Podcast appearances and mentions of katrina brees

In this episode, we take a look back on the amazing year of 2024 for Eyes Wide Open with Nick Thompson.    The best clips of 2024 include:   Therapy Jeff and Nick discuss their youth sports experiences that promoted toxic masculinity.   Timmy Gibson and Nick discuss how you can flirt with someone and not come across as creepy.    Stef “Rocks” spills the tea on what happens behind the scenes at rock concerts and broadcasting.   Madina Alam shares her mission to reframe what therapy should look like.    Roberta Blevins discusses how big MLM uses lobbying and exploits trauma to be legal and profitable.   Anita Chlipala and Nick debate if flirting in real life is creepy.    Danielle Roberts and Nick discuss how realistic a 32-hour work week is in the United States.    Katrina Brees shares with Nick the work she is doing with Donna's Law: A Voluntary Self-Registry to Gun Sales for Suicide Prevention.   We hope you enjoyed this Best of 2024 edition of Eyes Wide Open.    Chapters   00:00 Introduction 01:21 Therapy Jeff 08:25 Timmy Gibson 17:55 Stef “Rocks” 27:30 Madina Alam 32:21 Roberta Blevins 41:10 Anita Chlipala 51:46 Danielle Roberts 01:01:19 Katrina Brees Find Nick Thompson here:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesWideOpenContent LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickthompson13/  UCAN Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/the_ucan_foundation/ OnLove Singles Xperiences: https://www.instagram.com/onlovexperiences/ Website: https://www.engagewithnick.com/

How can you overcome grief and heal through advocacy? In our latest episode Anjel speaks with the incredible Katrina Brees, an artist, activist, and parade producer from New Orleans. Katrina's journey through grief and advocacy following the loss of her mother to impulsive gun suicide has led her to champion crucial legislative change through "Donna's Law." Tune in to listen to Katrina's powerful story and insights on gun violence prevention, mental health advocacy, and the importance of creative problem-solving. What You Will Learn  How did Katrina Brees' experience in the Mardi Gras industry prepare her for her advocacy work? What are the key components of Donna's Law, and how does it aim to prevent impulsive gun violence? In what ways has Katrina faced resistance from gun violence prevention groups and her own family? How has she managed to navigate this resistance? How does Katrina Brees define advocacy, and why does she believe it is crucial for addressing mental health stigma? What role do creative problem-solving skills play in advocacy, according to Katrina? How might these skills be applied in other areas of society? How has Katrina Brees leveraged her personal grief to channel into meaningful advocacy work, and what advice does she offer to others dealing with similar experiences? What are some of the strategic steps Katrina has taken to build alliances and collaborate with different groups for legislative change? Discuss the significance of "donating someone's death" to a legislator. How can this concept inspire legislative initiatives and create positive changes? What challenges does Katrina face in balancing her advocacy efforts with running her business, and how does she employ creativity and trust to navigate financial well-being? How does the grief relief card deck developed by Katrina contribute to mental health support, and in what ways can therapeutic communities support individuals channeling their grief into advocacy? Connect with Katrina Brees Katrina Brees on LinkedIn Katrina Brees website Learn More about Donna's Law Resources Wickedly Smart Women: Trusting Intuition, Taking Action, Transforming Worlds by Anjel B. Hartwell Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell Wickedly Smart Women Wickedly Smart Women on X Wickedly Smart Women on Instagram Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community Wickedly Smart Women Store on TeePublic The Wealthy Life Mentor The Wealthy Life Mentor on Facebook Listener Line (540) 402-0043 Ext. 4343  Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com

Katrina Brees joins us to discuss her mom, who ended her life, and how Donna's Law can prevent others from ending theirs. WEbsite: www.donnaslaw.comSponsor:Is there something interfering with your happiness or is preventing you from achieving your goals? https://betterhelp.com/leo and enjoy 10% off your first month and start talking to mental health professional today!! 1-on-1 Coaching: If you want go from feeling hopeless to hopeful, lonely to connected and like a burden to a blessing, then go to 1-on-1 coaching, go to www.thrivewithleo.com. Let's get to tomorrow, together. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline988Teen Line (Los Angeles)800-852-8336The Trevor Project (LGBTQ Youth Hotline)866-488-7386National Domestic Violence Hotline800-799-SAFE [800-799-7233]Crisis Text LineText "Connect" to 741741 in the USALifeline Chathttps://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/International Suicide Hotlines: http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.htmlhttps://www.nowmattersnow.org/skillshttps://sobermeditations.libsyn.com/ www.suicidesafetyplan.com https://scaa.club/

Ep. 105   In this episode, we have a special guest, Katrina Brees, who is here to talk about a powerful new tool in the fight against suicide: Donna's Law.   Sadly, gun suicides are a major public health concern in the United States. Donna's Law offers a unique approach that empowers individuals and mental health professionals. We'll be diving deep into how it works, its impact on suicide prevention, and how you or someone you know can utilize it.   Have you ever felt overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts? Are you a mental health professional looking for additional resources to help your patients? **Donna's Law** is a revolutionary mental health and gun control initiative designed to prevent gun suicides.   Join us as we sit down with Katrina Brees, a passionate advocate for suicide prevention and the driving force behind Donna's Law. In this interview, we explore: What is Donna's Law and how does it work? Why is it a valuable tool for suicide prevention? How can individuals and mental health professionals utilize Donna's Law? The potential impact of Donna's Law on reducing gun violence in the United States

TW: This conversation includes stories of gun violence, self-harm, and death by suicide. Our guest today is Katrina Brees, a New Orleans-based Mardi Gras artist and creator of “Donna's Law,” a voluntary self-registry prohibition to gun sales for those who choose to create self-defense against gun suicide.   In this episode, Katrina and Nick discuss her career in costume design and her work in creating DIY caskets to bring “fun” to funerals. She shares the importance of transforming death into a celebration and the value of participating in funeral rituals.    Katrina explains the background and purpose of Donna's Law, which aims to prevent gun sales to individuals with mental health challenges. She discusses the challenges and pushback from the gun lobby and emphasizes the need for gun legislation.    Katrina shares why she believes it's important to pass it nationally or on a state level. She provides information on how people can get involved and support the cause. She also talks about her future plans and the importance of building relationships with legislators.    Despite the slow pace of change, she remains hopeful and continues her advocacy efforts. She shares the different waves of gun control activism and the changing messaging in the movement.    Katrina shares her experience with reality TV and the challenges she faced in navigating the industry. She also highlights the exploitation of background extras and the dark side of documentaries. I   Katrina also asks Nick Thompson about the organizations that support his non-profit work. Nick shares the various organizations, including unions and political organizing groups, that have been supportive of the UCAN Foundation.    They discuss the journey of activism and advocacy, highlighting the progress made and the support received to help you go through life with your eyes wide open.    Find Katrina Brees here:   Instagrams: https://www.instagram.com/putthefuninfuneral | https://www.instagram.com/katrinabrees/ Websites: https://www.donnaslaw.com/ | https://fantasticcasket.com   Find Nick Thompson here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EyesWideOpenContent LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickthompson13/  UCAN Foundation: https://www.ucanfoundation.org/  Website: https://www.engagewithnick.com/ 

Katrina's mother Donna was very mentally ill. Yet she was able to walk into a gun store and walk out moments later with a hand gun. Donna was dead shortly thereafter. Today Katrina is an advocate for a law called "Donna's Law" which helps curb the sales of guns to folks with known mental illnesses. Katrina is also an artist and fun person to talk to! You can follow Katrina on Instagram @katrinabrees as well as find her other links. Topics in this episode include suicide, bipolar disorder, gun violence, depression FOLLOW BUNNY HUGS AND MENTAL HEALTH on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Bunny-Hugs-and-Mental-Health-103055408571486 on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bunnyhugspodcast/?hl=en  TikTok https://tiktok.com/@bunnyhugspodcast/   Check out my children book at  https://www.amazon.ca/Sometimes-Daddy-Cries-Todd-Rennebohm/dp/0228834678 Bunny Hugs and Mental Health is currently on the Top Ten Best Canadian Mental Health podcasts list! https://blog.feedspot.com/canadian_mental_health_podcasts/ And the Top 100 Best Mental Health Podcasts on the internet! https://blog.feedspot.com/mental_health_podcasts/ This episode is brought to you by Co-op Follow Co-op on social media @CoopCRS on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter  and @wearecoop TikTok

Suicide Awareness Month. If you know, you know. Suicide is an epidemic in the US, with teenagers, the middle aged, elderly women and especially men all among the victims. Join Radio GAG this month as we explore suicide, what can be done and especially the access to guns that kill about 70% of suicide victims. Sarah Germain Lilly interviews Katrina Brees, Artist/Activist whose suicide prevention bill Donna's law is now in effect in Washington, Virginia and Utah. Radio GAG producer Ti Cersley shares Gun Violence Prevention news, and our In Memoriam features athe Dunham Family of Akron Ohio, victims of the type of mass shooting in which the killer takes the life of their entire family before killing themselves. If you'd like to get involved in preventing gun violence, Gays Against Guns can use your skills and donations. Go to our webpage https://www.gaysagainstguns.net/support to learn more.

This interview focuses on suicide prevention so please listen carefully. Here are the international suicide prevention crisis numbers (USA is not 988). I want to read you the first part of the email I sent to our guest today for SelfWork. "Katrina good morning. I'm the host of The SelfWork Podcast and I just saw the CBS Sunday Morning interview about your mom, the way she died, and your actions since it happened. Let me say I'm so sorry about the struggles your mom had all her life and how her bipolar disorder could take her in such destructive directions, ending in her suicide." "I'd love to interview you for SelfWork. I very much admire what you're doing and think it's such a brilliant way of working through the complete mess that gun control conversations can create. It's positive. Proactive. And I know many of my own clients would've signed up." Who is Katrina Brees? She's a grieving daughter turned activitist. And I think she's come up with a brilliant way of bridging the debate over gun control versus the Second Amendment  - as far as it pertains to suicide. It's called Donna's Law. That was her mother's name. And her mother, who hated guns and had often hospitalized herself because she was suicidal, killed herself with a gun. This week you may notice a new sponsor of SelfWork! It's the Jordan Harbinger show – and the ad is in a different format – what's called an introcast - so that you can listen to that information in just a couple of minutes! I've found his show entertaining and intrigiuing and more than welcome his team to SW! Vital Links!  We welcome back BiOptimizers and Magnesium Breakthrough as a returning sponsor to SelfWork and they have a new offer! Just click here! Make sure you use the code "selfwork10" to check out free product! You can hear more about this and many other topics by listening to my podcast, SelfWork with Dr. Margaret Rutherford. Subscribe to my website and receive my weekly newsletter including a blog post and podcast! If you'd like to join my FaceBook closed group, then click here and answer the membership questions! Welcome!   My book entitled Perfectly Hidden Depression is available here! Its message is specifically for those with a struggle with strong perfectionism which acts to mask underlying emotional pain. But the many self-help techniques described can be used by everyone who chooses to begin to address emotions long hidden away that are clouding and sabotaging your current life. And it's available in paperback, eBook or as an audiobook! And there's another way to send me a message! You can record by clicking below and ask your question or make a comment. You'll have 90 seconds to do so and that time goes quickly. By recording, you're giving SelfWork (and me) permission to use your voice on the podcast. I'll look forward to hearing from you! Episode Transcript Speaker 1: (00:10) This is Self-Work, and I'm Dr. Margaret Rutherford at Self-Work. We'll discuss psychological and emotional issues common in today's world and what to do about them. I'm Dr. Margaret and Self-Work is a podcast dedicated to you taking just a few minutes today for your own self-work. Speaker 1: (00:29) Hello and welcome or welcome back to Self-Work. I'm Dr. Margaret, and I'm so glad you're here. Before we get to the actual intro for this interview, I wanna make sure you know that it focuses on suicide prevention, so please listen carefully. We have a great interview today. Maybe a little controversial, but I certainly hope not. I want to read you the first part of the email I sent to our guest today for self-work. Her name is Katrina Breeze. Katrina, good morning. I'm the host of the Self-Work podcast, and I just saw the CBS Sunday morning interview about your mom, the way she died, and your actions since it happened. Let me say, I'm so sorry about the struggles your mom had all her life and how her bipolar disorder could take her in such destructive directions ending in her suicide. I've heard many stories and have my own concern and passion about how destructive perfectionism and suicide are linked, but that's not the point of this email. Speaker 1: (01:28) This morning, I'd sat down to write an episode on suicide, but I decided to switch on CBS's Sunday morning and saw your interview. That's all the synergy I needed to find out how to reach out to you. I'd love to interview you for self-work. I very much admire what you're doing and think it's such a brilliant way of working through the complete mess that gun control conversations can create. It's positive, proactive, and I know many of my own clients would've signed up. That was my email. Now, who is Katrina Breeze? She's a grieving daughter turned activist, and I think she's come up with a brilliant way of bridging the gun debate, as well as the debate about the Second Amendment as far as it pertains to suicide. Her mother was named Donna, and it's called Donna's Law. And her mother who hated guns and had often hospitalized herself because she was suicidal, killed herself with a gun. Speaker 1: (02:25) Here's some facts you may not know before you turn off. Hold on. Firearms are the most common means of suicide in 2020. Firearms were used in 53% of suicides with 24,292 gun suicide victims annually. This is a leading cause of death for Americans... That's more than 66 people each day. Many suicide attempts are impulsive, and the vast majority of survivors do not keep trying until they succeed. But people who choose firearms as their suicide method very rarely survive. About 85% of gun suicide attempts end in death. Donna's law, also known as the "voluntary do not sell list", gives a person the option to voluntarily and confidentially put their own names into the federal background check system to prevent impulsive gun purchases for a suicide attempt. Donna Nathan should have been able to have suspended her own ability to buy a gun, and that's what we're talking about today. I think it's an incredible solution to a very sticky problem. Before we hear from Katrina, here's a quick message from BiOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough. Speaker 1: (03:49) Hey guys, I wanna share with you that recently I've been working on some very important projects that have very short deadlines, as always, right? Seems everything today is a sap anyway, I have not been able to keep up with all of my self-care routine. I certainly haven't had breaks to have proper meals, and I'm drinking way too much ice tea. I was starting to get really stressed out when I remembered that the magnesium breakthrough I take every night is also a great support for stress management. I'd kind of forgotten that. In fact, magnesium is responsible for over 300 body reactions, and magnesium breakthrough is the only magnesium formula that delivers all seven different forms of magnesium. I didn't know there were seven forms, one of them being feeling more calm, centered and in control of our stress. If you are trying to balance life demands, give it a try. Trust me, your mind and your body will thank you for it. What you can do is visit mag breakthrough.com/ self-work and order now. Oh, and addition to the discount you get by using promo code 10, so that's different self work, 10. They're also amazing gifts with purchase. That's why I love shopping at BiOptimizers. Again, go to mag breakthrough.com/self work to get your magnesium breakthrough and find out this month's gift with purchase. Speaker 1: (05:12) Again, I wanna stress Katrina's not talking about limiting gun sales to anyone, but people who want to voluntarily say, I don't need to buy a gun. So I hope you'll listen to her story. She's passionate and she wants to save people like her mom. Katrina, can you tell SelfWork listeners about why you are, you know, of course about your mother and then how you're using her death as a momentum for this incredible project and incredible legislation? Speaker 2: (05:55) Sure. Um, I'll start with what the legislation is. Um, Donna's law is a voluntary tool that people can use to prevent themselves from purchasing a gun. Mm-hmm. . So it enables somebody to put themselves on a list that is confidential, reversible, and does not interfere with the second Amendment in order to prevent an impulsive gun purchase in an episode of suicidality or, or for whatever other reason they want to prohibit themselves from guns, um, from a gun sale. And, um, I lost my mom in 2018 to an impulsive gun suicide. She picked up her phone and she typed in how to hang herself and Google told her that the better idea would be to buy a handgun. Yeah. Um, then helped direct her to the closest gun store where she essentially pressed go on her phone and was dead. Very shortly after that, she took it to the park and she shot herself. I had no idea at that time that it was that easy to buy a gun where we live. I, it, it is still shocking to me and completely uncomfortable that I live in a place where it is that easy and that fast to buy a gun. Um, even for somebody that has absolutely no training, um, no license, no waiting period. Right. Um, she had been, uh, in psychiatric hospitalization three times before this that did not. And Speaker 1: (07:41) She had gone voluntarily for those. Correct. She, because she really wanted help and she knew she had bipolar disorder and she accepted that and she was working with her doctors, and there were times when she was really well, I mean, well mm-hmm. , she was doing great. She was managing bipolar disorder well mm-hmm. Speaker 2: (07:59) . Yeah. Uh, and our family really did everything and she did everything, and she was very knowledgeable. Our our family has many doctors in it. We were very supportive. Um, we were on top of it every day. . Yeah. Um, my mom's partner, even during this episode that she was having quit his job and stayed home all day long with her to supervise her, and it still wasn't enough. Mm-hmm. Um, because it was just minutes away from her being able to get a gun. And, um, so I mean, immediately after this happened to my family, I was like, how could this be like? Right. I talked to some lawyer friends that had guns, and I was like, do, "How could my mom be sold a gun after she was in the psychiatric hospital?" This, you know, I thought that was impossible. And, um, everything about the gun sale was legal. And, um, at that point I was just completely committed to, to changing that and, um, used the massive tidal wave of energy, that grief and trauma. That's right. And shock . And I surfed this, that wave of energy into Donna's law immediately. I mean, within, within 24 hours of knowing about her death, I was having conversations with, um, the gun policy maker for Amnesty International, and we were conceiving this legislation. Um, it was it very immediate that, that I chose to This Speaker 1: (09:51) Is how you were grieving. I mean, this is how Speaker 2: (09:53) You Yeah. And I was, I was scared too of, of, um, other ways that I could get into to, I don't know, process that trauma. Um, you know, I've, uh, I have a lot of friends that have experienced trauma, and I've watched them after that make their lives worse in a lot of ways. Yes, Speaker 1: (10:18) It Speaker 2: (10:19) Can. And having something like this happen, it was so obvious how I could make my life worse immediately to me, . Uh, and, uh, and, and Speaker 1: (10:30) That happens a lot in a family. That happens in with friends that happens, you know, in communities. Um, there's certainly, uh, a there can I say my words this morning? There's certainly an, an acknowledgement and a in a lot of research has gone into that, that people hear that someone died by suicide, and then they think, well, then I will, you know? Mm-hmm. . Yeah. It's, it's, it's, um, the person who dies by suicide doesn't mean for that to happen. It's not an intentional act to try to, uh, create that dynamic, but it does create that dynamic. Speaker 2: (11:04) Yes. Um, I was shocked by how loud the voice to shoot myself was immediately after that. And, um, thank you. And I, I knew the gun store, the gun dealer's business card was left on my mom's passenger seat. I had like, so many fantasies of going over there and buying a gun and shooting myself and, um, pushing myself into doing Donna's law brought into my life, many survivors of similar tragedies. Um, and, um, like with Mom's Demand Action, I mean, there I felt like all of a sudden I had a million moms that had wanted to . Speaker 1: (11:58) Well, you know, it, it also, for years we've had, um, we've had a policy in place where gambling people with gambling addictions can mm-hmm. can sign up at the, at the casinos, don't let me in the door, you know? Mm-hmm. , uh, they're literally barring themselves from gambling. And it's something that, uh, they do voluntarily and they do because they know it's a problem. And, and it's something about putting that hurdle in front of it. They can, again, renege on it and say, okay, I, I wanna take my name off, but it's completely voluntary. And that's exactly what you're saying. One of the reasons why I, you know, I, I live in a state where there are a lot of people. I, I live in Arkansas and there are a lot of people that have guns. There are a lot of people, you know, I have guns all over the United States, but this is not about challenging that. Speaker 1: (12:45) It's about challenging the idea that, um, so many firearms deaths are suicides, 60 to 65% of them, I think mm-hmm. Suicides. And we tend to think of it, the homicidal part of it, and we don't think of the suicidal part of it. So in, in essence, you're saying someone with major depression or someone who literally has just gone through some trauma themselves and realized that's beginning to crop up in their thinking. They don't have to have a diagnosis of a mental illness. It's simply that they know they are in a bad place, and it is a prohibition for them. Uh, it's like alcoholics not going in a, in a bar , you know? Mm-hmm. , uh, I know I can't, you know, I may not be able to resist that thought, and so I'm going to prohibit myself. I'm gonna stop myself before I even get started. Speaker 2: (13:34) Yeah. I wanted to, um, add two things I've learned about the things you're talking about is, uh, one in Pennsylvania right now, there is a bill to enable people to opt out of their ability to purchase alcohol from, uh, really I believe a state, a state liquor store. Um, so, uh, this type of, um, self contract is sometimes called a Ulysses Pact, um, from Homer, the Odyssey that, um, he ties himself to the boat to avoid the, the songs of the sirens and is able to like survive. I guess I haven't read the book . Um, and then the other thing I wanted to point out, uh, um, the gambling one is everyone who has talked to me about being on the list of the gambling prohibition is also someone who is bipolar. And, um, destroying one's finances is often something that can happen easily when someone is a, in an psychotic episode or in a mania. Um, so p people who know that, that there are times where they will make, um, better decisions and there will be times that they'll make worse decisions, um, I believe should be able to utilize these tools. Um, and I hope there becomes more of them. I love the idea of someone being able to, to stop their ability to buy alcohol. Yes. Um, I mean, what a beautiful tool that is. Speaker 1: (15:08) Now three states have passed Donna's law, correct? Speaker 2: (15:12) Yes. Virginia, Utah, and Washington. Speaker 1: (15:15) Tell me about your mom. Speaker 2: (15:17) She was very funny and she was very smart, educated, worldly. She loved music and dance. She was so generous to everybody. She had a huge heart for any animal, whether it was a lizard or a human. If it was suffering, she would be the first to intervene and try and protect that creature. Um, she was, uh, she had a lot of struggle with, um, mental illness throughout her life and worked incredibly hard to protect herself from suicide, um, which made Donna's life even more obvious because she really was an incredible advocate for her own mental health care, and so was I. And so was her partner. And, um, uh, there was a lot of strength in her, in her care circle. Mm-hmm. . Um, she had recently had a step grand baby that she was super excited about, and there was another one coming and, um, Speaker 1: (16:38) Oh, I can see that's a, that's a very tender spot. Yeah. Speaker 2: (16:41) Yeah. Like, it's like, I just know she didn't wanna miss that. Mm-hmm. Speaker 1: (16:47) Mm-hmm. And that's the thing, one of the, somebody listening who doesn't know a lot about bipolar disorder or mental illness in general is that when those, I'll call them voices or that energy or that impulsivity, when, when it is going on, you can completely lose sight of who you are at your most stable. It's almost as if there's a part of you that gets turned off. Um, mm-hmm. , did she have any psychotic episodes, or did she just have the bipolar disorder Speaker 2: (17:21) In the last year of her life? She had, um, very obvious psychotic episodes. Okay. And things like hearing voices. Right. And, um, extreme paranoia. Um, Speaker 1: (17:37) Mostly when she was manic, Speaker 2: (17:41) I, the, the end of her life, I guess it's like mixed state. Okay. Um, it, she was pretty much in like a panic attack for three months and she didn't sleep. And I would say insomnia played a big part in it. And, um, yeah, I mean, she wasn't, she wasn't really making any bad decisions. She was really just like in her house suffering. There Speaker 1: (18:13) Were a lot of Okay. She was fighting, fighting, fighting. Speaker 2: (18:15) Yeah. There was a lot of physical things happening to her also, um, with, uh, the medications that they were trying on her. And she had very intense tremors, and her hands shook so bad that, um, for the last several months of her life, she couldn't hold a fork because she would just stab her face and she had to eat all her food with like a, like her paw mm-hmm. , um, just bringing it to her mouth and, um, she couldn't write very well, um, because her hands were shaking, um, which made it even more offensive that a gun dealer would sell her a gun. Speaker 1: (19:04) Right, right. Uh, it is almost, it's impossible that she could have curbed all that and walked in and been looking much more normal. And obviously there were some things going on there that the gun dealer would've noticed. Mm-hmm. , what, what has establishing this, um, well, what, let me ask you this. What are y'all doing currently? Um, it's, the bill has been introduced to Congress, but they have not done anything. Is that, is that correct? Speaker 2: (19:32) Well, they've done a lot, but it hasn't progressed Speaker 1: (19:36) . Okay, okay. Speaker 2: (19:37) But they do invest a lot of resources that I appreciate, and there are offices there that are very busy working, so to say they've done nothing, um, wouldn't be fair to the, to the efforts. Speaker 1: (19:50) Did you get a lot of of feedback from your CBS um, interview? I bet you did. Speaker 2: (19:55) Oh, yeah. And so positive, I mean, I, I didn't get anything negative. I mean, I probably got like 200 emails that were so supportive and, um, lots more like interviews like with you and, uh, I love podcasting, so other podcasts and, um, other news sources and, um, it's also, it's made me realize like a lot of people were like, I wanna bring this to my state, which is amazing, but, um, I did not. Well, Speaker 1: (20:31) How do people do that? That's what I was gonna ask you next. Speaker 2: (20:33) Well, that was the next piece of work I had to do. So I created a Donna's Law Starter Pack the last couple weeks, and I've been creating all the templates and strategies for people to be able to do that in the most efficient, um, no cost way. Mm-hmm. . Um, and so essentially it just involves, um, choosing who the potential sponsors in your state could be, which will most likely be someone who has already sponsored a suicide prevention bill. Um, looking, also, another option of who it could be is, um, someone that's on the committee that will be determining whether this moves forward or not, um, because they have a stake in it and they have relationships with other people on that committee. Um, so it's, it, it's pretty fast to just identify a very small amount of people in a state and then just try to send them some of the letters that I've created templates for. And I feel like, um, excuse me, uh, I feel like I've created something that someone can hopefully just put a couple minutes into, a couple times a month and, um, perhaps if the climate's right in their state, bring it forward. Speaker 1: (22:00) How has, I mean, how have you grieved your mom? Speaker 2: (22:04) Um, I don't, I don't, I can't, I don't have like another dead mom to compare it to , so Speaker 1: (22:10) You're funny . Speaker 2: (22:13) So I'm not sure what it's like otherwise, but I do feel like it's been an incredible privilege and opportunity to have the support of the media at very difficult times and moments in my grief. And a lot of those people like you are in the mental health field, talk to me, um, and asking me specific questions that make me think and that lead my thinking into, um, Speaker 1: (22:52) Uh, Speaker 2: (22:52) How, how I was able to use this to help me, you know? And I think that one of the big things is not feeling shame. That's right. Not not feeling like zero shame. Like, I have zero shame that my mom shot herself. I mean, I have a stack of shames, and this is not on the list. Speaker 1: (23:16) , it's not even in the list. It's, it's not even the, what is that old fairy tale? The princess and the pea it's not even the pea . Right. . Speaker 2: (23:26) Um, so I, I assume that's beneficial. Um, it's been amazing to see my mom's picture like being waived at Congress by representatives. And, and there's this part of all this that feels like my mom is kind of like an organ donor. Like, like, because like she gets to donate her story and her photo, and that is so valuable to legislation. Speaker 1: (24:06) She is the person that, she's Donna, I mean, she mm-hmm. , she, her, her life and her death, the way she lived her life and, and then the way she killed herself is going to be honored. Uhhuh is honored by this law. There are... there's people's lives that she will save. Speaker 2: (24:27) Yeah. And, um, Speaker 1: (24:28) And you'll save by the way. Speaker 2: (24:30) Thank you. And you'll save as well. Um, I think that another aspect of it is like, when this first happened, um, I was dating this guy and he had this really great family, and one of my feelings like right away was like, "Oh my God, like his family is gonna think I'm, you know, unstable and Right. They're probably gonna think that I'm gonna do it, and now they know my mom is how she is." And I just felt like I can't, I can't let this be the end of my mom's story because that doesn't, that doesn't feel good to me for the end of her story to be that. Then she put a bullet in her head alone in a park. Um, but having the end of her story be that then she became a law that empowered people with a tool for self-defense Speaker 1: (25:40) Mm-hmm. Speaker 2: (25:41) Against one of the most common ways that people die in our country Speaker 1: (25:50) And the most lethal the most, yeah. Yeah. The most, the, the, the quote unquote best way to Yeah. As Google told your mom. Speaker 2: (25:59) And, um, another, another way that it's really helped me is, um, well meeting amazing people that really care about this and are willing to talk about it, because I can't really like be talking about gun suicide on like dates and stuff all the time. . Speaker 1: (26:17) Yeah. Now, you know, the world of a, a therapist, some people go, no, can't you talk about something else? Speaker 2: (26:22) . Right, right. Speaker 1: (26:24) Are you any fun? Speaker 2: (26:25) Right. But, and I'm like, but this is inspiring and innovative . Um, another way that it's really helped me is, um, meeting advocates of the bill that are bipolar people that have experienced suicidality and want to opt out of their ability to purchase a gun. Mm-hmm. . And through meeting them, it's really helped me understand what my mom was going through. And it's given me so much more respect for her. And I regret that in her life. I thought that she should work harder to hold it together. Yeah. Because now I realize that she was working as hard as she could Speaker 1: (27:11) Mm-hmm. Speaker 2: (27:12) And that she was holding a lot together. Speaker 1: (27:16) You know, I, I think with any, any kind of chronic mental illness, it's, that is a, that is a fight in and of itself because it is the chronicity of it and people watch you dealing with it and they don't know how hard you, you know, how hard it is to get outta bed or how hard it is to control those impulses or to deal with hearing voices. I mean, it's just, and that was her every day. Mm-hmm. . And I think it's difficult for other people to understand and so that you've gotten a firsthand account from these folks about Yeah. It is a, it is a huge job to, to control this kind of illness. Speaker 2: (27:55) Yeah. Um, Speaker 1: (27:57) Or try to control it. Speaker 2: (27:59) Yeah. And also, um, being able to say that my mom shot herself is something that was not allowed on, on the news four years ago. Really. And I have, yeah. I mean, even when I go on YouTube to watch my own interview on CBS Sunday morning, it gives me two content warnings and a recommendation for the suicide helpline. Just cuz I wanna watch my own interview mm-hmm. Speaker 1: (28:27) mm-hmm. . Speaker 2: (28:29) I mean that is, but I can, I mean, I can see some horrific scene from the Ukraine war and the media doesn't mind showing me that mm-hmm. Speaker 1: (28:39) . Speaker 2: (28:40) Um, so Speaker 1: (28:41) That's a great point. Speaker 2: (28:42) But my mom deserves some of the credit for how this conversation has really opened up and, um, given the country a way to talk about it that isn't so depressing and is kind of inspiring . Mm-hmm. Speaker 1: (28:55) , it's more than kinda of inspiring. It's inspiring. Speaker 2: (28:59) Thank you very much. Um, so Donna's law isn't just gonna protect the, that 65% mm-hmm. , um, from suicide. It's also gonna protect people from accidentally, or not accidentally, but in an episode to shoot somebody that they love. Mm-hmm. , I mean, I was think, I was looking at data today about the percentage of men that shoot themselves after shooting their domestic partner. And it, it was, um, I can't remember the state, but it was 59%. And I thought about it and one of the things I do in my work is I don't fight for gun control. I'm not fighting and I'm definitely not fighting gun enthusiasts about it. No. Speaker 1: (29:45) Mm-hmm. Speaker 2: (29:46) , um, I compassion for, um, gun violence prevention and that compassion starts with me compassion for the other person if I expect them to compassion for me. And so I was looking at that data today about men who shoot their partner and I thought if I had just shot my partner, I would want to shoot myself Speaker 1: (30:10) Mm-hmm. Speaker 2: (30:10) , you know, like, what a sad thing. I mean, what an awful, horrific thing to experience mm-hmm. to shoot your partner. And I wanna protect those people too. Speaker 1: (30:25) Well, you know, I'm thinking as you were talking about this, advocating for greater awareness and acceptance that this is what's happening. Uh, I have noticed, uh, and again, I, I live in a pretty conservative state, but I have noticed that when more and more people who are dying by suicide, their families are choosing to include that in the obituary. Mm-hmm. , their families are including, they, they, they want that to be known. So how is this changing you as a person, Katrina? How, how has Speaker 2: (30:56) Changed Oh, so much changed your Speaker 1: (30:57) Family? How's it Speaker 2: (30:58) It has changed my family. Um, when I first started doing this work, my family, except for one person, showed me zero support about it. Speaker 1: (31:08) Wow. Speaker 2: (31:09) And I, it's been, it was years before. I got real acknowledgement from my family of support on this work. And I was even told not to do this work by my family. I was told that what I was talking about was like nonsense. Speaker 1: (31:34) Wow. Speaker 2: (31:35) Um, I was, I think that there was a lot of fear because they Speaker 1: (31:38) Were, was that, did that come from their own humiliation or their own shame or? Speaker 2: (31:42) I think it came from their fear of me putting my life on the line to discuss gun control in America. Speaker 1: (31:49) I see. Right. Speaker 2: (31:50) Impulsive gun suicide is, did not begin in my family with my mom. There were four other suicides in our family before my mom that, um, having my mom's death be in the newspaper, having me ask questions cuz reporters were asking questions and learning about my own family history of suicide, um, has really opened up the conversation. Um, and I mean, our family for generations has been defined by suicide. And then, um, almost all parts of my family have experienced suicide on like, people say like, um, oh, was there bipolar on your mom's side? And it's like, no, but there's a ton of it on my dad's side. Speaker 1: (32:42) . Really? Wow. Speaker 2: (32:45) So like, it, um, it, it's like coming at me on both sides now and, um, it has really opened up the conversation from my family's elders that have experienced a lot of these losses and also, um, how does my generation in our family protect each other? Mm-hmm. . And, um, I mean, I still don't see a lot of my family like sharing my articles on social media or, or much like that, but they'll text me and, you know, tell me that they're proud of it. Um. Speaker 1: (33:26) Good. I'm glad. I'm glad. Speaker 2: (33:28) So it's, it's evolving and, um, I'm gonna keep going and I assume that they're gonna keep opening up about it and I hope at some point they're gonna be testifying in their states in front of their legislatures in support of this mm-hmm. . Um, because it's it's coming to their states soon. . Speaker 1: (33:48) . You're gonna make sure of that, it sounds like. Yeah. Speaker 2: (33:52) . Speaker 1: (33:54) Well, it has been an honor talking with you and I really appreciate this so much. Speaker 2: (33:58) Oh, thank you so much. I really appreciate being able to, um, share this knowledge with your, with your listeners and with you. It's been a beautiful conversation. Great. Speaker 1: (34:19) Thanks so much for listening in to self work today. It's an honor for you to be here and I so appreciate the fact that you are here and you give us your time. This week you may notice a new sponsor of Self-Work. It's the Jordan Harbinger Show and the ad is in a different format, what's called an intra cast, so that you can listen to that information in just a couple of minutes. It'll be listed as the second episode in your podcast app. I found his show to be entertaining and intriguing, and I more than welcome his team to self-work. Please take very good care, as I say, every episode of yourself, your family, the people you care about, and your community. I'm Dr. Margaret and this has been self-work.    

In the wake of her uncle's untimely death, a woman bears the brunt of her mother's long mental health decline, struggling to keep her safe from herself, and in the wake of tragedy, finds a way to help thousands of others like her. Today's episode featured Katrina Brees. You can find Katrina on Instagram @katrinabrees, and if you'd like to find out more about her legislation and donate or support, you can do so on the website www.donnaslaw.com Producers: Whit Missildine, Sara Marinelli, Andrew Waits Content/Trigger Warnings: suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, death, suicide, gun violence, mental illness, explicit language Social Media: Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: www.thisisactuallyhappening.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at https://wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: https://www.thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: ""Illabye" – TipperMusic Bed: “Cylinder Four/Five” – Chris Zabriskie ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For a long time, the word “alternative” has meant “substitute”. For example, you can drink soy milk as an alternative to regular milk. Somewhere along the line we also started using the word “alternative” to mean something that exists alongside something else that is more mainstream. Alternative music is a sort of artsy parallel to pop and rock. Alternative fashion – like emo and Goth – exists alongside mainstream fashion. In New Orleans, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, we're experiencing an alternative that, until 2021, was inconceivable. Alternative Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras has traditionally been the single most unifying event that underpins our definition of ourselves as New Orleanians. Even with the occasional political and social differences that have been aired over the years, Mardi Gras parades and Mardi Gras day are a level playing field of joy and exuberance that unites us. It simply doesn't exist in any other American city. And then there's the extraordinary impact that Mardi Gras has on our local economy.  Well, none of that is happening this year. 2021 is the year of Alternative Mardi Gras. Peter Ricchiuti's guests on this edition of Out to Lunch are finding ways to cope with the new reality. And to create Alternative Mardi Gras. Devin de Wulf is founder of Krewe of Red Beans. Krewe of Red Beans started out as a traditional Mardi Gras Krewe in 2008. But it wasn't till the Pandemic of 2020 that it matured into a unique arts-activist version of a New Orleans social aid and pleasure club. Devin deWulf and his krewe figured out a way to support shuttered restaurants, over-worked front line medical workers, and out-of-work musicians. They raised money and paid it to struggling restaurants to make meals, that they then paid out of work musicians to deliver, as donations to frontline medical workers. Then, when Mardi Gras was effectively canceled, Devin and his Krewe of Red beans created a project called Hire a Mardi Gras Artist, which does just that. They again used donated funds, this time to hire Mardi Gras artists to turn New Orleans houses into works of art that resemble stationary Mardi Gras parade floats. Seeing there are no Mardi Gras parades to go to this year, how are you going to end up with bags of beads? You know, all those beads that seem like a must-have item – till Ash Wednesday when you suddenly wonder, “What am I going to do with all these beads?” Well, this year, the year of Alternative Mardi Gras, you can go through that process in reverse. You can start out with bags of beads, and use them to decorate your house. Where do you  get our beads? The Mardi Gras Recycle Center. The Mardi Gras Recycle Center is a part of an organization that's been around since 1953, called ArcGNO. ArcGNO is centered around providing care and employing people with disabilities or developmental delays, like Autism or Down Syndrome. The Manager of ArcGNO's Mardi Gras Recycle Center is Sherrana McGee Stemley. Mardi Gras 2021 is unlike any Mardi Gras that has come before it, but the lack of organized parades and the cancelation of balls and parties is only fueling the Mardi Gras spirit in the city. You can see photos from this show by Jill Lafleur at our website. And check out the genesis of Katrina Brees' Bearded Oysters Mardi Gras Krewe on this iconic episode of Out to Lunch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Happy Hour annals of "random people who have nothing in common," the day artist Katrina Brees meets Tank and the Bangas stands out to Happy Hour Live Feed Video Director Asher Griffith as the Best Of Happy Hour.  Where's Karina? If you ever wondered what happened to Karina Nathan she’s now Kevin Simons. And Karen Regis. And Krystal Sedona. And Chi Chi the lead singer of the Girl Dawgs, who is actually a dog. Katrina Brees sheds some light on this fantastic array of personalities, and their wardrobes. Go Tank or Go Home Tank from Tank and the Bangas has her own specialty wardrobe and range of personas too. Her wardrobe doesn’t extend to panties (which she has given up wearing) but she does occasionally wear boy shorts to boost her booty. Her personas start out with Terianne Michelle Ball in New Orleans East and extend to the woman sorting through damaged goods on aisle 4 at Walmart. Norman Spence and Merell Burket from Tank’s band, Tank and the Bangas, join the party – but strictly under their own names. Hello, Ricky! Ricky Lemann’s alter ego is Frederick, his real name. Ricky could have gone with alter ego #2, Fred, but he’s keeping it real, pleading “the fifth” on a range of issues. Photos from this show by sunny Alison Moon at the now defunct Wayfare at our website.

Katrina Brees, a local artist and performer, has turned to making masks during the Spring of 2020 to supplement her income. She also talks to us about copyright.

Katrina Brees, a local artist and performer, has turned to making masks during the Spring of 2020 to supplement her income. She also talks to us about copyright.

In our second Happy Hour by Zoom we manage to take advantage of not being able to hang out in a bar and instead talk to people all across the country in a new concept we’re calling Covideo. Yes, that’s in questionable taste, but after all it is Happy Hour. Mike Rubin is stuck in his second week of isolation in San Francisco. When times are normal Mike has a photography business called Neomodern, in which people walk into his photo gallery with their phones filled with photos and with the assistance of experts walk out with a framed print on archival quality paper. It’s a brilliant idea that has been around for 3 years but Mike’s dilemma is, does he hang on and hope the world returns to how it was, or does he embrace change and morph into something different? He’s at this point heading along the latter avenue. Katrina Brees is sitting on a possible Covid-driven windfall. Not only did her 10 year old movie about her Vagina from the Future who cures a Chinese-born virus predict this whole current scenario, but she has long been in the funeral and casket business. Katrina’s Fantastic Casket business is fundamentally a  DIY coffin, though now she is moving into a whole new arena of disposing of dead bodies which involves melting flesh and crushing bones. In case you think this is a piece of mis-reporting or exaggerated in some way, take a listen to this conversation. Rich Collins had a great year lined up which included an Asian tour and a solo spot at Jazz Fest. Well, that’s all changed. However, he still has a trove of great new songs, one of which he plays on this show, about the pleasures of driving around aimlessly and cranking up the radio.  Hopefully those days will return in the not too distant future. Andrew Duhon gets his cable fixed in the middle of this show, just in time to play an almost acapella song. Photos from this show by Jill Lafleur are on our website https://itsneworleans.com/2020/03/25/covideo/

It’s Mardi Gras season, oh Carnival Kings and Queens! Today’s guest arrived in New Orleans as Karina Nathan and shortly thereafter Hurricane Katrina blew through. With no krewe for women under 30, she started her own, the Bearded Oysters of which she remains the Mother Shucker. She has many names but is known most widely by the hurricane’s namesake: Katrina. Today on the show we go deep into the history of Mardi Gras with fabulous parades and exclusive balls, prideful showings and pubic wigs. Katrina shares why Mardi Gras beads are the hotdogs of the plastic world and how they clogged the sewers of New Orleans. Much like a life, there is a tender section where we discuss Katrina’s work advocating against gun violence, microdosing for mental health, and throwing a lemonade party when life gave her its sourest lemon. Katrina Brees is the parade leader of the Bearded Oysters and the Krewe of Kolossos. She is the designer of the Mardi Bra and Fantastic Caskets as well as the founder of I Heart Louisiana for greening Mardi Gras. Finally, she is the proud author of the “no guns” self-registry called Donna's Law. This episode is permeated with death and celebration, so listen in to learn about jazz funerals and why washing a dead body is like doing acid with God. LINKS Katrina Brees: https://www.facebook.com/KatrinaBreesArtist/ The Bearded Oysters: https://www.beardedoysters.org/ Krewe of Kolossos: https://kolossos.org/ I Heart Louisiana: https://twitter.com/greenthegras?lang=en Fantastic Caskets: https://fantasticcasket.com/ The Upful LIFE Podcast with Katrina Brees: http://www.upfullife.com/the-upful-life-podcast-005-katrina-brees-j-a-talks-kasvot-vaxt/

Just when you think New Orleans couldn't surprise you any more, you meet Luke Hooper. Luke Hooper is the kind of character a Hollywood screenwriter would dream up. Tall and handsome. A semi-professional iron-man athlete who is also an award-winning inventor. He's invented a new version of delivering wireless power (yes, that's right, wireless power), creates futuristic games for children, designs creative solutions for giant companies like Nike, and has defended his patents in the Supreme Court of the US (yes, the Supreme Court) and won. He invented shoes that do themselves up, called Slaps. And he works out of an office downtown, next to the yoga studio he founded. Even the name "Luke Hooper" is from Central Casting superhero. There's nobody larger than life than Katrina Brees. Katrina is the founder of The Bearded Oysters Mardi Gras parade troupe, the Kolossos Bike Zoo, a do-it-yourself coffin business, and now she's sponsoring legislation that is making its way through the Louisiana legislature. Donna's Law is named for Katrina's mom, Donna. In 2018 suicidal thoughts got the better of Donna, and she bought her first gun and killed herself with it. Donna's Law will allow people who feel they are a threat to themselves or others to self-register on a list that denies them the right purchase a gun. Somehow, Katrina is managing to do what literally nobody in America has accomplished - she is shepherding bipartisan gun control into law. While at the same time retaining her sequined, giant-eyelashes, crown-wearing flamboyance. If you've spent any time in New Orleans and you love going out to hear live music, there's a fair chance you've never heard any bluegrass. Well, you have nobody to blame for that but yourself. Any time you feel like hearing some bluegrass you can go check out The Tanglers. Jacob Tanner and Craig Alexander are the core of the band, which is a 6-piece, and they do a duo gig where the two of them call themselves The Tanglers. Yes, that's confusing but if you never see the full band, the duo version of The Tanglers is awesome, as you'll hear on this Happy Hour. Photos at Wayfare by Jill Lafleur.

  Episode 005 of *The Upful LIFE Podcast* welcomes New Orleans artist/activist/parade-maker KATRINA BREES to the show for a lengthy convo that takes a long, winding, interesting path in a plethora of colorful and emotional directions. I first met Katrina Brees in the early 2000s when I first started going to Jazz Fest, long before she'd taken that moniker, back when she was partner to a dear friend of mine in NOLA. Even though we were a bunch of "hippie bros" in that era, I was most definitely attuned to the kaleidoscopic vibration that was emanating from Karina way back then. We shared a few conversations that stuck with me through the years, and in that time I've paid attention as she's evolved into a tremendous artist and inspiring activist. Hers is a story that is at once entertaining, engaging, hilarious, and at times gut-wrenching. As such, I was sure to include some lighthearted music discussion at the front end of this episode.  Katrina Brees segment begins at 50:00mins, Interview at 55:00   But before we go deep with Ms. Brees, the host runs thru a few community thank yous, I take about 15 minutes to detail the past couple of weeks musical adventures, including Kruder & Dorfmeister's 25th Anniversary Tour stop at the MidwaySF. Then we circle back to noted Delaware Valley Phishtorian J.A. who checks in from Philadelphia, PA for the second time (25:00). Thanks to The Phish from VT and their ever-evolving tradition, Jason recently returned from yet another Halloween celebration in Las Vegas. This year's prank, which saw Phish performing I Rokk, an album from (a fictional!) Scandinavian band Kasvot Växt, was one for the ages. Usually pretty jaded regarding modern Phish, I really love the material performed in costume this year, and wanted to hear more from J.A. on the shenanigans in Sin City. Katrina Brees has spent 15 years co-producing over 200 parades. In 2003, she introduced New Orleans to the Mardi Bra,™ her first of hundreds of eco-conscious, parade art pieces as seen in films, commercials, television, events, and parades. Brees was motivated to found The Bearded Oysters Parade Club in 2004. The women's parade club is now the largest in the country with a current membership of over 850 women. Moved by the BP Deepwater Horizon tragedy, Brees used her powers of parading to affect change. In 2012, Brees founded the Greening of the Gras conference, a platform to connect Louisiana residents with solutions to the devastating impact that petroleum-based Mardi Gras beads are having on the ecology, economy, health, culture and global community. Brees founded I Heart Louisiana as the sustainable future of Mardi Gras and works with Carnival producers to source local throws, costumes, floats, and live entertainment. Brees continues to expand The KOLOSSOS Bike Zoo, an interactive visual and performance experience featuring her unique, kinetic sculpture collection of eco-friendly art-bike animals that showcases the majesty of animals without their exploitation. Brees also was a major cog in Fantastic Casket, where she created fabric caskets made with soft  upcycled materials that she quilts and sews to form the coffin. Photo: NOLA.com Katrina and I detail her long path in NOLA from fledgling fashion designer to DIY artist, careening through her colorful career and all the aforementioned endeavors, and much more. Towards the end of our lengthy and engaging chat, the topic turns tragic.  The remainder of this interview contains some disturbing and emotional content. Please proceed with sensitivity.   On June 26th of this year, Katrina's mother Donna Nathan, who'd suffered from mental illness for her entire life, decided to end hers suddenly one day without warning. In addition to mourning her mother, setting up funeral arrangements, and surrounding herself with family and loved ones, Katrina was tasked with accepting the gun back from the police department after the case was officially closed. In the aftermath of Donna Nathan's suicide, her courageous daughter Karina is working hard to see that it the laws are changed to reflect this short-sighted legislative judgement.    At the end of that powerful powwow, Episode 005 wraps up with the Vibe Junkie JAM of the Week. Check out "Wait a Minute" (2:28:00) coming to you from future superstars MZG, an electronic music producer duo destined for greatness. Formerly from Northeast Florida (Duval County to be exact), Zach and Charles Weinert have relocated to the Front Range and have set up shop in Colorado, smack dab in the middle of the current-day Mecca of stateside electronic music. The Upful LIFE has been big fans of these twinzies for nearly a decade, and wanted to throw some proper shine on the boys and end Episode 005 on an uplifting note Episode 006 will feature the wizard himself, Random Rab! Via Con Dias, ~bg~ www.upfulLIFE.com   The Upful LIFE Podcast is available on iTunes! Theme Song: Mazel Tov by CALVIN VALENTINE    

You just know that the MeToo movement is going to be a feature at Mardi Gras this year. What you don t know, yet, is quite how sexual harassment is going translate into New Orleans style humor. So here s a bit of an early sneak peek at what you can expect. You d expect that the founder of the largest women s marching organization in the world who gave her club the name of "Bearded Oysters" would probably have a few unbridled and surprising points of view. Katrina Brees turns the tables on men and gets the upper hand by means of her own harassment, and the liberal advocacy for the recreational use of amyl nitrate, aka rush or in Katrina s shadow world online, VHS cleaner. Camp Morrison remembers using rush back in the day when he started his private detective agency the first time around. The second time was the charm and Camp has been in the private detective business in New Orleans since 1988. If you re looking to hire a private detective to snoop on people you ll have to use your own sleuthing skills to find Camp. His view of marketing is singularly unique, amounting to the belief that no good whatsoever can come from any public pronouncement. Lynn Drury makes a return appearance on Happy Hour with a brand new record, new songs and a new attitude about sex which begins with turning her phone off at midnight and not turning it back on again till 10AM when the male libido has supposedly quietened down. Lynn s take on the MeToo movement hasn t made the mainstream media. Because she s a Southern woman Lynn has reportedly had plenty of experience at getting harassed and is inclined to suck it up, or as Katrina re phrases it, lick it up. If you re looking to take the temperature of the average drinking New Orleanian at this beginning of the second year of the Trump era, this Happy Hour conversation is a good place to start. Photos at Wayfare by Alison Moon.

If you ever wondered what happened to Carina Nathan she s now Kevin Simons. And Karen Regis. And Crystal Sedona. And Chi Chi the lead singer of the Girl Dogs, who is actually a dog. Katrina Brees sheds some light on this fantastic array of personalities, and their wardrobes. Tank from Tank and the Bangas has her own specialty wardrobe and range of personas too. Her wardrobe doesn t extend to panties which she has given up wearing but she does occasionally wear boy shorts to boost her booty. Her personas start out with Terianne Michelle Ball in New Orleans East and extend to the woman sorting through damaged goods on aisle 4 at Walmart. Norman Spence and Merell Burket from Tank s band, Tank and the Bangas, join the party but strictly under their own names. Ricky Leman s alter ego is Frederick, his real name. Ricky could have gone with alter ego 2, Fred, but he s keeping it real, pleading "the fifth" on a range of issues. All photos on this page were taken by sunny Alison Moon at Wayfare. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cancel your subscription to Match.com, OK Cupid, Tinder, and anything else you re using to look for love. Instead just get yourself booked as a guest on Happy Hour. Show Producer Graham daPonte will hook you up with your perfect mate and Grant and Andrew will take care of all the arrangements. Just ask Mr and Mrs Frank Scurlock. 60 minutes before they decided to get married and sail around the world for 222 days on a cruise that departs from Denmark and concludes in New Orleans with Frank 120m richer, Katrina Brees and Frank Scurlock had never met. Maybe it s the talk about Katrina s vagina puppet, Vag, or Katrina s belief that "Every woman would like to take her vagina out and let it speak," that enchants Frank. Maybe it s Frank s Volvo, custom built to look like the space shuttle, or his idea to develop a New Orleans style Disney World in New Orleans East where festivals like Jazz Fest are up and running 365 days a year that romances Catrina. Maybe it s the giant 4 foot long joint Katrina made in celebration of 4 20 Day that actually smokes and gets everybody high that makes the magic for New Orleans newest power couple. Then again maybe it s Frank s Donald Trump good looks and his plan to join with Katrina to "Funetize America" that seals the romantic deal. Whatever it might be in this way off the rails Happy Hour, it s a must listen if you d like to meet two of New Orleans most unique, out of the box minds. Plus Andrew Duhon explains Break Fest and plays a beautiful rendition of his song "Stones." Photos at Wayfare by Alison Moon. Check out Facebook Live video by Carly Viator. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've ever been in business, or been employed by a company of more than 3 people, you'll know that one of the hallmarks of every organization is well, organization. The best laid plans of small companies and big corporations can easily get lost in the mess of daily duties and decisions. Being able to identify and execute your intentions clearly is a vital part of any successful business. Virginia Barkley has a company called Let's Get It Straight that specializes in straightening out other companies. Virginia's been featured on TV and in print across the country, and she's the author of the book Clutter Busting for Busy Women which was a 1 Bestseller on Amazon.com. Stasia Cymes is also in the clutter business. Stasia's company, Clear The Clutter, works on a personal level, in your home. There's a lot more to what Stasia does than just tidy up your messy room. Stasia's holistic approach to organizing earned her company the Chamber of Commerce award for Innovator of the Year. In the Remember, You Heard It Here First segment of the show, Katrina Brees unveils her new business, Fantastic Casket, which gives loved ones the opportunity to customize a casket or prvides DIY plans to make a personalized coffin from scratch. You can hear a fuller conversation about Fantastic Casket here. Pjotos on this page were taken at Commander s Palace by Cheryl DalPozzal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A.C.E. Adventures of Creative Entrepreneurship Episode #021   Host: Kristy OustaletGuest: Katrina Bress - Mardi Gras ProductionShow notes & links can be found at: http://kristyoustalet.com/21 Mardi Gras in New Orleans is known as 'The Greatest Free Show on Earth' but this week's guest, Katrina Brees gives us a taste of the big bucks that goes into pulling it off and the immense amount of time and energy it takes to orchestrate this two week extravaganza. Don't let the 'free show' fool you, the Mardi Gras industry means big business.  One single float starts at $80k and can easily reach a half million dollar price tag.  Yes, just one. Katrina is an ambitious entrepreneur that handles all things Mardi Gras.  Her small business, I Heart Louisiana, never has a dull moment between: parade production, krewe management, krewe branding, booking entertainment and more.  All of the services her company provides, stays true to her ultimate mission to have the industry support local artists, creative solutions to cut waste and preserving the culture and tradition.   Shocking Mardi Gras Facts: - Mardi Gras festivities results in 50-100 tons of trash per day- Krewes spend an average of $56k per block in throws and most ends up in the trash- When the ports of China opened up in the mid 1990's nearly all of the throws are made cheaply and imported covered in pesticides.  Gross.   The good news is that I Heart Louisiana works year-round to find creative ways to transition us into a more sustainable carnival.  Putting artists first and elevating creativity and design are at the core of her business.  Here's a sampling of her solutions: - Reconstructing previously worn krewe costumes - Sourcing handcrafted keepsake throws, costumes and props by local artists - Partnerships with local food manufacturing- broker for the factories (who doesn't love an edible throw on the parade route?) - An advocate for quality over quantity + putting local artists and economy over importing - Dreaming up new fundraising techniques for krewes rather than the standard mark-up on beads.   #ACE