by exploring identity-based habits and sustainability. Learn how concepts from Atomic Habits and The High 5 Habit reinforce self-trust, consistency, and long-term change — even when motivation fades, and life gets busy.

In this episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, Paul visits the remote desert outpost of Goat Mountain Recording, home to musicians and audio engineers Pat and Susan Kearns. Nestled on five acres in Landers near Joshua Tree, the Kearns family has created a purpose-built recording studio unlike anything else in Southern California — complete with zero 90-degree corners, custom architectural design, and a quiet desert backdrop that shapes their sound. Pat and Susan share how they built this dream studio from the ground up, how gentrification pushed them out of Portland, and how they transformed their move to the desert into a thriving creative hub. From recording and mixing to mastering and audio restoration, Pat's decades of experience merge with Susan's artistry, musicianship, painting, and their shared love of “Western Folk,” the unique genre they've coined to describe their sound. We dive into their latest album Together and Alone, their songwriting process (including how melodies often “bubble up from the subconscious”), the stories behind standout tracks like “Charlie,” and the inspiration they draw from the desert's solitude, landscapes, and creative community. Pat also reveals what it's like hosting the Z107.7 Local Music Showcase, highlighting and connecting musicians across Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, Wonder Valley, and beyond. And Susan gives us a peek into her visual art practice, including her participation in the annual Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tours, her expressionist desert pieces, and the lively fusion of art and music that happens when musicians join her shows. Whether you love music creation, desert culture, or behind-the-scenes creative life, this episode paints a vibrant picture of two artists building something extraordinary together. What You'll Learn in This Episode: 0:00 – Welcome to On the Road + introduction to Pat & Susan Kearns 0:35 – Pat explains his role as an audio engineer and multi-discipline sound creator 1:04 – Building their acoustically engineered studio in Landers with architect Ignacio “Nacho” Moreno 1:56 – Why the studio has no 90-degree corners or parallel walls 3:22 – The leap of faith: leaving Portland, gentrification, and starting fresh in the desert 4:08 – Susan encourages Pat to pursue audio full-time 5:32 – How selling everything opened the door to Goat Mountain Recording 6:52 – Running a destination recording studio & keeping clients despite moving off-grid 7:31 – How the desert influences Pat's work and the artists who visit 8:52 – Their album Together and Alone — concept, recording, and analog effects 9:28 – What is “Western Folk”? Understanding their signature genre 10:06 – Finding truth in Old West imagery, desert landscapes & classic films 11:21 – Writing “Charlie” from subconscious inspiration and notebook fragments 14:13 – Do lyrics or melodies come first? Pat and Susan's collaborative process 15:12 – “If a Cowboy Goes to Heaven” — melodies that arrive out of nowhere 15:31 – Touring, booking shows, and the cross-country run 16:19 – Indie on the Move: how they book venues and find the right rooms 17:05 – Why Western Folk isn't honky-tonk — and why punk crowds love them 17:27 – Pat's radio show on Z107.7 & spotlighting local talent 19:10 – What defines the “desert sound”? Its mystery, diversity, and influence 20:30 – Community connection: emails, friendships & weaving musicians together 22:19 – Matching artists intentionally on air to spark collaboration 24:04 – LIVE performance of “Two…” from Pat & Susan's set 24:42 – Susan's desert artwork & the expressionist painting she created for the album 25:18 – Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tours & the local art community 26:27 – How art shows turn into music gatherings 27:12 – Susan's standup bass journey & choosing between electric & upright 28:33 – How Pat & Susan began performing together 30:13 – Their daily practice routine & making music a shared lifestyle 31:04 – Final reflections + thank you to our sponsor, Opus Escrow Related Episodes: Desert Dreams: The Palms, Wonder Valley's Artistic Oasis Music, History & Magic: The Story of Tiny Porch Concerts at Peter Strauss Ranch Vines, Wines & Good Times at Cornell Wine Company Connect with the Kearns Family: www.thekearnsfamily.bandcamp.com/ Contact Paul Ward:

Dr. H sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Fenstermacher, Medical Director of the TMS Clinic at the University of Colorado- Anschutz to explore the growing role of TMS and neuromodulation in psychiatry.  They explore questions such as:•How should we think about TMS vs ketamine in the treatment of depression? Trauma? OCD?•Who are the best candidates for TMS? •What are the relative merits of intensive TMS (SAINT) vs standard protocols?•How might TMS and ketamine work together to promote psychiatric stability?Support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/supportDr. Elizabeth Fenstermacherhttps://som.cuanschutz.edu/Profiles/Faculty/Profile/33013Patient selection for TMS- Case report with Dr. Fenstermacherhttps://journals.lww.com/hrpjournal/fulltext/2025/11000/case_report__personalizing_transcranial_magnetic.3.aspxExplore the full BFTA Content Catalog:A listener-built, human-curated index of every Back From The Abyss episode to help you find themes, topics, and episode formats of interest.Best viewed on a laptop or desktop (not mobile).Content Catalog (in Google Sheets): https://bftapod.short.gy/index"I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?"  An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, Feb 4th-6th 2026 in Joshua Tree, CA https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast pagehttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show

In this special reflective episode, I pause to look back on 2025—a year filled with growth, connection, creativity, and community inside Outdoor Classrooms.Rather than an interview, this episode is an invitation to slow down. Together, we reflect on what it truly means to build outdoor classrooms over time—with intention, curiosity, and care—while looking ahead to what's taking root for 2026.

Fully & Completely: ReduxEpisode 101 — The Tragically Hip EP (1987)A presentation of The Tragically Hip Podcast SeriesHosted by jD and Greg LeGrosClass is officially back in session.In Episode 101, Fully & Completely returns as Fully & Completely: Redux, kicking off a weekly, album-by-album journey through the catalog of The Tragically Hip — starting where it all began: the self-titled 1987 EP.This episode takes us back to a pivotal year in Canadian history. Brian Mulroney is Prime Minister. The loonie replaces the dollar bill. Edmonton is the City of Champions. And in a music landscape dominated by The Joshua Tree, Appetite for Destruction, Sign o' the Times, and Document, a sweaty, blues-rock bar band from Kingston quietly releases their first official recording.It's not a masterpiece. It's not fully formed.But it is the sound of a band just out of high school, road-tested, tight as hell, and figuring out who they might become.jD and Greg dig into the historical and musical context of 1987, the Canadian charts of the era, the bar-band DNA baked into this EP, and the early lyrical breadcrumbs that hint at where The Tragically Hip were headed. Along the way, they debate throwaway lines versus keeper lyrics, celebrate the power of live mythology, and agree — as most Canadians eventually do — that Highway Girl is the track that escapes the gravity of its origins.This is the starting point.The chalk outline.The sweaty stage at the Horseshoe before the arenas.And from here on out, it only gets deeper.In This EpisodeWhy 1987 matters — culturally, musically, and politicallyThe Tragically Hip as a very good bar band (and why that matters)Blues rock, R&B roots, and early Stones influenceCanadian pop vs. underground grit in the late '80sFirst signs of Gord Downie's lyrical instinctsThe role of live performance in shaping Hip mythologyTime Capsule Track: Highway GirlAlbum DiscussedThe Tragically Hip (EP, 1987)Produced by Ken “Kenny” GreerEight tracks. Under 30 minutes. A launching pad.What's NextNext week, the tour continues with the next chapter in the evolution — more confidence, sharper songwriting, and the beginning of something unmistakably Hip.Listen & SubscribeFully & Completely: Redux is available wherever you get your podcasts.Follow, subscribe, and settle in — we're taking this fully and completely, one record at a time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Send us a textInstead of setting dozens of goals this year, try choosing one word. In this episode, Coach Mike Caulo breaks down the One Word framework and explains why he chose Devotion as his guiding word. Learn how identity-based focus, habit formation, and consistency outperform traditional New Year's resolutions — and how to apply your own word to health, work, and daily life.

If there is one full moon to stay at home and rest, it's likely the Cancer Full Moon. And lucky for us, 2026 starts out with this nurturing and caregiving energy, that is here to wrap us in a blanket of deep remembering. In the introduction of this episode we explore: Jupiter in Cancer, Chiron in Aries, the Capricorn Stellium, the Venus + Mars Capricorn Cazimi's, and Neptune at the final degree of Pisces.   Then, astrologer Jeff Hinshaw and movement educator, death midwife, and ritualist Anastasia Baratta explore Cancer as the keeper of memory, ancestry, care, and embodied wisdom. Opening with a somatic ritual honoring the Cancer-ruled body, they weave astrology, land-based spirituality, and personal myth-making, reflecting on Anastasia's Cancer Rising, Aquarius Sun, and Sagittarius Moon as a lifelong dance between freedom and belonging. The dialogue moves through the Cancer–Capricorn polarity, mother/father archetypes, relationship dynamics, and the importance of guiding others toward self-care rather than dependency. Throughout, the Cancer Full Moon is framed as an invitation to come home—to the body, to the land, to emotional truth, and to the ancestral lineages that shape us. A central thread of the episode is grief, soul family, blood family, and healing during Jupiter in Cancer, including stories of profound loss, ancestral visitation, health crises, and acts of care that reveal how growth can arrive through tenderness as much as abundance. Jeff and Anastasia reflect on death through a queer lens and death as a sacred threshold, discussing astrology's role in understanding the spirit realm, the 8th/12th house, and ritual approaches to dying that reconnect modern culture with ancient practices. Anastasia shares her vision for community-based death care, including the Desert Death Care Network and monthly Death Cafes in Joshua Tree, while both emphasize the necessity of self-nourishment for caretakers and healers. The conversation closes with practical rituals, listener reflections, and an invitation to use the final months of Jupiter in Cancer to honor ancestors, tend home and body, and prepare—individually and collectively—for the times ahead. Cosmic Cousins Links Newsletter 6-Month Online Fools Tarot Journey Mentorship Deep Dive Astrology Readings Tarot Soul Journey  Cosmic Cousins Substack & Memberships Intro & Outro Music by:  Felix III

On New Year's Day, Cyndera Quackenbush welcomes Julienne (Jules) Givot back to the Archetypal Tarot Podcast to revive a long-standing tradition: a collective archetypal and tarot reflection for the coming year. The episode serves as a contemplative portal blending tarot, archetypal psychology, lived experience, and cultural reflection after a difficult and grief-laden 2025. The core archetype drawn for the year is The Amateur, selected from the Identity Pursuit archetype board game (no longer in print). Rather than framing the future through mastery or expertise, the hosts explore the Amateur as a figure of humility, love, experimentation, and community. Light aspects of the Amateur: Doing something for love rather than reward or compensation Following the heart without needing certainty or expertise Allowing messiness, openness, and shared learning Creating the path by walking it, together Shadow aspects: Undervaluing oneself or one's work Exaggerating or misrepresenting skill or authority Cultural dangers of “false experts” and influencer culture lacking depth, lineage, or accountability The Amateur becomes a response to collapsing patriarchal systems, toxic productivity, and ego-driven power structures. In a time of upheaval, the hosts argue that not knowing—and admitting we don't know—is both honest and necessary. Community Over Heroism A recurring insight is the movement away from the lone hero narrative. Healing and survival are framed as collective, relational processes, not individual burdens. The Amateur archetype supports community-based learning, mutual care, and shared responsibility, especially amid political violence, war, and systemic injustice. Cyndera shares personal experiences offering donation-based tarot readings illustrating how amateur energy can reduce pressure, invite openness, and foster authentic connection—while still raising questions about value, sustainability, and self-worth. Two additional archetype cards pop out in the podcast! Listen in to hear all about The Poet and The Victim. Tarot Card for 2026: Judgment Cyndera draws Judgment from the Major Arcana, using Natasia Rowland's Tarot Emblemata deck. Key interpretations: Awakening after devastation Truth revealed; what was hidden can no longer stay hidden Liberation from old constraints (symbolized by broken shackles) A collective rising—not individual salvation Judgment is framed not as punishment, but as reckoning, clarity, and rebirth. It echoes upcoming astrological themes (notably the Fire Horse year) suggesting that small sparks from 2025 may explode into unavoidable illumination in 2026. The hosts close by weaving the Amateur and Judgment together: It's okay not to know. It's not all on our shoulders. Love, community, creativity, and faith (in whatever form) are sustaining forces. The future is not about perfection or mastery, but participation. Mantra for 2026: Be amateurs. Love what you do. Rise together. 2 + 0 + 2 + 6 = 10. After the recording of the podcast (on January 1) a rainbow was visible in Joshua Tree, CA. Is it possible that collectively we can welcome a “10 of Cups” kind of year?    

Joshua tree library

Send us a textWelcome to the Damn Dude Podcast!This is Season 5, Episode 6! (In the Episode I keep saying "Episode 7")

Send us a textLife doesn't pause when routines break. In this episode, Coach Mike Caulo breaks down how to stay healthy, grounded, and consistent when you're sick, traveling, or off routine — using evidence-based principles that support long-term health, energy, and resilience.

There is a growing awareness in psychiatry that not all psychiatric illness is psychiatric— some percentage of what presents in psychiatric settings is actually triggered by autoimmune responses to various pathogens and insults.  In the late '90s a syndrome called PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with strep) came on the scene with cases of sudden onset OCD and tics that appeared in conjunction with strep infections. The theory behind PANDAS was that parts of the basal ganglia of the brain had exterior cell proteins which were very similar to those of the strep bacteria, and as the immune system began to attack the strep bacteria, it also began an autoimmune assault on parts of the midbrain, including the basal ganglia, thus producing a sudden onset of OCD or tics.In recent years PANDAS has evolved into a broader concept called PANS— pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome— which includes a vast array of neurological and psychiatric symptoms and syndromes that can potentially be triggered by autoimmune reactions. It can be tricky to diagnose PANS….this is probably why it is still a somewhat controversial diagnosis in some arenas. We don't have a clear and consistent set of labs or biomarkers to positively determine PANS, and because the syndrome is so broad in how it can present, clinicians struggle to come up with a modal or average presentation that they can put in their pattern recognition systems. One feature that seems fairly classic for PANS is that the symptoms tend to increase during and/or right after a concomitant infectious illness, presumably because the immune system activation is reigniting the autoimmune attack on the central nervous system.Today's story features a mom, Kari, and her daughter, Zoe. Zoe had lots of illness and immune system issues as a young child, first fatigue and then GI symptoms, then profound mood instability, and then she eventually developed horrific treatment resistant anorexia which did not respond to the best treatments psychiatry had to offer.Support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support"I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?"  An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, Feb 4th-6th 2026 in Joshua Tree, CA https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast pagehttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show

Throwbacks are where I re-release old episodes from the archives. So don't worry if you have heard it already, as 'New episodes' will continue to come out on Sundays. To get some of the old episodes heard.~~~In this episode, we meet Steven from Idaho. Steven has encountered UFOs on several occasions and had a very interesting near-death experience at an early age, and he will also be sharing several of his paranormal experiences as well.More information on this episode on the podcast website:https://ufochroniclespodcast.com/ep-194-joshua-tree/Want to share your encounter on the show? Email: UFOChronicles@gmail.comOr Fill out Guest Form: https://forms.gle/WMX8JMxccpCG2TGc9Podcast Merchandise:https://www.teepublic.com/user/ufo-chronicles-podcastHelp Support UFO CHRONICLES by becoming a Patron:https://patreon.com/UFOChroniclespodcastTwitter: https://twitter.com/UFOchronpodcastThank you for listening!Like share and subscribe it really helps me when people share the show on social media, it means we can reach more people and more witnesses and without your amazing support, it wouldn't be possible.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ufo-chronicles-podcast--3395068/support.

Send us a textLongevity isn't about hacks — it's about habits. In this episode, Coach Mike Caulo breaks down five evidence-based daily habits that support long-term health, energy, strength, and mental clarity for busy professionals and parents.If you found this helpful, you can shop the tools I personally use and teach at amazon.com/shop/mikecaulo.For weekly Office Hours, topic voting, coaching, retreats, and info on using HSA/FSA or health insurance, head to lifestyleoffitness.com.

Throwbacks are where I re-release old episodes from the archives. So don't worry if you have heard it already, as 'New episodes' will continue to come out on Sundays. To get some of the old episodes heard.~~~In this episode, we meet Steven from Idaho. Steven has encountered UFOs on several occasions and had a very interesting near-death experience at an early age, and he will also be sharing several of his paranormal experiences as well.More information on this episode on the podcast website:https://ufochroniclespodcast.com/ep-194-joshua-tree/Want to share your encounter on the show? Email: UFOChronicles@gmail.comOr Fill out Guest Form: https://forms.gle/WMX8JMxccpCG2TGc9Podcast Merchandise:https://www.teepublic.com/user/ufo-chronicles-podcastHelp Support UFO CHRONICLES by becoming a Patron:https://patreon.com/UFOChroniclespodcastTwitter: https://twitter.com/UFOchronpodcastThank you for listening!Like share and subscribe it really helps me when people share the show on social media, it means we can reach more people and more witnesses and without your amazing support, it wouldn't be possible.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ufo-chronicles-podcast--3395068/support.

Send us a textA science-backed breakdown of pre-workout supplements, energy, dopamine, and mental health. In this LOF Office Hours replay, Michael Caulo breaks down stim vs non-stim pre-workouts, creatine for brain energy, music vs caffeine, and exercise for depression. This episode focuses on supporting the nervous system, reducing burnout, and building consistency with low-friction tools. Watch the office hours replay on Amazon!

From the pages of Radon Journal - https://www.radonjournal.com/ -Stories featured in this episode:Instructions for Self-reflection by Parker M. O'Neill - https://linktr.ee/parkermoneill -music by Phog Masheeen - https://phogmasheeen.com/ -read by the Jean-Paul Garnier - Instructions for Rewilding the Wasteland by Emma Burnett - https://emmaburnett.uk/ -music by TSG - https://tsgmusic.bandcamp.com/ -read by Jenna Hanchey -Dad Jokes by David Lee Zweifler - https://davidleezweifler.com/ -music by Doctor Auxiliary - https://doctorauxiliary.bandcamp.com -read by the author -theme music by Dain Luscombe -Simultaneous Times is a monthly science fiction podcast produced by Space Cowboy Books in Joshua Tree, CA. -https://www.spacecowboybooks.com -https://ko-fi.com/spacecowboybooks7054

A bizarre statue in Joshua Tree has gone viral, with many claiming it's opening a real spiritual portal in the desert. In this episode, we dig into where this story came from and why Joshua Tree has repeatedly appeared in portal and gateway encounters shared on The Confessionals over the years. We examine the symbolism surrounding the statue, the idea of spiritual gateways, and the patterns that suggest certain locations act as access points to the unseen realm. The conversation expands into music, Hollywood, and live performances, exploring whether lyrics, imagery, and mass participation events are being used to open spiritual doors—intentionally or not. As the lines between art, ritual, and belief continue to blur, this episode asks a pressing question: are these portals real, and if so, who is opening them? Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference! If you're able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890 Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join The Confessionals Social Network App: Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here My New YouTube Channel Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL My First Sermon: Unseen Battles Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here The Meadow Project: Stream Here Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com SPONSORS SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony CONNECT WITH US Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com MAILING ADDRESS: Merkel Media 257 N. Calderwood St., #301 Alcoa, TN 37701 SOCIAL MEDIA Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/ Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas Twitter: @TConfessionals Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel Produced by: @jack_theproducer

Psychotherapy can often get stuck in a there and then storytelling mode....how do we shift the therapeutic encounter into the immediacy of the Here and Now?  Here Dr. H shares 10 questions which shine a spotlight on what's happening (and not happening!) between therapist and patient. Support the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support"I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?"  An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, Feb 4th-6th 2026 in Joshua Tree, CA https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast pagehttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show

  Lately I have been spending time out on my Aunt's ranch in Joshua Tree, California, and the rhythm of the animals has offered me a new perspective on how we respond to the boundaries in our lives. Watching the horses move through their space, communicate their needs, and express their energy reminded me how easy it is to accept certain limits without ever pausing to ask whether they still feel aligned. Their behavior became an unexpected mirror, showing me where I have honored barriers that were never truly mine or that no longer support who I am becoming. Their exuberance and clarity sparked something in me, and it led to a few honest reflections about how I define freedom and success. As I witnessed one strong and determined horse rear up just enough to press her chest through the electric fence until it snapped, I felt this surge of admiration and recognition. There are moments in life when we feel something calling us forward, even if others do not understand it or caution us to stay put. Sometimes the only way to understand what is possible is to trust our instincts and step into the unknown with confidence and curiosity. On today's Wise Walk we will explore the barriers we have been honoring, the beliefs that might be holding us back, and the freedom available to us when we choose to move beyond them. Is there a self imposed barrier you honor that no longer feels aligned, and are you ready to let it go so you can run free? How can you build your confidence and communicate clearly so this barrier no longer holds you back, whether it is mental or physical? Are you ready to release any naysayers in your life and trust what is possible on the other side of the barrier? Is it worth it to you to cross this barrier, and what limiting beliefs are keeping you from taking that step? If fear of failure is present, can you let it soften so your momentum and desire can carry you forward? What mental or physical barriers feel most constraining right now, and how does your definition of success influence whether you stay within them or move beyond them? What becomes possible for you when you define success on your terms and allow yourself to feel free and expansive? Where in your life can you embody the majestic power of a horse and invite more freedom into your daily rhythm? What vision of success feels true to you, and how can you move through obstacles with strength, grace, and authenticity? I hope you tune in next Thursday for another Wise Walk. As always, I would love to hear what you took away from today's episode. Feel free to reach out and message me. Be sure to break those barriers that do not feel good to you anymore and let yourself run free with that majestic power that you already innately have. In this episode: [02:34] I break down the fencing on the ranch and how going from pipe corral to an expanded electric fenced area was a plan to give the horses more area to roam. [04:12] My Aunt put up four volt electric fencing which the horses have used before. [05:01] When we opened the gates, the horses were bucking and running and having the best time in their expanded area.  [06:06] The horse who was the boss was thinking about breaking free in spite of my Aunt's warnings. Suddenly, she pressed her chest against the fence and it snapped.  [07:07] All of the horses and the Donkey were running wild on the property. They were still contained, because there was an additional fence line. [08:04] They had so much joy with the additional space and free access to the feed station.  [09:03] If we have the drive and know the goal, nothing can stand in our way. The horse's example creates a great reminder for us to pursue our dreams and authentic desires. [11:16] For different periods of my life, self-limiting beliefs have gotten in my head. I've tried some of the advice I've been given when I became a self-employed author and podcaster, but some things don't align with me. [12:10] One of the things I've learned from this experience by reflecting is knowing what success means to me. [13:17] The self-imposed barriers that we might be living by could be due to our own internal beliefs or external pressures. We get to decide which ones we're going to keep. [14:29] There's always a leader who will break through first and show us what's possible. It's up to us to decide if we want to follow. [15:28] Remember that you are powerful and have a spirited personality just like a horse. Others are attracted to you when they see you running free and tackling your life. [17:19] My Aunt and I are still laughing about this incident, and we're giving kudos to the horses and the donkey for being themselves. [18:19] Can you support other people when you see them getting ready to break a barrier? [19:04] I feel myself gearing up to break some barriers that no longer serve me. Memorable Quotes: "There are moments when we outgrow the barriers we once agreed to, and our heart knows it long before our mind catches up." - Mary Tess "If a boundary no longer supports who you are becoming, you get to redefine it or release it." - Mary Tess "When we stop honoring old limitations, we make space for new energy, new confidence, and new possibilities." - Mary Tess Links and Resources: Mary Tess Rooney Email Heart Value Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

Send us a textThis episode covers the core Tier 1 foundations — including a new breakdown of why your brain burns 20–25% of your calories and how nutrition drives cognitive performance.Join Weekly Body Doubling Livestreams: • TikTok • Amazon LiveWatch the Amazon Live replay by clicking here!

Send us a textThis is the fully revised and expanded livestream with upgraded audio and updated science. Covers Tier 2 & Tier 3 tools, including mushroom gummies, probiotics, omega-3s, creatine, Rhodiola, caffeine stacking, methylene blue, and more.Join Weekly Body Doubling Livestreams: • TikTok • AmazonWatch the Amazon Live replay by clicking here!

Dr. H sits down with Jade Miller, a peer support specialist and advocate for public education about DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). In the first part of this episode, Jade shares her story and how she came to understand that the puzzling gaps and often frightening incongruities in her life were caused by her rotating through a number of dissociated identities or alters, initially protecting her… but eventually leaving her powerless to stop repeated traumatization.  Jade and Dr. H then talk shop about DID and Jade challenges some of Dr. H's long held beliefs.Jade Millerhttps://payhip.com/peersupportformultiplesSupport the show! https://www.buzzsprout.com/396871/support"I Love You, I Hate You, Are You My Mom?"  An intensive experiential workshop exploring transference with Dr. H and Dr. Hillary McBride, Feb 4th-6th 2026 in Joshua Tree, CA https://www.craigheacockmd.com/i-love-you-i-hate-you-are-you-my-mom/BFTA episode recommendations/Podcast pagehttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show