Chapter One:  Why Another Podcast? I escaped hopelessness. And because I DID escape, I feel compelled to share my story (and the story of many others) with those who today may be trapped in such an environment and system.  There is hope!

Chapter Two:  Beginning the Next Chapter: My Move to Palm Springs and What Happened When I Arrived: 127 degrees outside and then discovering I had no A/C on arrival was one thing. But then my Seattle doc called the next day and I went into a total tailspin.

Chapter Three:  Potlucks and Parties and People! Oh. My!  The journey of my love of people.

As I remember my "former" life as a married man with kids, struggling to be someone I was not- I remember that even thinking that I could have the life I have now was a pure impossibility.  There was no way out for me.  I was a gay man, trapped in a religious system that forbade divorce. And the thought of actually beginning a journey of discovery to find my authentic self? Never!  But I escaped. And because I DID escape, I feel compelled to share my story with others who today may be trapped in such an environment and system.  There is hope.  My desire is to share my story in the belief that it will encourage you to take the next steps to begin (or continue) your journey to your authentic self, whomever that may be!

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2020

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

When I was living my life as a married "straight" man, I remember going out to a restaurant on Capital Hill in Seattle with my then wife.  "The Hill" was the gay area.  I remember sitting there - we typically would be arguing about something- and I'd look over to the gay men at the nearby tables- chatting comfortably with each other. 

I had no concept of what it would be like to accept one's self as gay.  The idea that two men could fall in love and become partners, or get married, never crossed my mind.  After my divorce in 1999, I finally said the dreaded H word to myself. Yes, I was gay. 

The conversation today is with two men in their mid twenties who have fallen in love and it's the most natural thing in the world to them.  We talk about some of the differences a few decades have made in how we look at things.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jeff Coe spent his early years in Texas and Oklahoma.  At one point he finally came out as gay and lived as a young gay man for many years.  Then he moved to the NW, had a religious experience, rejected his authentic self as a gay man, and went back into the closet where he slammed the door shut. Over the next couple of decades, he continued life in the church as an "Ex-gay, straight man" and even moved to Southern California where he worked at a national ex-gay ministry where they attempted to "fix" people so they no longer identified as gay (conversion therapy with a religious/church twist).

A couple years after he moved, I came out in late 1999 after getting divorced six months earlier.  While we had considered ourselves good friends prior to that, nevertheless, he cut off all communication with me when I came out. That lasted approximately eight years.  Then one day out of the blue, he emailed me and told me that he wanted to "chat" when he came up to Seattle.  Turns out he came out again!  Things progressed, we went back and forth from the NW and SoCal and consequently, we  got together and we were partners for about six years. We split in early 2013.  Separately, we each moved to the Palm Springs area (Jeff moved in 2013 and I moved here in 2017). We're once again friends.  We discuss his journey in this podcast.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2010

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Patrick Prohaska is an author and life coach specializing in personal empowerment, consciousness expansion, and sexual healing. Patrick has a Bachelor’s degree in history of science and a Master’s degree in the religions of ancient India, and has studied several healing systems, including Ayurveda, Reiki, Theta Healing, aromatherapy, and more.

He’s the author of Brain Cells: Escape Your Mental Prisons and Dream Yourself Awake: The Power of Lucid Living.

His newest book Good Sex: Spiritual Principles for an Electrifying Sex Life is currently in the rewrite stage and will be published soon. He recently moved to Kansas, and he's  available for lectures, seminars, and workshops around the globe.

When he’s away from the office, you’ll probably find him hiking in the wilderness.

We chat about his journey and his new book... Everybody loves to listen in to a conversation about sex, right?  Join us now as we explore this topic.

Find Patrick at:  https://www.sexpowersoul.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jerry Lynch was priest in the Catholic Church for nearly three decades.  He loved what he was doing, serving people - but there came a time when he realized that he could no longer live an inauthentic life.  He had to live a congruent life as a gay man.  He talks about this process and the joys and struggles of his journey.  Listen to his heart as his story unfolds.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jase Nagaia is the mastermind behind "Endeavor with Jase" which is an exercise class held at Demuth Park in Palm Springs.  Jase is also one of the most positive people I know- always saying a good word about everyone and seeing the best in them.  He talks with me about the struggles he's had with the lack of diversity in the desert, and how he sees things changing.  It's definitely worth a listen!

Find Jase here:
https://endeavorpalmsprings.com
https://m.facebook.com/endeavorpalmsprings/
https://www.instagram.com/endeavorwithjase/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Chapter One:  The Law of Attraction.
I've learned that "Where focus goes- energy flows"! What we choose to throw out into the Universe is what comes back to us. I share some of the rather profound experiences I've had in this area.  So many of my friends are amazed at what I seem to create or attract into my life.  I've learned that "Where focus goes- energy flows"!  What we choose to put out into the Universe is what comes back to us.  That means if we expect good, it will come to us.  But if we dwell on the negative or constantly worry about what "might" happen in the future, those negative things come prancing back into our lives.  It took me a very long time to grasp this concept but it's very real. I give you some concrete, amazing examples from my life on how this has worked.

Chapter Two: My Energy Work Journey.
I've had quite a few "Whoa" moments the last few years!  It took a lot to change from a pretty close-minded guy in ministry to opening up to what also might be true in the Universe!  When I was in the church in my "former life", I never would have considered even the possibility of exploring energy work.  To me, in my narrow definition of the world and reality, it was all "devil stuff" and to be avoided at all costs.  But then one day a friend in Seattle gifted me a session with her energy gal via a phone call.  At first I resisted but then I said yes after doing some open-minded research.  The session with the gal was interesting, but we weren't quite on the same page.  But that experience opened the door to another reality.  I've been seeing my energy guy (Mark Hollenstein) on a weekly basis for about five years now.  Things have really changed and my mind, heart and understanding have expanded by leaps and bounds.  There's been a few "shocking" moments, for sure.  Here's a bit of the story...

Chapter Three: Let's Talk About Love.
What does real love look like? How does it play out in our lives? Does the religious right even know what love is? Here are a few thoughts on this topic.  Love is a term that's thrown around lightly.  We love chocolate sundaes.  We love our jobs, our kids, our partners and our pets.  The Christian Right has their ideas on what love is.  Things get messy.  But what does real love look like?  How does it play out in our lives?  Here are a few of my thoughts on this topic.

Chapter Four:  Remembering my little sister Sunday (She used to say, "My name is Sunday- just like the day of the week")!
 I didn't have a lot of regrets in my life. But a thought haunted me for many, many years. "What was so important that I had to get on the plane that day"? In the period 2000-2003, I lost my two sisters, my nephew, both of my parents and a friend.  I reflect on part of this story...

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

Image credits: 
Model: Andrew Delta.     
Photographer: Wilkinson (Copyright Wilkinson/2022)
Found art location: The Ruins in N. desert Hot Springs, CA. 
Abandoned desert buildings with various graffiti artists' work.
 "Love" created by graffiti artist "Crew".

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

I met John Woodruff at a pool party some time ago.  I was immediately drawn to his friendly personality and Southern accent. And his body was pretty amazing as well!  I gave him a business card and we eventually did a couple very fun photo shoots. He's definitely fitness model material! Some time after that, I read one of his social media posts where, in 2015,  he described his weighing 245 pounds and he couldn't stand for more than ten minutes at a time due to degenerative disc disease.  His doctors wanted to fuse his vertebrae together.  He took matters into his own hands and followed the knowing in his heart. His story is amazing and he also shares what happened when he left the ministry, came out as a gay man and subsequently got into a pretty interesting relationship. Here's the scoop!

Find John on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/woodruff2940/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2021

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

David Wichman is an author, speaker, sexual healer, and entrepreneur who is respected and well-known all over the world to those who seek to live free of stigma, shame, and fear around sex, love, and intimacy.

Raised in Fremont, California, David survived a childhood marked by severe neglect and abuse, which led him into years of homelessness, alcoholism, and drug addiction. After decades of struggle and rehabilitation failures, he finally obtained freedom from his addiction in 2005. He remains an active member of New Thought and recovery movements to this day.

In 2006, David found a calling in sex work. While working with seniors, the disabled, and those with severe intimacy issues, he discovered the profound transformational power that sex work creates for both client and provider. In 2009, he founded his travel-companion company, the Male Adventure, through which he has accompanied clients on life-changing adventures to all seven continents. He is an activist, vocal ally, and grateful member of the LGBTQI2 community.

David lives with his partner Todd & their 3 rescue dogs: Panda Petey & Siain in their home in the Coachella Valley area of California. In 2016, David co-founded Heal-VR, a software development company that merges ancient spiritual principles and meditation techniques with modern virtual reality technology.

His story is both profound and touching.  Prepare to think and feel deeply as this gentle soul shares his heart with us.

Find David at: http://DavidsWorld.me

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

In his "former life", Mark was married to woman, had three kids and was a minister in a church.  The conflict he found himself in, leading this life when he was a gay man, eventually led to a nervous breakdown.  His healing led him away from the church and he became a trainer.  He shares what happened when he attended a trainers conversion in San Jose, where he met a very special man. His life became to rapidly change from the fallout of that meeting.

As a facilitator and coach for over two decades, Mark Hollenstein has been honored to blend his skills and gifts as a business coach, spiritual life coach, energy healer and intuitive reader to what he describes as a call  to “Love on” people in the name of the Divine.

He see himself as a conduit for Spirit, The Divine, Source, The Universe, God, Goddess, Creator, or All That Is. However one divines that/it for his or her self. Simply, the Source, or energy greater than ourselves the guides, instructs, leads, loves and supports all of us, absolutely unconditionally through this human experience we call life.

As his personal evolution has continued and he experienced higher energetic vibratory upgrades daily, his work is now calling out to men and women of all gender identification and sexual orientation who are resonating, recognizing, and remembering – in order to together find our way to each other.

Find out more about Mark here:  http://www.MarkHollenstein.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Bob Blackford discusses how he felt after donating blood, only to have the clinic subsequently call him in to discuss  some "irregularities" that the testing had revealed.... then informing him that he was HIV positive.  This was when he was in the ministry, was married with kids and it was prior to meds being developed.  He basically heard a death sentence.  He had to not only tell his wife that he was HIV positive, but also that he had had some gay sexual experiences.  He describes how they negotiated that, managed to raise two daughters, wrote a book and then share the mic with his wife in telling their joint story to an International audience.  And he tells how feels to be in Palm Springs, living his authentic life today as a gay man.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

"I had another experience when I was meditating that affirmed my life was transforming again. I dreamed I was standing on a river bank. There were people in canoes peacefully rowing in a river. I came to understand that the river was peaceful flow. The people in the canoes waved and smiled to come in. I looked up and down the river bank. There were countless people standing on the banks. Some walked into the river and a canoe appeared for their transport. Some shook with fear on the side. Those in the river were committed. Somehow I knew it was a big commitment. I waded in and the next thing I knew I was in a canoe. I felt immense peace. I knew I would never go back to the river bank. At the same time, there was no judgment about those on the river bank. There was a simple invitation to wade into the peaceful river of life...

I have witnessed the prison-house closing in on the growing child within myself and within my family. My work is dedicated to millions who have felt bound by the conditions that would imprison. My story is not unique. My message is simple, never ever give up! There is always hope. It is my intention that as you hear the story of my journey,  you will remember from deep within you-- your calling, your purpose, and your recovery of the truth of who you are. You are already free.
You simply need to remember."           

Larendee Roos
Founder Director Miracle Activation Center
Founder CEO Roos Advisors
Partner Ador Development
Facilitator Trainer Pathways of LightGrateful
Spouse, mom, and grandmother. Daughter of Abba Father.

To contact Larendee, simply text her at 1-801-209-3611

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Bryce Bailey, MA, ATR. 
Registered Art Therapist from Seattle, WA currently living in Palm Springs, CA. He launched his own creativity/ design consulting practice “EmpowerART Studio” and offers Per Diem Art Therapy at a local physical rehabilitation hospital. He leads art therapy groups and facilitates creativity workshops in community. Bryce is passionate about utilizing the creative process to facilitate personal growth, transformation, healing and connection through artmaking. He has worked with most populations but specializes in LGBTQ, at-risk adolescents, addiction recovery, and identity empowerment. Bryce has remained active in giving back to the recovery community for over 22 years, sober since 9/24/99. He enjoys his own artmaking through collage, mixed media, oil pastels, and visual journaling.

 Graduating from Antioch University Seattle's Masters in Psychology/Art Therapy program (2006), he interned at Seattle Counseling Service (LGBTQ), worked as art therapist and mental health clinician at Community Psychiatric Clinic and Michael’s House Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Center, facilitated creative recovery & visual journaling workshops in Miami, San Jose, San Diego, Palm Springs, and Seattle, and volunteered with homeless and LGBT youth in Seattle. His research project "Artmaking as a Component and Facilitator of Resiliency with Homeless Youth" was published in the Art Therapy Journal (2008). Bryce served on the Board of Evergreen Art Therapy Association chapter in Seattle from 2005-2015, presented at several national Art Therapy Association conferences, and became Local Chair for the 2013 American Art Therapy Association conference in Seattle. 

Bryce can be reached at: empowerartstudio@gmail.com; 
Instagram: @bryce_empowerartstudio

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Carl is 74 and Michael is 40.  They've been together now for twenty years.  We discuss how that's worked out in this May-December romance, partnership and marriage.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Just in time to wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month!

Robert Aerts is a Licensed Marriage and Family  Therapist.   He owns and operates his own practice called Aerts Family Counseling in Apple Valley, CA.   Robert is a husband, father and grandfather. 

Robert graduated from Cal Baptist University with his Masters in Counseling Psychology and  has worked for public service for over 30 years.  He has worked with the Aging and Adult population as well as school aged children from elementary to high school.   Robert presented at the annual Models of Pride in Los Angeles sharing his story of his coming out.   

Currently he is working with adults on a individual basis.   His desire is to bring awareness to his community about LGBTQ  and the struggles that some may face in their journey.   

He can be reached at Robert AertsLMFT@gmail.com.   
His Instagram is: @aerts_family_counseling

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

How would you feel in this scenario?  You're  a twenty year old, and you  receive a phone call at work from the local hospital, coldly telling you that you are HIV positive and that you need to "Get your papers" in order because you only have 6-12 months to live?  That was FORTY years ago. Listen to Michael Sartori's amazing story...


Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

LARRY DEAN HARRIS

Larry Dean Harris is a storyteller, playwright, producer and founder of Strong Words. He’s performed stories in LA, Chicago, his hometown Toledo, New York City and Palm Springs. As a playwright, he’s earned New York Outer Critics Circle Award, Ovation Award, GLAAD and LA Weekly Theatre Award nominations. Larry sits on the Council of the Dramatists Guild of America and teaches storytelling and performance with fellow Strong Words producer Marlene Nichols.

For more information on Strong Words events:   https://strongwordslive.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

While living in Seattle, I became a couchsurfing super host.  

Over a few years, I hosted over 650 (primarily International) travelers in my home.  Lifelong friendships were formed with many of these folks, and not a few have subsequently visited me here at my place in Palm Springs.  

Ideene Dehdashti and her former boyfriend James are two such people. She and I chatted on one of her recent visits.  This is one of my most light-hearted episodes, and we had fun recording it.



Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

She's Iranian and she's opinionated.  After I interviewed Ideene for the last podcast episode, she insisted on switching mics and put me in the hot seat so she could interview me.  Here's the result.

Here's the link to Wilkinson's Vacation room rentals for males at his "Palm Springs Interlude":  https://www.airbnb.com/users/251586484/listings

Photo credit:  Selfie of us by Ideene Dehdashti

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Barry Schoenfeld is the creator of the California Community of Men.

Barry Schoenfeld founded and runs Clear Vision Partners, an independent marketing consultancy, based in Palm Springs.  Before moving to Palm Springs in 2014, he held several executive roles in advertising agencies in New York and Los Angeles.

In 2012, he founded The California Community of Men ("CalComMen"), a global mens' community of over 10,000 men-who-love-men, who goal is to provide drug, alcohol, smoke and electronics free spaces for men to engage & connect more genuinely and more authentically. 

In addition, he teaches online at seven universities across the country, on subjects ranging from opera to archeology to travel.

He lives with his husband Ron, of 15 years.

"The California Community of Men is a unique community of heart-centered, passionate and caring men, 18-90+ of all colors of the rainbow, faith traditions, sizes, shapes & abilities, who create spiritual & social events, personal growth workshops, and our unique, joy-filled weekends we call "Community Camp," without formal committees, officers or bylaws. Our goal is to build a radically diverse & inclusive community of men-who-love-men, the likes of which is rarely seen in Southern California.  We align ourselves with some of the values, beliefs and consciousness of the Northern California Billys, and the Radical Faeries.

 CalComMen is the only mens community in SoCal that reachs out to, and warmly welcomes ALL men-who-love-men (gay, bi, trans, queer, cis & straight).  We are also the only men's community that is drug, alcohol, smoke and electronics-free, so that we can connect and engage in new and more meaningful ways, with far fewer distractions".

CalComMen web site:  https://www.calcommen.com
Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalComMen

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

From the Prologue to Jill's book:
"In a million years I could not have predicted that I would become the Dancing Queen of Palm Springs.  I could never have foreseen my growth and evolution into someone who the Gay Community would come to love and respect.  I did not know that I had so much in common with gay men, yet I do. It still amazes me that it is through my Dancing that we have all come together.  It is my hope that by reading about my journey, you may gain some insights into your own lives and perhaps recognize some of your own patterns as well".

Check out Jill's book How I Became the Dancing Queen of Palm Springs:
https://www.amazon.com/became-Dancing-Queen-Palm-Springs/dp/1983540854/ref

Find Jill on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jill.langham

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Dr. Jallen Rix

"Sex educator, author and activist Jallen Rix holds a Doctorate of Education in Sexology from Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco, where he later taught as  a Professor. He maintains a private practice in Palm Springs CA, which includes personal consulting, sacred intimacy work, and surrogate-style partner experiences. He has appeared on talk shows, like Our America with Lisa Ling on Oprah’s OWN Channel, and ABC’s News Magazine 20/20.

He is a leading expert on the damaging effects of ex-gay  ministries and so-call “reparative therapy.” His book, Ex-Gay No Way: Survival and Recovery from Religious Abuse, was nominated as best non-fiction books of 2010 by the Lambda Literary Foundation. His film, Lewd & Lascivious: The 1965 Police Raid on California Hall  premiered to sold out crowds at Frameline 2013, San Francisco’s LGBTQ film festival, and won the AASECT Media Award for 2014. During 2015 and 2016 his solo-performance piece touring up and down the US West Coast, called, Stake In The Ground: Celebrating the Intersection of Self-pleasuring and Self-compassion".

Contact Jallen Rix:  https://doctorrix.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

LUI GERVAIS is the author of "The Nipple Whisperer and other erotic epiphanies".

Here is the review that I wrote after reading his book:
     "When Paul, my Seattle friend called and told me that he received Lui's new book, I immediately ordered a copy. I was familiar with Lui from some past experiences with him. Notably, he offered a portion of the material in this book to a group of men who gathered for a workshop at my place in Palm Springs pre-covid.
     The workshop was only a few hours but I definitely "felt" what he was showing and teaching us at that time. I was excited to get the book because information from workshops (no matter how good they may have been) fades over time. And the book did not disappoint, because it fleshed out a lot more than he was able to present in those few hours, years ago.
     I started reading and literally did not stop until I finished the book. To me, when I'm reading a book for the first time, I have to ask myself how many times I was prompted to grab my yellow pen and mark things that I wanted to remember. It's a good way to be able to go back and think a little deeper about something after that first "BAM"! as I'm reading the book. And trust me, I used a lot of yellow ink on this book!
     A few of the lines in the book state "Nipple whispering itself is a form of intimate listening. It is a sensual communication of touch and sound born from the ecstasy of a thousand men". (Page 6). This book talks about a LOT more than merely how to connect and incorporate the nipples in one's intimate experiences. It encompasses the whole man, the whole couple and the whole experience. And as the lines quoted above reveal, it also connects the reader to the men who have lived and experienced their lives before us. Feeling grounded in that way felt really great!
     As an English Literature major, I was constantly struck by the poetic beauty and flow in so many lines in this book. And I think that is also a reflection of what Lui is presenting here: As men, that we open up and let the poetic/energetic/spiritual flow happen IN US- in all aspects of the sexual-spiritual experience- connecting within ourselves and with any potential partner.
     It's an easy read and I highly recommend it".

FROM LUI IN HIS OWN WORDS:
My Work
"The Nipple Whisperer began as a blog more than ten years ago. Over the years of teaching and sharing sacred intimacy, I created and compiled these tools and exercises. As they piled up, it became clear I was writing a book but it took many years and the encouragement of friends and colleagues to bring it to life".  

"I am not a prolific writer. I don’t really see myself as a writer at all but as a mover, lover and artist who feels occasionally compelled to capture his ideas in words. The real mastery of my work remains in the body. In movement, touch, sound. Intimacy, sensuality and sexuality. As these embodied pleasures are impossible to transfer through a digital format, these words will have to do until we can be together in person".

LINKS:

http://TheNippleWhisperer.com
http://MenBodiedInstitute.org
Buy the book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Nipple-Whisperer-other-erotic-epiphanies/dp/0578388715/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

An Interview with Ben Miller. Searching: The Wanderlust of a 60-Year Old Gay Man from Pender to Pittsburgh, From Lincoln to LA, and Many Points in Between.

Ben Miller and I discuss his interesting sixty year journey to where he is today.  He shares some of his spiritual practices which he uses to find peace and ground himself.  And he discusses a long term struggle with addiction and how he has managed to stay on the upper road in his journey for many, many years.

I was introduced to Ben by our mutual friend Larendee Roos.  She talks about Ben in a transcript that she wrote many years ago, detailing her amazing story.  She wrote:
 "... My lifelong soul mate and friend, Ben flew in from LA to stay with my children and me. I will always think of him when I smell bacon. He loved my children and held me in his arms as I slowly unraveled and pulled myself back together again. To this day, he always knows just when I need him. Within a few hours he is on the phone calling or in my city to hold me..."

After spending just a few hours with Ben, I get why she feels this way about him.  His gentle spirit and his heart are obvious in this short interview....

Ben Miller has been an actor, director, writer, Alexander technique teacher and college professor.  Right now he's working on a screenplay that has been gurgling in his brain for years.  He strives to be kind. He's opinionated. 

Contact Ben at: benjaminmillerla001@gmail.com. (323) 385-9537

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

An Interview with Bar Bionic: A Non-Binary* Visual and Musical Artist.
Pronouns: They/Their/Them*

Bar and their friend came to visit Palm Springs over the 4th of July holiday weekend and they stayed at my Airbnb.  I found Bar's story, look and history to be fascinating.  In this interview, we chat about Bar's life in Israel, coming to the USA and landing in New York City where they experienced the brutal "Chew them up and spit them out" mentality found in parts of the entertainment industry.  We chat about their various struggles arriving in a large city - not knowing a single person.  The creative process, sources of inspiration and gaining a foothold  in the social media/entertainment universe are further explored and discussed.  Watching some of their videos and spending time over a couple days was a real treat for me!  I found their over-the-top creativity, professionalism, kind & gentle spirit (and chutzpah!) to be absolutely amazing. Check out some of their videos via the links below.

*Non-Binary Defined
"Some people don't identify with any gender. Some people's gender changes over time. People whose gender is not male or female use many different terms to describe themselves, with non-binary being one of the most common. Other terms include genderqueer, agender, bigender, and more". ( Reference: Google)

Links (Copy and Paste where Required):

TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@bar_bionic?lang=en

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Bar-Bionic-113834460168592

Twitter:  http://twittter.com/barbionic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/16H8BCBnedryC6Grw1hEQQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bar_bionic/

Listen On @applemusic: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1529841379

Listen on Itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1529841379?ls=1&app=itunes

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1lGoIbyX4YZ9HtWFQDQsDn

Listen on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/King-of-Downtown/dp/B08H5TWWVF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=bar+bionic+king+of+downtown&qid=1599717097&sr=8-1...

Listen on YouTube Music: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk8nbC2PNR7623_9bZuDUlA

Bar Bionic's sample music video at the end of this podcast: 
Bar Bionic - BiPAP Tempo (Official Music Video).
Copyright Bar Bionic/2022. All rights reserved. 
To watch the video version of this piece and to read the lyrics, go here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILZDfbG2YbA

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

RICHARD H JESSUP
Richard has been Producing, Directing, Choreographing and Teaching Dance since 1982. He has focused his work in the genres of Musical Theatre and Concert Dance. Richard has directed and/or choreographed over 100 productions.

Richard was the founding member of Against the Grain/MEN IN DANCE, and is the Producing President for the organizations Festival of MEN IN DANCE, now in its 26th year.

Some of Richard’s other favorite things to do, include massage, hiking, travel, and eating coffee-flavored ice cream. He lives in Palm Springs, CA and would rather be nowhere else.

Links
website:  http://www.menindance.org
Virtual "watch" page:  http://www.watch.menindance.org

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

In this episode, I interview one of my favorite people in this world: my son David. 

Two people can experience the exact same event and yet they can have two different perspectives on what happened.  So we discuss what I saw as an amazing turnabout in his life from a very average high school student, to his life now as an attorney with multiple law offices on both coasts.

He talks about his current life as a married man and dad and we share some memories of his life growing up.

Lastly, we discuss what it was like for him when I came out as a gay man in 1999.

 I hope you enjoy this rather personal look into my life as a father to this amazing man.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

The last two weeks, I visited my middle son Dave, his wife Meredith and my two grandsons Henry and Jack at their home in Dartmouth MA.

Dave is a good sport.  He agreed to be interviewed for my podcast.  After we were finished, he told me that it was now my turn and that he was going to interview ME for a podcast episode!

I was surprised at what I was feeling at first.  I guess I was afraid of what he might ask.  After all, he IS an attorney and he's be putting me on the stand, so to speak.  LOL.

But as I thought about it and mentioned to my friend and energy guru Mark Hollenstein, he encouraged me to do it.  He thought it would be good for both of us.

Before this interview, I had a little time to reflect and one of the things thatI realized was that I knew virtually nothing about my own father (or his father).  What a gift it would have been to have been able to sit my own "Pop" down and ask him a bunch of questions.    So we did the interview.  I kind of figured that it would be a gift to each of us.

I had no idea what Dave would ask me.  There were some interesting questions and I'm pretty sure that he got some interesting answers.  Like:  "Whoa.  No, I did not know that grandma used to be an underwear model before she met your Dad and then she became a radio preacher"!

It's a light-hearted interview with a lot of interesting questions.  I appreciate the time Dave took in preparing to participate.

Listen in to our bantering, interspersed with some great dialogue. 

Photo by Meredith Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

In 2015, Alan Fraser was in the best physical condition of his life.  But then one day after training he went home and realized that something just wasn't right.  Thankfully his (now) husband Tim jumped into action and drove a couple hours to see why Alan had stopped responding when Tim kept checking on him.  Tim found Alan unconscious in his bed, helped revive him and then rushed him to the nearest ER.  They were told later that if he hadn't come in at that time, he wouldn't be with us today. 

His condition was so bad that the medical team had to put him in an induced medical coma in order to save his life.  He was "out" for two weeks.  He describes how the induced coma saved his life, but it had other severe consequences that would impact him the rest of his life.

His story is real, it's heartfelt and it has meaning and a message for all of us...

Listen as he describes the ordeal that he had to endure and he shares what he's learned from this experience.


Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

This is my second episode with Mark as my guest.  In the first episode, he primarily discussed his own personal journey and then he touched on his energy work toward the end of the recording.

In this episode, he explains in more detail how he approaches the energy work that he does.

EVERYTHING IS ONE WITH SOURCE CREATOR.  
"That makes us all co-creators. We are, I AM, consciousness and right now WE are expanding into our fully awakened, co-creator beings! Can you feel it? We are remembering who we truly are in profound ways that are dramatically shifting how we live on planet Earth. We are coming together in awakened power, purpose and divine perfection. It is so exciting"!
                                                                                                                                -Mark Hollenstein

As a facilitator and coach for over two decades, Mark Hollenstein has been honored to blend his skills and gifts as a business coach, spiritual life coach, energy healer and intuitive reader to what he describes as a call  to “Love on” people in the name of the Divine.

He see himself as a conduit for Spirit, The Divine, Source, The Universe, God, Goddess, Creator, or All That Is. However one divines that/it for his or her self. Simply, the Source, or energy greater than ourselves the guides, instructs, leads, loves and supports all of us, absolutely unconditionally through this human experience we call life.

As his personal evolution has continued and he experienced higher energetic vibratory upgrades daily, his work is now calling out to men and women of all gender identification and sexual orientation who are resonating, recognizing, and remembering – in order to together find our way to each other.

Find out more about Mark here:  http://MarkHollenstein.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

I met Anthony some time ago. He was an Airbnb guest at my place in Palm Springs. 

He made the decision at a birthday party that his coworkers had thrown for him.  He just couldn't spend the rest of his life in that corporate job .  So he carefully made plans for his exit strategy and then began a journey to discover parts of the world that he hadn't seen before.  And in the process, he began to discover his true self.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

In this podcast episode, Eddie discusses what circumstances in his life brought him to the place he is today.  It's an interesting and poignant story of this father of eight, now living his best gay life in Palm Springs.

Bonus: He reveals why he wears a cape while dancing each week at Oscar's Sunday Tea dance, and what the cape symbolizes.

And Eddi talks about the group he created some time ago: 

 "Among Friends is all about... YOU!!!

We exist to provide a platform to produce true community in the Palm Springs Area. We are an event company that loves to do fun activities, Interactive movies, and charity events to bring the community together.

Come join us...

Even if you don't know anyone... 

You are AMONG FRIENDS."

Find Eddie and the gang of community -minded friends on FaceBook (Copy and paste):  http://www.facebook.com/Amongfriendscommunity/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

From an article by Max Berlinger in Vogue Runway:

"Some designers create for fantasy, some designers create for reality, and then there’s Rio Uribe of Gypsy Sport, who doesn’t bother differentiating between the two. In fact, that blurring of the lines is a hallmark of his brand, which draws deeply on the Chicano American experience and then filters it through Uribe’s viewpoint as a queer man.

This season, the designer showed in Los Angeles, the city where he was raised and has returned to during the pandemic. He had originally planned to show here in March of 2020, but the coronavirus upended that. So the mood atop the Petersen Automotive Museum, where his runway show was staged just as the sun dipped below the Pacific, was ebullient. Hoots and whistles rose up as the lights went down, and the clapping began before the first model even hit the catwalk. The clothes matched the vibe.

“The main arc is about Chicano culture,” Uribe said. “But there’s so many subcultures under that umbrella.” So he pulled together the looks of various groups: the swaggering machismo of the lowriders; the ornate street look of the cholos and cholas; the zoot-suit-wearing pachucos and their elegant pachuca wives, who flourished in L.A. during the 1950s; and the whitewashed, exoticized version of the bombshell Latina that was offered up by Old Hollywood. Sprinkle on top of those elements a heavy dose of the drag and vogueing scenes, and you get a sense of Uribe’s vision...."

Check out Gypsy Sport at Vogue Runway:
https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/designer/gypsy-sport

And in LA Fashion Week:
https://lafw.net/portfolio-item/gypsy-sport/

Gypsy Sport's page:  http://gypsysportny.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Bill Kavanagh, LMFT

Author of “Keep Your Fork; Something Sweet is Coming”

 Bill was determined to dedicate his future towards helping others discover the path of healing that he had personally discovered after a life of extreme highs and lows.  Today, his writings and therapy techniques are focused on creative methods of dealing with the challenges that life offers us.  As a writer for Psychology Today, he addresses ideas that can relieve trauma and transform it into happiness. 

 Bill is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Southern California.  After battling Stage IV cancer, he received his Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles, and was selected to be commencement speaker.

 Prior to becoming a mental health professional, Bill spent his career writing scripts and producing major events, including those for the Walt Disney Company,  Olympic Ceremonies and several  awards shows.  

 Bill has embraced beauty and acquired grace, along with the power and strength to write his book, which he believes can offer others a similar chance for courage and peace as they take their next steps forward.

Contact Bill:  Bill@BillKavanagh.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Chris Hassett is a singer- song writer and recording artist (His 6th album of original songs is coming soon). 

Chris is also the co-author of Friendship Chronicles -  Letters Between a Gay and a Straight Man.

About Chris Hassett
Chris Hassett has been delighting audiences with his unique style of singing, song-writing &  story-telling for four decades. An accomplished entertainer with a rich baritone, Chris can also point to successful careers in coaching, teaching, publishing, manufacturing and communications. His passion for music, however, has remained strong throughout his life and it now drives his current creative projects. He’s working on a sixth album and hopes to introduce a dozen or more original love songs to his audience in the spring of 2023. A published author, he also hopes to continue with a second book project.

His original songs come from his heart, drawing upon his life experiences as a gay man. Although his original lyrics have particular appeal for open-hearted types, he has been known to win over a large audience that crosses all lines -- gender, sexual orientation, genre, age, and even political persuasions. For more information on his music, visit his website, www.chrishassett.com.

Chris also has his own YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/cahassett49), an artist page on iTunes (Chris Hassett), and he maintains a strong presence on Facebook (Chris Hassett Music) & Instagram (@kitchencrooner).

Brief Bio

Chris is the third of five boys, born to Frank and Doris Hassett. As an Air Force family, the Hassetts moved from base to base every few years (and sometimes every few months) throughout his childhood, eventually settling in California. In that same Central Valley town, Merced, Chris also spent his early adult years as a high school math teacher and swim coach. Music was always a big part of family life — not so much in an organized way as in a constant, impromptu way, with dad usually getting the ball rolling. Chris was fortunate to inherit his dad’s love of singing and strong voice. In spite of developing a wide-range of interests in his life, Chris knows that singing is what he does best.

Chris was singing regularly in the San Diego area from the early 1980s. Whether in private or community concerts, benefit or professional gigs, Chris earned a reputation as a poised, naturally humorous and gifted entertainer with a powerful and expressive voice. In 2009, he began a recording career and now has five albums to his credit. About half of the tracks across those albums are his original compositions.

In 2018, Chris — suddenly single and ready for a change of scenery — moved from San Diego to Palm Springs. Although more than half of the time in his new town has been affected by COVID restrictions, he remains optimistic that this desert town will give him the community, resources and music opportunities that he craves.

Aside from music & writing, Chris is an accomplished swimmer, gardener and yoga enthusiast. He has close ties to his three surviving brothers and has maintained strong friendships with people across the decades.

If you are interested in a copy of his book, Friendship Chronicles, you may contact him via email: chris@chrishassett.com ($15 plus $3 for shipping).

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Podcast opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

Chris' song in this podcast is "This I Promise You." Copyright 2012 Chris Hassett. All rights reserved.

Contact Wilkinson- BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Growing up, Edras Cordova's father constantly reminded him of a saying.  Edras chose to remember his father's teaching by having it tattooed across the top of his chest.  Roughly translated, the words say:  "Only the one who carries a knapsack knows what's in it".

 We never know what another person is going through.  Edras took the message to heart and it softened him.  Unfortunately, it appears that his siblings and other family members did not learn such a message.

People are so often trapped in their religious beliefs and systems that they are blinded to truth and reality.

Many of my prior podcast guests have told stories of being trapped in such systems, and they described how they were able to escape and ultimately live fulfilled lives as their authentic selves.

Edras Cordova and his brother were both gay.  Edras was able to navigate his escape route from the Jehovah's Witness cult (his word) and to go on to live a life he never thought possible when he was trapped in that religious system.

His brother was not so fortunate.  He chose a path of staying in the system, marrying, have two children and believing that somehow he would be "cured" or "fixed" and being gay would go away.

The torment and pain of being caught in such an untenable position ultimately drove him to multiple suicide attempts.  Two weeks before taking his own life, he told his family that he was either going to live his gay life, or commit suicide.

Edras discusses the pain and fallout of his brother's choice in hopes that people who are caught in such systems will open their eyes and hearts to the truth:  If we don't allow ourselves and others to be who they are, the cost will be unbearable.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Text or call 988 on your cell phone for help.

LGBT youth crisis helpline. If you are thinking about harming yourself — get immediate support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Aneela Zaman is the author of Goodbye Isn't Goodbye.

Still recovering from her separation and divorce, she meets an older gentleman in her yoga class.  Though obviously smitten with her, nevertheless, he accepts her wish to be merely friends, and not cross the line to be romantically involved.  She tells the story of her gradual realization that this gentleman (although far from being the ideal partner that she had formed in her head) was everything that she wanted in a man.  Shortly after she had this awakening, he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away only months later.

She talks about her journey in this process, and describes how John now comes to her from the other side of the veil, guiding her and encouraging her:

"The perched butterfly on your morning newspaper, the fluttering of a delicate hummingbird directly at eye level, the flickering of bedroom lights just as the radio plays your favorite song. Coincidence? Mere acts of randomness? What if there was more? What if each seemingly random act carried a message, and one not always from this realm? When your deceased loved ones come knocking, perhaps it's only the heart that can ever know for sure. As in this tale of friendship turned to romance and the connections that spanned beyond space and time".

 "Goodbye Isn't Goodbye" is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1545287805?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

She is also a very accomplished Realtor:
Aneela Zaman Luxury Estates.
Contact Aneela here: https://www.facebook.com/aneelazamanrealestate

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Sam Salar is a Persian, Jewish Gay man who has created the law firm LEGALLY QUEER in order to give back to the LGBT community.

Sam discusses the struggles he had growing up in his Persian, Jewish family/community. His parents struggled to understand and accept who he was as a gay man, but they ultimately came around and became the ones who would help other Persian/Jewish parents understand and accept their gay children.

Sam earned his law degree and then started his career in litigation (where he had been working as a paralegal in that field) prior to passing the California bar exam.  When he passed the bar, his friends then asked him "Are you happy"?  But he knew he wasn't. 

His mentor suggested to him that perhaps he should consider switching to a practice that would give back to the LGBT community.   So after some consideration of that suggestion, he created LEGALLY QUEER. 

And today he IS happy!

Contact Sam:   
Sam Salar R., Esq.
SamSalarLaw@gmail.com
310-666-5546
Instagram: @legallyqueer_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legallyqueer

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Peter Gordon is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in Palm Springs, CA.  

His life's path progressed from his days as a youth in NYC through various careers including a brief stint as a gypsy in the New York theater world to a landscape designer in Santa Fe, NM and then on to graduate school for counseling psychology at university outside of San Francisco at 50 years young 

Peter's initial desire for his new career path was based on a desire to work with queer youth navigating the treacherous waters of coming out, which, as most baby boomers know, was traumatic at best, at least until Stonewall and the modern movement toward equality.  

However, his plans were fouled by the advent of the internet which allowed queer youth to connect world wide, from small towns to large cities in an entirely new way, accessing a community and achieving a degree of acceptance and self-respect, thereby limiting the need for a therapist. But there was still a lot of trauma in the LGBT community; and Peter focused on working with clients to heal using a relatively new theoretical model for trauma - EMDR.*  

Gradually, Peter began to understand the ultimate limitations of various existing theoretical models of recovery programs, psychotherapy and psychotropic medications**.  The idea of plant medicines being used therapeutically has caught his attention and focus. 

The recent positive research regarding the therapeutic benefits of the use of psychedelics to heal trauma, help addicts and alcoholics recover, and increase a sense of spirituality and connectedness has changed the direction of his practice. 

Peter's practice is now heading into the future of healing trauma at a deeper level by combining psychedelics and therapy.

*EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
**Psychotropic Medications:  A psychotropic drug is a drug that affects behavior, mood, thoughts, or perception (such as antidepressants).

Peter is available for consultations and can be reached at:
PMGMFT@YAHOO.COM

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Adam's story and his struggles.

Even though we each have dreams for that perfect life, many times we self sabotage ourselves for some hidden reason.  Adam shares the struggles he's had over the past several years with failed gay relationships, hurting himself and hurting others whom he's loved and lost.  Thankfully, his suicide attempts were not successful and he's here to share his poignant story with us. 

It's so easy to judge others.  "Why didn't you do that"?  "Why did you say that"?  "Didn't you learn anything from the last time this happened"?  And yet, so many times we all do this type of thing to ourselves.  Hopefully, Adam's courage in sharing his story will give each of us insight into the way we so often behave in the very same way.

And perhaps it will remind us to truly appreciate whom we have in the person sitting there, right in front of us.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Text or call 988 on your cell phone for help.

LGBT youth crisis helpline. If you are thinking about harming yourself — get immediate support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Charlie Harding is an accomplished actor and singer, with a diverse mix of projects.

He began his professional acting career with a co-starring role in the independent film Proxy.   Charlie is also the host and an executive producer of Underground and Out and About travel shows for Here! TV,  and Planet Out.

He recently played the Bouncer in the upcoming film Here We Are, and stars with an ensemble cast in the mini series Silverlake.

He was the lead singer of the band PROBE 7, releasing a full studio album and touring the west coast. As a songwriter and music producer, Charlie recently co-wrote and sang vocals for the song "Invisible Man," for a documentary about the unhoused.

Contact Charlie:
Web: http://www.HireCharlieHarding.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrcharding/
Invisible Man on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JDbztdp0H8
Unbound (kink) Opera: https://www.unboundopera.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Lucas Schelkens

Sometimes things happen in life which we interpret as negative events.

But in hindsight, often it's those events which propel us to success in other areas of our lives.

Lucas paints a word picture of such things in his own life.  We join him in his journey as hardships launch him into several successful careers. 

And sometimes failures in a relationship can lead us down a different path.  And sometimes you round a corner and discover what you had desired all along: Finding the true love of your life.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Paul Hietter

Paul is a true renaissance man - having worked in a number of industries, with his favorites of being a caterer and event planner to the stars and a new thought minister.

He is always happiest when he is of service and learning something new.   

Overcoming life’s obstacles seems a good hobby and with hiking, working out, being a Chef and humanitarian, there is never a dull moment. 

Currently single, and a cat daddy of Rumi and Leo,  Paul lives in Palm Springs, CA.

He may be reached at 760-567-5820 or PaulHietter@icloud.com.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Peter Bedard, M.A.,  C.Ht

Author of  "Convergence Healing-  Healing pain with energetic love".

"The doctors were able to put the bones back together, but they didn't put my life back together..."

"Millions of people suffer from some form of chronic pain (whether it be physical, emotional, or existential), and this discomfort silently drains too many of us of our highest potential and our power. Living in a state of unending pain pushes people to the margins of their own lives and robs them of direct access to their most authentic, essential, worthy selves. Pain, ironically, renders too many beautiful voices mute; it cripples the body, leaving too many dancing souls lost. And nobody knows this better than Peter Bedard.

One night, seventeen-year-old dancer, Peter Bedard, died in a traffic accident. The white-bearded messenger waiting at the gate of heaven sent him back to Earth with a task to help others heal. After a decade of debilitating physical and emotional suffering, Peter uncovered an empowered, new way of healing chronic pain without medicine—convergence healing. In his groundbreaking approach, Bedard invites us to look at our pain as the greatest source of wisdom we will ever have. Instead of medicating it, trying to break with it, or somehow outwit it, he invites us to surrender to our pain so that we may finally integrate our losses, our transitions, our heartaches, and our mortality and make peace with the everlasting truth of who, uniquely, we truly are.

Through the author’s own near-death experience and other compelling stories and case studies, Convergence Healing offers a whole new body-mind paradigm for those interested in living a balanced, well-integrated life".

Check out www.ConvergenceHealingTeas.com and www.ConvergenceHealing.com for more healing love!

Find Peter on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/peter.bedard

Buy his book:  https://www.amazon.com/Convergence-Healing-Pain-Energetic-Love/dp/1501119524/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

TED FOX

The misadventures of Ted Fox's young gay life in Tennessee: early childhood adventures, a very flamboyant piano teacher, the diving team, begging Jesus to change him, travel, relatives in denial, becoming a trampoline champ, working as a dancer and actor, getting busted for weed, and other adventures!

And of course all those adventures have given him great memories and also material for his Facebook storytelling group!

Ted's Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/100051154877132

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Scott Vitale is a gay man who weighed 312 pounds when he went in for his annual check up. 

His doctor told him that if something didn't change in his lifestyle, he would die fairly soon. 

He was referred to a doctor who did bariatric surgery.  Scott credits a lot of his success to the nutritionist who helped him learn to eat differently.  Under her guidance, he lost 45 pounds before the surgery.  Subsequently, the surgeon removed two thirds of his stomach, which caused some drastic changes in his life.

His husband Eric supported him all along the way in this journey, and accompanied him to that first visit with the nutritionist.  When they returned home, Eric began to toss all of the bread, pastas , cereals, etc. into the trash and he told Scott that he too, would not be eating those things any longer.

With his new-found energy and new life, Scott took up cycling and completed the San Francisco to LA Aids/Life Cycle ride in 2022.    He continues to cycle today and it's become his passion. Today he's maintains his ideal weight at 165 pounds.

You may contact Scott via email at: svitale03@yahoo.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Dwayne A. Ratleff

Dancing to the Lyrics is a timeless and timely coming-of-age tale. Through the eyes of the young protagonist, Grant Cole, we are offered a first-hand account of an African American gay youth who perseveres in spite of personal and family obstacles as well as the larger challenges of his era.

As Grant struggles to comprehend his own nature, his world, and the adults who populate it, he observes and emotionally reacts to the assassinations of MLK and RFK, the Baltimore riots, the Vietnam War and more. Poverty, accompanied by crime, violence and fear, is his frequent companion, but his own vivid imagination and close relationships with his younger sisters, various family members and friends bring hope and humor into his life.

While Grant witnesses the abuse of his mother at the hands of a cruel stepfather, and discovers the man he doesn’t want to be, he strives continually toward understanding the person he was born to be. He learns crucial lessons from his life teachers: faith and pragmatism from his grandparents, and open-mindedness and self-acceptance from a diverse cast of unconventional but kindly characters woven throughout his story.

While very much an individual’s story of overcoming adversity during a specific point in time and place – 1960’s America – Dancing to the Lyrics also provides a lens through which we can view events in our current time. The lessons that young Grant learns are as relevant today as ever and discerning them through the eyes of such an insightful youngster is a revelation.

Buy the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Lyrics-Finding-Inner-Rhythm/dp/1735525308/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Kevin Hansen takes us along as he describes his upbringing in an ultra-religious family, his dealing with diabetes and his surviving lung cancer.

And one day (while he was a little high), he decided to leave the moderate safety of a house that had begun to flood, in order to go for a fun swim in the floodwaters smack dab in the middle of Hurricane Katrina!

He's moved around a lot, and we join him as he recounts his many moves, relationships and adventures.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jonathan Goldman

Jonathan has been involved in teaching improv classes and workshops in Palm Springs for a number of years.

After attending public schools in Brooklyn, NY,  Jonathan then trained to be an optometrist in Boston. Upon realizing that there should be more to a career than forever saying, "Which is clearer? One or Two?",  he became the first O.D. to get an M.B.A. in Health Administration (from Temple University in Philadelphia). His career took me to Chicago where he taught; and also took Toastmasters classes. In 1983 Jonathan moved to San Francisco and worked for the Department of Public Health for much of the end of our last century.  His last two positions were as a Workers Comp Coordinator and a Hospital Trainer. He  also presented "Critical Thinking" workshops for various Kaiser Permanente North hospitals' staff and was manager for Project Inform's National HIV/AIDS treatment hotline.

Happily discovering the BATS School of Improvisation (then known as Bay Area Theatresports™ in 1998, he soon became the Volunteer Director for their community service program, Laughing Stock, which provides free Improv classes to people living with life-threatening illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Hep C, etc., and their care partners. He continued taking specialty classes, performed occasionally with the Mirth Brokers ensemble under the direction of Gerri Lawlor, and lead Intro to Improv workshops at a variety of HIV/AIDS and men's retreats in northern and southern California and afloat on the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.

Jonathan credits his improv skills for getting him to be a contestant for Wheel of Fortune in 2005. Although landing on a Bankrupt on his first wheel spin and then did the "Ta Dah - Circus Bow" for all of America; he  later went on to the Bonus round. According to Slate.Com, he solved one of the 15 toughest WOF puzzles in the past 25 years. Improv also landed him a featured role for the Frameline32 Film Festival trailers as a game show contestant with perpetual wrong answers.

Jonathan moved to Palm Springs in February 2014 with his mixed rescue terrier, Roopert, to re-invent himself. Improv has helped keep his spirits youthful (well, that and a good moisturizer) and energized. He performed with Andy Harmon's Acting Improv class at the 2014 Improv/Comedy Festival in Indio. He's always looking forward to making new friends as he offers locals the opportunity to sample the fun and joy that is Improvisational Theater. Improv builds community!

Flexible thinking skills gained from Improv:

 * Increased self-confidence.

 * Enthused spirit.

 * Better coping with stressful  situations.

 * Greater freedom of expression.

 * More spontaneity.

 * Thinking outside the box.

 * Creative solutions to challenges.

 * Letting go of control.

 * Getting out of your head and into the present.

 * Improved collaborative efforts = better teamwork.

 * Making new friends, both real and imaginary.

To contact Jonathan or to join in the fun:

Web: http://www.theimprovoasis.com

Phone: 760-656-8338

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jesse Rosenberg and Ken Avedisian: Finding true love in their sixties. It IS possible!

So many times, as single gay men reach their third chapter in life, they believe that it's no longer possible to find love.

Ken Avedisian and Jesse Rosenberg prove that this is not always the case.  After a chance meeting on a street corner during Leather Pride when they were each visiting Palm Springs, something clicked and the rest is history.

They subsequently each moved to Palm Springs and bought a home together, remodeled it, got married during Covid and just returned from a month-long dream honeymoon in Africa.

In this episode, they discuss their lives, their meeting and how they've compromised and worked together to form a new life together.

Contact Ken:
http:///www.cordonselections.com
or
Email: info@cordonselections.com

Contact Jesse:
http://www.yogawithbears.com
or
Email: info@yogawithbears.com
and
https://www.facebook.com/groups/436531930583333

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Prince Fleet Easton:
Was born in Akron, Ohio where he made his singing debut at the age of 5. Soon after he began his show business career by appearing in many Broadway musical productions at the Equity Goodyear Musical Theater. He has an extensive background in dance, acting and singing. He studied at American Ballet Theater, Ballet Arts and took master classes at the world-renowned Julliard School. 

 Now living in Palm Springs, California Fleet has devoted his spare time appearing for many benefits, believing that you must give back to move forward. Fleet worked for several years with the 'Well In The Desert' feeding the homeless and those in need of a hot meal.  He has performed on the 'Joey English TV Show' 'Joey English Radio Show' 'Eye On The Desert' and 'KMIR 6 Morning Show' 'Pink Lady Presents' just to name a few. On February 2008 he sang with 'Musical Chairs'. In 2007 Fleet joined the cast and became one of the stars of the Bella Da Ball Cabaret Dinner Show and was with them for 8 years. He has been the soloist and musical director for 'Innerfaith Spiritual Center Worldwide now for 12 years. In 2008 Fleet won the Desert Idol competition for Palm Springs California. On June 7th 2009 Fleet made his debut as one of the 'National Anthem' singers for the Palm Springs Powerball Baseball team and now is a spokesperson for them. He has also sung the National Anthem for the Empire Polo Club in Indio California. While living in Florida Fleet was a 'National Anthem' singer for Micheal Jordan's Blue Ducks Basketball Team and the Florida Marlin's Baseball Team. 

On December 9th. 2016 Prince Fleet received the 407th Star on the 'Palm Springs Walk Of Stars'. On April 22nd. 2017 Fleet received the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' again from the White house along with acknowledgements from the United States Congress, the United States Senate and from the California Senate and the California Congress. In 2018 Prince Fleet Easton received the 'Presidents Choice Entertainer Of The Year' in Hollywood California from the Southern California Motion Picture Council. In January of 2018 he once again received the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' from the White House.

Prince Fleet can soon be seen in the feature film 'Hashtag Blessed' and heard in the soundtrack of the movie. Singing the orginal song 'Why Can't Christmas Be Here Everyday'
Prince Fleet can be also be seen in the new action comedy film 'Team Of Two' as Detective Johnson.  He  has now released a single, a inspiritational anthem for the Ukrainian War titles "We Will Carry On'.  In 2023 Prince Fleet will be honored in Paris France with the Fabulous Celebs Global Award.

Contact Prince Fleet Easton via his email: Fleeteaston@yahoo.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Brock Bennett shares his story of growing up in a fundamentalist family with a preacher as his father. 

In this "no holds barred" interview, Brock discusses the damage done by a parent who was unable to face the true realities of life and how each person is created and who they are.

He was told, and believed, that his "same sex attraction" was his thorn in the flesh- something that he had to live with, but not succumb to- so that he could spend eternity in heaven.

It wasn't until he reached his thirties that he was able to escape the prison of religion.

He set out on a quest to find out for himself what it meant to be gay, and allowed himself to feel what was obvious to him when he was only five years old.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Text or call 988 on your cell phone for help.

LGBT youth crisis helpline. If you are thinking about harming yourself — get immediate support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

Contact Brock Bennett at: BrockisFree66@gmail.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jared Rohrer is an advocate for healthy touch and sexual exploration. It is his passion to dispel shame by bringing dark things into the light and empowering people to want what they want in a way that benefits everyone’s highest good.

To contact him email:
jaredrdc@gmail.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jason Mannino

Jason has decades of experience in multiple various careers that overlap including careers as an Executive Search Consultant, Executive Coach, Singer, Actor. 

 In Executive Search Jason has partnered with a variety of mission-driven clients both in house and with some of the world’s top executive recruiting agencies including Korn Ferry and Koya Partners (a division of Diversified Search Group). He also implemented in house executive search functions at world class organizations including University of Southern California, UC Berkeley, LA Care Health Plan among others. He also spent years working throughout the entertainment industry at organizations including Warner Bros. The Walt Disney Company and Universal Music among others. 

 In addition, Jason has had a lifelong love affair with the performing arts as a performer and supporter. Since moving to Palm Springs in 2021 he has sung with Modern Men, Coachella Valley Men’s Chorus, and had the honor of performing in the world premiere of their commission Momentum.  Next weekend will mark his 3rd concert with A Cabello, the Coachella Valley’s Premier Male Vocal Ensemble, in their tribute to the James Bond franchise’s 60th anniversary. Also, this month he makes his operatic debut in the lead role of Guy in TigerBear Productions' West Coast Premiere of Unbound. 

 He holds a B.A. in Theater Arts from Rutgers University and an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology from University of Santa Monica and he is credentialed as an executive/career coach with the International Coaching Federation (www.coachmannino.com), He is also a certified massage therapist and certified conscious breath worker.

LINKS:

Music:  A Cabbello (The Coachella Valley’s Premier Male Vocal Ensemble):   www.acabbello.org

Opera:  www.unboundopera.com (be sure to check performance dates/times or the Black Cast to see Jason)

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

"Facing The Truth Of Your Life" by Merle Yost

The bad news: Your parents lied to you about who you are and what life is about.
The good news: Most parents didn’t do it intentionally. They told you what they learned from their parents.

ARE YOU READY TO:

• Look at the world differently?
• Challenge the beliefs that you were force-fed as a child?
• Live life on your terms, being free and at peace with yourself?
• Stop passing fiction to your own children and their children?
• ...then you are ready for Facing the Truth of Your Life.

Some self-help books promise simple solutions that sound easy and might even feel good. Yet the fact about your personal truth is that getting down to it, facing it, and getting to the other side of it, involves some pain. There’s no way around it. The way out is through.

Facing the Truth of Your Life is a tough, enlightening and demanding book that delivers.

Contact Merle: http://www.MerleYost.com

Merle's workshops: https://unspokenboundaries.com

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Truth-Your-Merle-James/dp/0999154702/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Helene Verin has a B.S. in Art from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and has a certificate in arts appraisal from NYU. Verin has worked for many galleries, museums as well as individual artists;  including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Documenta (where she worked with Joseph Beuys), was the Edinburgh Arts Administrator, and worked for Dennis Oppenheim as his registrar.  She has written for FlashArt, Interview, and the Smithsonian.

As an award-winning designer of shoes, rugs, wallpaper, and tiles, Verin is intimately involved with contemporary design, with a specialty in couture and accessories.  Her work has appeared in countless books and publications.  A Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Verin has lectured around the world.
Recognized as the expert on Beth Levine, (having written Beth Levine Shoes, (Stewart, Tabori & Chang 2009) and curated 3 exhibitions, as well as authored Arsho Baghsarian (Schiffer Fashion Press.)

Verin moved to Palm Springs during Covid, May 2020.

Contact Helene: helene.verin@gmail.com

Helene's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heleneverin/?hl=en

Helene's Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/helene.verin.9

Artsy Article:  https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-sit-andy-warhol

LABUCQ interview: https://labucq.com/pages/helene-verin

Helene's Books:

"Beth Levine Shoes " (2009)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584797592/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

"Arsho Baghsarian: A Life in Shoes"  (2019) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764357328/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Luke Yankee
Has written, directed, produced, taught, lectured and acted throughout the country and abroad. He has run two regional theatres, serving as Producing Artistic Director of the Long Beach Civic Light Opera  and the Struthers Library theatre.

Luke’s published plays include THE LAST LIFEBOAT and A PLACE AT FOREST LAWN, both published by Dramatists Play Service.   His other plays include THE JESUS HICKEY (which premiered in Los Angeles starring Harry Hamlin) and THE MAN WHO KILLED THE CURE, which had  it's world premiere in Southern California in February 2017. He has also written numerous TV spec scripts and pilots.

His book, JUST OUTSIDE THE SPOTLIGHT:  GROWING UP WITH EILEEN HECKART is published by Random House (under the imprint of Back Stage Books), with a foreword by Mary Tyler Moore. Critics have praised it as “One of the most compassionate, illuminating showbiz books ever written.” (Musto, The Village Voice)  It was recently cited by PaperMag as “One of the Ten Best Celebrity Memoirs of All Time.”

He has taught and guest directed extensively at colleges, universities and conservatories throughout the U.S. and abroad, including five years at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Northwestern, Ohio State, AMDA, Denison, University of New Mexico, the Folkwang Hochschule (in Essen, Germany) and three years on the faculty of Columbia College-Hollywood. He has been a panelist and guest instructor at the William Inge Theatre Festival, where he has performed with Marybeth Hurt, Holland Taylor and George Grizzard. He is also a member of their Advisory Board. He is currently on the faculty of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), teaching advanced acting and scene study.

His theatre acting credits include “Our Town” at the American Shakespesare Theatre with Fred Gwynne, the U.S. premiere of “The Greeks” at The Williamstown Theatre Festival with Gwyneth Paltrow, Blythe Danner, Christopher Reeve and Celeste Holm and “The Dream Watcher” with Eva LeGallienne. In film and television, he has appeared in “The Hiding Place” with Julie Harris, “Ragtime” with Elizabeth McGovern, “Evergreen” with Armand Assante and “The Equalizer” with Jim Dale.

Luke has studied at the Juilliard School of Drama, New York University, University of California – Riverside, Northwestern University, Circle in the Square and the Herbert Berghof Studio.

He is the son of the late Eileen Heckart, who won an Academy Award for “Butterflies Are Free” and appeared in over 15 feature films, 20 Broadway plays, and countless television programs. Ms. Heckart is a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame and a multiple Emmy and Tony Award winner. In her honor, Luke created the Eileen Heckart Memorial Scholarship Fund at Ohio State University, her alma mater.

Luke toured internationally for more than ten years with  DIVA DISH, his one-man show about the golden age of Broadway and Hollywood.  There was such demand for a sequel, he  created DIVA DISH: THE SECOND HELPING, which he premiered at the Desert Rose Theatre in Palm Springs.

Luke and his husband Don Hill spend time at their homes in Long Beach, CA and Palm Springs, CA.

For more info ( including his full Bio) or to contact Luke:  https://yankeehillproductions.com

Luke's email is: luke@lukeyankee.net

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jeff Witthuhn
Peepa's owner & designer, Jeff Witthuhn, has been a Palm Springs resident since 2016. He began his retail career in 1998 when he worked at The Gap. From there he spent twelve years at Express and then moved into a buyers position at The Bon-Ton before moving to Palm Springs and opening up Peepa’s.

Peepa’s is named after Jeff’s Great Grandpa, Bud Storch. Bud and his wife Roma were instrumental in raising Jeff. Jeff spent most of his childhood at their house. Bud & Roma had a workshop in their basement where they made wood crafts and home goods in their retirement years. And Jeff always had to be down there with them. So it was decided many years ago, if Jeff ever opened up a store, it would be named in his Great Grandparents honor.

Peepa's
Nestled in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, California, Peepa’s has become a go-to destination for Palm Springs locals and tourists. At Peepa’s, they strive to give the best shopping experience in Palm Springs.  They carry a wide assortment of products including mens & women's apparel, art, gift and seasonal goods. At Peepa’s they focus on bringing in artists and designers who are independent and/or local. This helps them keep their assortment unique and different. 

As a gay owned business, they like to especially support other LGBTQ, black and female brand/artists. Their  in store experience is rooted in exceptional customer service, just like the old days! They look at themselves as hosts of the best daily party in Palm Springs. And it's their job to make you feel welcome and comfortable in their store. They enjoy the opportunity to tell customers all the interesting stories about their featured artists and designers too! And they love to learn where you are from and what brings you to fabulous Palm Springs!

They play lively, upbeat music from a variety of genres and decades. So one minute you may be bopping to Lizzo and the next minute to Donna Summer. They keep it light, happy and fun! The store is colorful, clean and well merchandised, so its easy to shop. Every visit in Peeps,  you’ll discover something new!

Jeff lives with his partner Darren in the home they've just remodeled in Palm Springs.

Visit and shop Peepa's: https://www.peepasps.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

John Adam Di Pietro

John earned his J.D. degree from the University of Notre Dame. In addition to being a civil litigator for most of his career,  he also brought in excess of four decades of experience in real estate, title, zoning, land use, litigation, business and municipal law to The Danek Law Firm. 

He has served as solicitor for many municipalities and zoning and planning boards. In addition to representing local governments, he has acted as legal counsel for real estate developers, general contractors and financial institutions. He has also served a five-year term as in-house underwriting counsel and marketing agent for a national title insurance company. 

John was a panel participant in numerous legal seminars for members of the Pennsylvania Bar and for various professional organizations, including the National Business Institute. Some of his presentations have been at the following seminars: 

• “Practical Guide To Zoning and Land Use Law” Philadelphia, PA March 14, 2016;
• “Practical Guide To Zoning and Land Use Law” King of Prussia, PA September 16, 2015;
• “Title Law From Start To Finish” Philadelphia, PA April 28, 2015;
• “Title Workshop: From Examination to Commitment: March 10, 2014;
• “Title Law in Pennsylvania” Philadelphia, PA July 10, 2013;
• “Practical Guide To Zoning and Land Use Law” Philadelphia, PA October 1, 2013; and 
• “Legal Issue in Local Government” Philadelphia, PA March 2, 2012.

He was often a guest columnist on legal issues in a variety of internet media outlets. As a member of the Pennsylvania, Montgomery and Philadelphia County Bar Associations he  practiced before several U.S. Federal District Courts. As an appellate attorney he has also represented clients before the Commonwealth’s appellate courts.

He is fluent in Italian and French and has represented clients abroad in various business matters.

John was also active in local politics. In 1979, he was elected as councilman-at-large to Wilkes-Barre City Council for a four-year term. 

Community service includes Chairperson of the East Norriton Township Zoning Hearing Board and member of the Human Relations Commission of East Norriton Township. He is also a member of the Independence Business Alliance of Philadelphia.

Past Solicitorships:

• Luzerne County Institution District;
• Borough of Conshohocken; 1992 – 2004;
• North Wales Borough;
• Springfield Township Zoning Hearing Board; 
• Springfield Township Civil Service Commission; 
• Special Counsel to Borough of Conshohocken; 
• Special Counsel to Ambler Zoning Hearing Board.

John is married to his husband Rich and now enjoys a busy life of retirement in Palm Springs, California.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Dan Rossi

Dan discusses his coming out process, life on the east coast and other topics, including his vast experience heading up several large non-profits.

Prior to his current job as Executive Director of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Dan  was with the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, where he led the very successful Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh over 12 years.

Dan is a Pittsburgh native and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Carnegie-Mellon University, as well as a Master’s Degree from Robert Morris University.

His extensive nonprofit experience spans not only animal welfare but also human health, having served as CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona, part of the United Cerebral Palsy network which is one of the largest health nonprofits in the United States.

Dan’s animal welfare journey really took off in 2010 when he accepted the role of Executive Director at the Animal Rescue League. Under his leadership the ARL experienced unprecedented growth and became the largest animal shelter in the Pittsburgh region, touching the lives of more than 25,000 animals and 30,000 households annually.

In 2017, Dan was named CEO of Humane Animal Rescue – the legacy organization of the merged Animal Rescue League and Western PA Humane Society.

Dan  is married to his husband Ed Garofolo and they live with their pets in Palm Springs, California.

Visit the Palm Springs Animal Shelter: https://psanimalshelter.org

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

A native of San Diego County, Rev. Dr. Jerry Troyer has been a New Thought/Religious Science minister since 2007.

Jerry is a founding board member and currently Director of Relationship Development for Urban Street Angels, an organization in San Diego that works to end youth homelessness by providing housing, life skills training and employment referrals to homeless transition age youth, ages 18 to 25.

He also serves as staff minister for Om Center for Spiritual Living, and is the author of the acclaimed book, Coming Out to Ourselves:  Admitting, Accepting and Embracing Who We Truly Are.  

Rev. Dr. Jerry’s husband, also Jerry, died in 2018, after a 33 year relationship.  As a result of experiencing conflicting feelings of grief, loss and “toxic positivity,” he created an interactive workshop titled “The Search for Inner Peace:  Being at Home in the Muddy Water.”  

Through the grieving process, Jerry connected with others, especially in the LGBTQ community, experiencing difficulty in finding a sense of purpose and possibility after the death of a dear one or other life trauma.  As a result of his connection with “ElderPride,” a focus ministry of the Centers for Spiritual Living, he began creating his second book about life after 60, which is expected to be published in 2023.  

Rev. Dr. Jerry lives in La Mesa, a suburb of San Diego, with his English Cream Golden Retriever, “Maggie.” His son Brandon and family, including seven grandchildren, live near Eugene, Oregon.

Links:

http://www.revjerrytroyer.com

http://www.urbanstreetangels.org

http://www.omcsl.org

http://www.elderpride4me.org

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Vinnie Rotalo is an amazing man. 

He hasn't had an easy life.  When he was only 14, he tried to save his mother's life via instructions in CPR given by a 911 dispatcher.  After her death, he had to go live with his father whom he didn't really know.

He became a trainer and was settling into a successful career with modeling potential when he became paralyzed.  It took him a year of fierce struggle to come back to his normal self.

He got involved in drugs, spent some years in the gay porn industry and lost his partner to suicide.  He also lost his beloved feline buddy Baxter, who had stuck with Vinnie through all of the ups and downs.

Vinnie is a courageous, beautiful man who's a bit shy - but he's very funny when you get to know him.  His beautiful energy will be obvious to even the most casual observer as you listen to his story and be encouraged...

Vinnie's contact info:
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/vjr39/
Email: Vjrotalo@gmail.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

I met Tom Grissinger online more than 20 years ago.  We had initially considered dating but that didn't work out.  We remained friends over these many years.

In this episode, he discusses the  rather unique grieving process he used in dealing with the unexpected death of his partner Kelly Turner.

We bounce around on many topics, including why he chose to father four children for four lesbian couples, some crazy dating stories and why he's so obsessed with game shows (and how he managed to successfully go on so many of them).

Lastly, he chats about his latest ventures in writing plays and storytelling.

Tom lives with his husband Andy Kelchner and they spend time between their homes in Oakland and Palm Springs.

Contact Tom via email: tgriss@gmail.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

XIAOBING is from China.

He spent four months as an artist in residence at the Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles.

After that experience, he's been traveling around the US.  I caught up with him as a guest at my Airbnb in Palm Springs (Palm Springs Interlude).

He chats with me about his art, his family and gay life in China.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Wilkinson's airbnb:  https://www.airbnb.com/users/251586484/

Who is Alex Stratikis?  Here's his story in his own words:

"Hi, I’m Alex Stratikis, founder of Autism Adventures Abroad.  I’m a 20-something travel blogger/writer (I’m also a Japanese to English translator too!) and I just happen to have an Autism diagnosis too. I was inspired to start my blog and establish this website to encourage other young autistic people who are ambitious about exploring the world to push their boundaries and give traveling a go, even if society may convince them otherwise. I could never have imagined that my life would turn out the way it has!

I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 6 (I now simply identify with the broader Autism Spectrum). I always knew there had to be a bigger, more interesting and exciting world than the small ex-mining community where I grew up in Scotland. I dreamt of living in Japan and from the age of 13 I began to study the language, I eventually studied for an Honours Degree in Japanese at Newcastle University in England and graduated in 2019.

I traveled myself for the first time abroad at the age of 19, to Japan and spent 6 months in Tokyo, studying at a language school.  Those were some of the best times of my life. I learned a lot about myself, my limits, my likes and dislikes, I really pushed myself to try new things and explore new places during my stay.

I started to develop connections with others who like me were living in a foreign country and this was a key point I noted.  Nobody was there to judge anyone else’s differences, everyone was there to connect with the people present, most of whom were of different cultures to themselves.

I was raised in Scotland (I’m Greek/Scottish) and really struggled socially throughout my childhood, I struggled to make friends because no-one I knew seemed to be interested in the things I wanted to talk about and here I am now at the beginning of an incredible journey that has seen me travelling (mainly solo) to over 30 countries, 6 of which I have lived, worked and studied in.  I now have friends in countries all over the world!

I have a real interest in visiting sites and venues of historical and architectural significance (I did think about studying archaeology at university before I settled on Japanese).

I post regularly on Instagram, photos and stories from my travels so please take a look, like my posts, leave me a comment and if you like what you see, follow me and I might just follow you back"!

Alex's blog:  https://www.autismadventuresabroad.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AutismAdventuresAbroad

Alex's travel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismadventuresabroad/

Alex's tip jar/donation: https://gofund.me/20645a45 or
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AlexStratikis

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

RICKY REIDLING
Ricky was born in the small southern town of Winder, Georgia on May 15th. Doing local theater productions since he was a kid he got his first real break when he was 15 when he was asked to audition for "Annie Get Your Gun" playing 'lil Jake, Annie's brother. He won the audience's over with great reviews to follow. Ricky continued acting in various productions throughout his career and finally decided to make the move to California where he was referred to a talent agent by a well known casting director and appeared in several films. Ricky then decided to start his own entertainment company where he would write/produce/direct and act in some of his own productions.

Ricky is a filmmaker, writer, actor and creator of the Cable series BoysTown, the feature film HEELS and the T.V. pilot Some Kind of Wonderful.

Some Kind of Wonderful  Website:   www.skowseries.com

Ricky's IMDB profile and info:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1579379/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ricky.reidling

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickyreidling/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

RUSSELL POE
When he was a young man, Russ Poe had a professor who told him not  to follow his passion of becoming a teacher.  Years later, with a lot of life experiences under his belt and with three children of his own, circumstances in his life changed and he was able to once again come back to his passion. He returned to school, obtained the necessary teaching credentials and began teaching.

That was twelve years ago.  having moved from the Chicago suburbs to the desert, he now teaches middle school in Desert Host Springs.

He shares some insights from teaching middle schoolers and also manages to share a few life lessons with us.

Borrowing a line from a Ben Rector song, he says:

"I'm living my best life
I wake up with the sunrise
It does not look a thing like I thought that it would
I've been getting my steps in
And I sleep with my best friend..."

Russ says that he feels like he's cheating at life.  His second chapter is starting so well...

He lives with his wife and three children in Cathedral City, CA.

Contact Russ via email: russp1968@gmail.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Ram Charan has been passionate about exploring consciousness through meditation and healing work for decades. 

A native of New York, he has spent the greater part of 30 years in India where he gained a deep appreciation and understanding of spiritual awareness practices and intuitive wisdom, which finds expression in his practice of integrative bodywork and transformational coaching. 

He combines this with extensive training in multiple holistic therapeutic approaches. He received his coaching training and certification through Coacharya in Chennai, India. His bodywork and coaching styles integrate his skills in a wide variety of manual techniques with a subtle understanding of the healing value of deep presence and conscious dialogue. 

He teaches and works extensively internationally and is based on Cape Cod from Spring through Autumn. 

For more information about his coaching and bodywork services, see: 

www.healherenow.com

www.adamramcharan.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Rob Ollander-Krane

Rob grew up in New Jersey where he met his husband Jason 43 years ago at 19 years old! It was there that he also started his career in retail and Human Resources…a career that led to Harvard Business Case creating a case study that focused on the innovative work he did in Performance Management.

The two left New Jersey for the greener pastures of California and settled in San Francisco in 1987. Two years later, they were among the first gay men to both legally adopt a child. Their son Craig, now 37, lives in Virginia with his wife and 4-year-old son. Rob is a real gay grandpa!

A few years back, Jason and Rob relocated to Palm Desert and retired. But that hasn’t slowed Rob down. Since moving here, he has become a singer/songwriter, penning three songs after unsuccessfully trying to write songs for many years. The trick he discovered…a song writing camp in the Catskills run by his favorite band, the Milk Carton Kids. 

But if that wasn’t enough, he also started a gay country western dance space called Palm Springs Country Dance Association where he and 50 others dance every Friday night. 

Seems Rob is a bit of a renaissance man. What will he do next?

Come dance at the Palm Springs Country Dance Association: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3149602058688600

Listen to Rob’s favorite band: https://www.themilkcartonkids.com

And check Rob out at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rob.ollanderkrane


Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Matthew Hardy is a New York City based actor and musical theater writer. His musicals can be seen Off-Broadway, at theaters across the United States and as far away as Poland. As an actor he has performed in theater, film and television but has recently made the leap to the tiny screen where you can find him on tiktok singing impromptu songs in his underwear.

www.matthewhardy.org

www.tiktok.com/@matthewahardy

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Shawn Smith shares his stories of coming out in the rural midwest.

His involvement in an emerging Gay college campus organization began a path of LGBT activism, advocacy, and community-building as the Gay Rights Movement began to coalesce in the mid-70's across America.

Lured by the freedom and anonymity of big city life, Shawn shares his adventures along the road to freedom of sexual expression.

A writer and storyteller by trade, he's now quasi-retired and slacking poolside: A dirty old man enjoying the free and Fabulously Gay life that Palm Springs has to offer.

Contact Shawn at: macgizmoguy@hotmail.com 

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Aaron Jay Young grew up in a very conservative, religious home in Pennsylvania.
He escaped at age 19 and he's spent his adult life on a journey of growth and self-discovery.  Today he's an amazing portrait photographer based in LA and Palm Springs.  I'm proud to have had the chance to get to know and interview this beautiful soul.

In Aaron's own words:
"My work is my passion. It is a culmination of all my life experiences - the pain, the trauma, the work I’ve done to find forgiveness, love, and compassion - not just for myself but for others. The process allows me to see other people, their pain, their joy, their vulnerability, and capture it authentically. It is with my camera that I take this journey; through self-portraits and through portraiture of others. 

It’s a very intimate experience; when a subject is in front of me, whether it’s for 30 seconds, or much longer. There is an undeniable connection that is established. We exchange a sense of trust. All other distractions fall away and it is my sole purpose to see them and to capture those moments of truth. 

Self-portraits are a way for me to expose not only my own inner world, but the inner world of others; to capture emotional states that are not encouraged to be shown in our society. Yet this is the very essence of what everyone can relate to throughout their own moments in life".  
Aaron Jay Young

Web:  https://www.aaronjayyoung.com
Email:  aaron@aaronjayyoung.com


Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Adam Ross is a writer, a three-time Moth StorySLAM winner, and a three-time Moth GrandSLAM performer. His stories have been featured on The Moth Podcast and the Bawdy Storytelling Podcast. He has performed at curated storytelling shows in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Chicago and New York City, including Strong Words, GatherNYC, OUTspoken, This Much is True, Talk Therapy, Bawdy Storytelling, and Better Luck Next Time.

Adam has been writing both fiction and nonfiction stories since he and his nerdy friends started ditching recess in the 4th grade to create short plays and home movies.  He is currently producing a short film dramatization of his shocking “Since We’re Being Honest” story.  

In addition to Adam’s creative projects, Adam has spent the last two-decades working for technology companies in various legal and business capacities, where he has almost mastered the art of cat­-herding.  Though he doesn’t enjoy long walks on the beach, Adam does enjoy being a part-time science nerd, political junkie, and gay rights rabble­-rouser.

https://adamross.me/

http://Twitter.com/adamross

http://Instagram.com/adam.ross.stories

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Kevin  has travelled extensively throughout the USA.  After getting kicked out of his home as a teen, he had many harrowing adventures that seemed to bring him to various forks in the road.  But somehow, he beat the odds and was able to choose the path away from certain destruction.

In other words, he takes many round about ways to get places but eventually always makes it!

He currently resides in NYC with his husband and he's working as a nurse at a NYC hospital.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Kevin  has travelled extensively throughout the USA.  After getting kicked out of his home as a teen, he had many harrowing adventures that seemed to bring him to various forks in the road.  But somehow, he beat the odds and was able to choose the path away from certain destruction.

But it wasn't until he tested positive for HIV that it all came together and he was able to settle down, complete his education, get married and find purpose in life doing a job that he loves.  And all the previous challenges meshed together to make him the man he is today.

It took many round about ways to get places but eventually always made it!

He currently resides in NYC with his husband and he's working as a nurse in a NYC hospital.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Alan Kraemer and Claudia Ried
After careers in the tech industry and the fashion industry respectively, Alan Kraemer and Claudia Ried have reinvented themselves in the desert as producers and entertainers. On this show they tell us about their various ventures and adventures.

Links:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@PalmSpringsPointofView

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/PSPOV

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/pspov1938/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jason Reale is a recent transplant from NYC where he was a director of design for a global branding agency.

At the age of thirty he decided to change up his life, quit his job and rediscover his passion for acting by studying the Hagen technique at HB Studio. It was there where he was able to start to unravel the facade he had built up over the years and reawaken his creative spark.

Since moving to Palm Springs he has started to find his people through the plays he has been cast in. His most recent play, The Lincoln Debate by Terry Ray, poses the questions of Lincolns sexuality. This play has been his most challenging role to date and probably the role that has helped him grow the most.

It doesn't hurt that he shares a lot in common with the sixteenth president, besides just the beard.

More info and to contact Jason:  http://jasonreale.com/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Alex Price is new to Palm Springs after moving here from the East coast in 2021. 

His life has taken him from the sticks of Tennessee, to Washington DC, a brief detour in Wuhan, China (ever heard of it?), and finally to the West coast and the Coachella Valley.  A government bureaucrat during the day, Alex has rekindled his love of acting and can be found performing in two different, local stage productions.

Check him out in The Bent’s production of THE LINCOLN DEBATE at the Palm Springs Cultural Center in February 2023 as well as Desert Theatreworks’ production of THE MOUSETRAP in February and March.

You can find Alex at www.thealexprice.com or through his Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/xand83/

Find tickets to THE MOUSETRAP:  https://ci.ovationtix.com/36400/

Find tickets for The LINCOLN DEBATE at
The Bent Theatre: https://www.thebent.org

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Rob Rosen is a multi-award-winning and best-selling author/editor/anthologist.

He's  the author of:
Sparkle: The Queerest Book You'll Ever Love
Divas Las Vegas
Hot Lava
Southern Fried
Queerwolf
Vamp
Queens of the Apocalypse
Creature Comfort
Fate
Midlife Crisis
Fierce
And God Belched
Mary, Queen of Scotch
Ted of the d'Urbervilles
Sort of Dead
Genie in a Vodka Bottle
Bobby Ray Breaks the Universe.

His short stories have appeared in more than 200 anthologies. 
You can read some of his best ones in:
Short Spurts
Short Spurts 2
Short Spurts 3
He is also the editor of:
Lust in Time: Erotic Romance Through the Ages
Men of the Manor
Best Gay Erotica 2015
Best Gay Erotica of the Year, Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Please visit him at www.therobrosen.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

AUSTIN URBAN

Austin Urban shares his story in this "Anatomy of an Abusive Gay Relationship" and he also shares some insights into other men's personalities, wants and needs in his experience as a gay male escort.

It's easy to look at someone else's failing relationship and to then make a judgment about it. 
"Why is he putting up with that behavior from his partner"?
"Why doesn't he just leave"? 
"What does he see in him"?

But life isn't always so cut and dried.  Sometimes there are unresolved issues from one's past that keep people in relationships that are not good for them. Sometimes fear or economic reasons come into play.

And some people falsely believe that only male/female relationships are subject to abuse. 

In this episode, Austin Urban shares the details in this "Anatomy of an abususive gay relationship".

He also shares some insights into other men's personalities, wants and needs in his experience as a gay, male escort.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Mel discusses in background and early life in this first episode.

MEL ENGLAND has starred on Screen and Stage, Off-Broadway, internationally and across the USA, since his debut at age 10 in CYRANO DE BERGERAC, directed by British Actor/Director Anton Rogers at the Dallas Theatre Center. He's played Brad in the play ELECTRICITY for audiences around the country, from New York, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, to Minneapolis, where he won Best Actor in a Tour from Lavender Magazine.

On film, he starred in the title role of RON AND LAURA TAKE BACK AMERICA for which he won a Best Acting Ensemble award (IIFC) and two Best Actor nominations (NYCIFF & IndieFest). The film, which he co-wrote and co-directed with co-star Janice Markham, earned 13 other wins and nominations, including Best Comedy & Best Director, co-starred Golden Globe Best Actress Nominee Irene Bedard and Jim J. Bullock, and can be seen on Amazon Prime. He stars in the feature BEST DAY EVER, Winner Best LGBT Film (IndieFest) also on Amazon, and appears alongside Academy Award Best Actress Nominee and Golden Globe Winner Sally Kirkland in ARCHAEOLOGY OF A WOMAN. He recently signed to star with Kirkland in the upcoming feature film LOVE ANONYMOUS.

Other film roles include Mr. Ghoulden in the hilarious dark comedy feature PERSONA AU GRATIN, Winner Best Comedy (IndieFest USA) and co-starring alongside horror film star Sid Haig in the indie hit LITTLE BIG TOP (released worldwide on Netflix & Amazon). He also starred in the dark comedy PERSONA AU GRATIN (Best Comedy, IndieFest), and as a minister confronted with his own crisis of faith in HIGHLIGHTS (Best Drama Nominee, Moviefone Film Festival). Most recently, he can be seen in the feature FROM ZERO TO I LOVE YOU, and in the TV movie FAME AT DEADLY COST on Lifetime and internationally on Canal.

On Stage, England's solo show SWIMMING WITH THE POLAR BEARS directed by Jill Andre, premiered Off-Broadway at the Lynn Redgrave Theatre, as part of a benefit for The Climate Project, featuring posters of the show signed by former Vice President Al Gore, and then toured world-wide, to the 2009 UN SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE in Copenhagen, LA, and the National Mall in Washington DC for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Other Off-Broadway credits include HECUBA, MARRIAGE with the Pearl Theatre Company.

England has been a proud part of many notable "original" New York productions, including THE RING OF DEATH by Off-Broadway legend H.M. Koutoukas, director Chris Sanderson's MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM in Washington Square, HONEYSUCKLES (developed for TV by FOX), SEA MONKEYS at Playwrights Horizons by Tony Nominee Chad Beguelin (THE PROM), FREDDY at LA’s Fountain Theatre, and KING OF CONNECTICUT with Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

England studied with legendary acting teachers Stella Adler and Terry Schreiber, attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, trained with internationally acclaimed director Agousto Boal, with members of the Royal Shakespeare Company at the British American Theatre Institute, and is a graduate of Dallas' High School for the Performing and Visual Arts with Karon Cogdill & Jane Farris, and in the beginning at the children’s theatre program the Dallas Theatre Center, under the direction of Synthia Rogers.

For Mel's full bio and other information, please go to: http://www.MelEngland.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Mel discusses his journey on the professional side in this second episode.

MEL ENGLAND has starred on Screen and Stage, Off-Broadway, internationally and across the USA, since his debut at age 10 in CYRANO DE BERGERAC, directed by British Actor/Director Anton Rogers at the Dallas Theatre Center. He's played Brad in the play ELECTRICITY for audiences around the country, from New York, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, to Minneapolis, where he won Best Actor in a Tour from Lavender Magazine.

On film, he starred in the title role of RON AND LAURA TAKE BACK AMERICA for which he won a Best Acting Ensemble award (IIFC) and two Best Actor nominations (NYCIFF & IndieFest). The film, which he co-wrote and co-directed with co-star Janice Markham, earned 13 other wins and nominations, including Best Comedy & Best Director, co-starred Golden Globe Best Actress Nominee Irene Bedard and Jim J. Bullock, and can be seen on Amazon Prime. He stars in the feature BEST DAY EVER, Winner Best LGBT Film (IndieFest) also on Amazon, and appears alongside Academy Award Best Actress Nominee and Golden Globe Winner Sally Kirkland in ARCHAEOLOGY OF A WOMAN. He recently signed to star with Kirkland in the upcoming feature film LOVE ANONYMOUS.

Other film roles include Mr. Ghoulden in the hilarious dark comedy feature PERSONA AU GRATIN, Winner Best Comedy (IndieFest USA) and co-starring alongside horror film star Sid Haig in the indie hit LITTLE BIG TOP (released worldwide on Netflix & Amazon). He also starred in the dark comedy PERSONA AU GRATIN (Best Comedy, IndieFest), and as a minister confronted with his own crisis of faith in HIGHLIGHTS (Best Drama Nominee, Moviefone Film Festival). Most recently, he can be seen in the feature FROM ZERO TO I LOVE YOU, and in the TV movie FAME AT DEADLY COST on Lifetime and internationally on Canal.

On Stage, England's solo show SWIMMING WITH THE POLAR BEARS directed by Jill Andre, premiered Off-Broadway at the Lynn Redgrave Theatre, as part of a benefit for The Climate Project, featuring posters of the show signed by former Vice President Al Gore, and then toured world-wide, to the 2009 UN SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE in Copenhagen, LA, and the National Mall in Washington DC for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Other Off-Broadway credits include HECUBA, MARRIAGE with the Pearl Theatre Company.

England has been a proud part of many notable "original" New York productions, including THE RING OF DEATH by Off-Broadway legend H.M. Koutoukas, director Chris Sanderson's MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM in Washington Square, HONEYSUCKLES (developed for TV by FOX), SEA MONKEYS at Playwrights Horizons by Tony Nominee Chad Beguelin (THE PROM), FREDDY at LA’s Fountain Theatre, and KING OF CONNECTICUT with Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

England studied with legendary acting teachers Stella Adler and Terry Schreiber, attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, trained with internationally acclaimed director Agousto Boal, with members of the Royal Shakespeare Company at the British American Theatre Institute, and is a graduate of Dallas' High School for the Performing and Visual Arts with Karon Cogdill & Jane Farris, and in the beginning at the children’s theatre program the Dallas Theatre Center, under the direction of Synthia Rogers.

For Mel's full bio and other information, please go to: http://www.MelEngland.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Steven Henke joined DAP Health in 2017 and was promoted to Director of Brand Marketing in 2019, He currently leads all strategic branding, marketing, and communications for the organization and Revivals Stores.

"I bring good people and great ideas together."

Henke spent his first five years in the Coachella Valley as Client Strategies Manager for Gannett owned Desert Sun Media Group, an integrated media and marketing company that included The Desert Sun, DesertSun.com, DESERT magazine, and  Desert Outlook magazine. During his tenure, he developed innovative digital and social first marketing strategies that won first place International News Media Association (INMA) awards in 2014 and 2015.

Deeply engaged in the local community, Henke has served on numerous boards and committees benefiting local non-profit organizations – including Seathletes, United Way of the Desert, Equality California, Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, and Special Olympics. He served as President of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce where he acted as creative director for the Palm Springs Chamber City Guide Magazine shining a bright spotlight on members of the chamber.

He can be seen as a correspondent for NBC Palm Springs and heard on the Joey English show twice monthly discussing upcoming events and organizations that benefit residents of Greater Palm Springs.

Before moving to the Coachella Valley, Henke lived in Minneapolis where he worked for Target Corporation, Sphere Trending, and Hanover Accessories focusing on strategic pathways driven by consumer and design trends. 

Contact Steven: https://www.instagram.com/trendguy/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Darya Teesewell (she/her) is a writer, storyteller and member of the Hollywood filmmaking diaspora. Darya is a woman of trans/queer history born in mid-century in Los Angeles at Cedars of Lebanon in Hollywood. She now lives in Cathedral City, California where being mid-century is the apex of fashion.

Darya worked a below-the-line job in the film industry for forty years under another name making other people’s dreams come true; now she’s retired, on a pension and finishing a memoir about facing being trans at age 45 during the heady L.A. club days of the 1990’s. She’s tall, blonde and dresses like the world’s oldest rocker chick.

She’s married to and in love with one woman for a long time and has two amazing kids.  She’s written for Huffington Post, Fourculture online magazine and has told stories at Strong Words in Los Angeles and in Palm Springs and read a piece as a part of Queerwise Los Angeles commemorating world AIDS day in December 2021. 

Darya’s Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/daryateesewell/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Shawn Smith gives a historical perspective on the formation of the gay bear community and he also shares some insights about bears.  It's almost like sitting in a college class as he gives us some insider information and insights regarding the bear community.

In addition to his knowledge and engagement in the bear community, his involvement in an emerging Gay college campus organization began a path of LGBT activism, advocacy, and community-building as the Gay Rights Movement began to coalesce in the mid-70's across America.

Lured by the freedom and anonymity of big city life, Shawn shares his adventures along the road to freedom of sexual expression.

A writer and storyteller by trade, he's now quasi-retired and slacking poolside: A dirty old man enjoying the free and Fabulously Gay life that Palm Springs has to offer.

Contact Shawn at: macgizmoguy@hotmail.com 

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

In Peter Leahy's own words:
"What happens when you finally come out of the closet and stop living a lie?

For many years, I saw myself as a coward – too scared to admit that I was gay and embrace who I was. Throughout my 20’s and 30’s, my active life was masked with what I believed was “normalcy,” but underneath I was tormented by sadness, emptiness and most importantly, self-loathing. Finally, I summoned the courage to walk away and eventually become a proud (and fabulous) gay man.

Reaching out and being vulnerable to people is scary and you may fail the first time. You have the power to try again, to find your courage and become the best version of yourself, even if that means leaving everything and starting over. You can move from the world of shadows and hurtful ideas to a healthy sense of self. Whatever struggles you face, there’s no reason to handle them alone. I hope my story can inspire you to be your unique self and overcome life’s challenges. Authentic happiness is out there"!

Contact Peter: glowingupgay@gmail.com

Buy the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/bNrpOTC

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

JASON STUART
When you think one of the most prolific character actors, who’s also an outrageous openly gay stand-up comedian, one name comes to mind.... Jason Stuart. After years of steady work in film and televi- sion, and over 150 credits on his IMDB page, actor and comedianJason Stuart has achieved a pinnacle of success many actors only dream of. "For the last few years, people have started to approach me and say, 'You're that guy,'" he explains with his characteristic gravelly laugh. Stuart has now established himself as one of those all-too-familiar faces who might just pop up anywhere, in any kind of role. And most recently he won the Worldwide Comedy Award for Best LGBTQ Comedian from some heaven weight stand ups like Margaret Cho to Billy Eichner to Tig Notaro to Wanda Sykes.

Recently he had a major role in The Birth Of A Nation, and stars in the indie drama Hank, the action film Abducted on Showtime, the thriller Immortal and his new comedy series on Amazon, Smoth- ered which he won the Indie Series Award for Best Actor in a Comedy. Jason also has appeared in the award winning films Tan- gerine, Love Is Strange, Gia with Kindergarten Cop and Vegas Vacation among his fan favorites. He has wowed TV audiences with guest roles on such shows as Goliath, Swedish Dicks, Love (Judd Apatow), Sleepy Hollow, Real Rob, Entourage, The Closer, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, House, Everybody Hates Chris, George Lopez, Will & Grace, Charmed and as “Dr. Thomas" on My Wife and Kids. As a stand up comic you have laughed with him on Gotham Comedy Live, Red Eye, One Night Stand Up, Wisecrack, Comics Unleashed and his own comedy special Making It To The Middle, his new comedy album I’m The Daddy and I Have Candy and autobiography Shut Up, Im Talking! From CCB Publishing.

https://www.jasonstuart.com

http://www.imdb.me/jasonstuart

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Matthew Mitchell is a Los Angeles based photographer/director.  His work is stylish, yet effortless. Images of beauties such as Eva Longoria, Leighton Meister and Anna Lynne McCord have graced the covers and pages of magazines internationally.  

His background as a former dancer, and make-up artist, serve him well when capturing more than the exterior of his subjects.

He remarks: “FUN, that’s what my shoots are about - FUN.” 
It’s this kind of lightheartedness that lands Mitchell in front of the lens as an on-camera photographer for TV shows like Oprah, The Bachelor and How To Look Good Naked.

When asked what he is working on next... Mitchell answers “Working on my pecs, biceps and abs of steel".

Matthew's contact info:
Email:  matthewmitchellphoto@gmail.com
cell: 310.488.9134

http://www.desertluxuryimages.com
http://www.matthewmitchellfoto.com
https://www.mrpinque.com

Find tickets to Mr. Pinque's Brolesque:
https://ticketbud.com/events/888e5fd0-9b5b-11ed-8637-42010a71701efbclid=IwAR37e5HnbgrC8PSAC2N0F3uUV_2Wg74BPWLUmnc6GdoF5dljj4SEJNp5Uf4

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction.

He has won the LGBTQ literary prize, the Rainbow Award three times (for Raining Men in 2013 best gay contemporary fiction and in 2021, his psychological thriller revolving around Jeffrey Dahmer, The Man from Milwaukee won for best gay mystery and best gay novel overall; the book has also been optioned for film and an Italian translation is slated for a May release at the Turin Book Fair, Italy's largest book fair). 

He is also a three-time EPIC Ebook Award winner and a Lambda Literary Award finalist for Blue Umbrella Sky. Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…” 

Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his husband, Bruce, and their two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.

Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

“…I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” Joseph Campbell

Michael is a native Nevadan who spent his childhood between a high desert dirt pile surrounded by every animal his parents would let him have and a tire & auto repair store alongside his parents while on roller skates. 

He has lived in 3 of the 4 US time zones and the country of Sweden while in college. He is an alumna of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI and Simpson College in Indianola, IA.   Ask him about his careers in sales, marketing, accounting, property management and hospitality or the 3 businesses and 501(c)3 non-profit that he started and operated or currently operates. 

He is an outdoor and sports enthusiast and has/does actively engage in: soccer, track, downhill skiing, sailing – racing/cruising, hiking, camping, mountain biking, volleyball, rollerblading and swimming, but still doesn’t do near enough kite flying or throwing a Frisbee. Other interests that are close to his heart are regenerative agriculture and silvopasture, food as medicine, home renovation and design, wine (particularly anything sparkling), real estate, travel, other cultures and traditions and the stories and lessons learned from the paths of others. 

He was given the gift of singing and has performed in a number of concerts and productions from the time he was 4 (which may have included dancing with a broom). He is currently contributing his time and talents to the Miracle Activation Center as the Director of Operations – a non-profit healing center – where he hopes to support others on their journey as he actively follows his. He is currently working toward becoming an Ordained Ministerial Counselor and a Certified Food Matters Nutrition Coach.

Michael's email:   Michael@MiracleActivationCenter.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Daniel Patrick O'Reilly  is a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none.  You can find him selling wine by day, slinging drinks by night, or on your television sets as a young dad in a First Five California commercial. 

If interested to know more about his life and adventures, you can reach out to him on his IG at  http://www. Instagram.com/danpatrickoreilly

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Brent Heinze has a master’s degree in clinical counseling and has been working in the mental health field for over 18 years.  He is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California specializing in working with gay men, sexuality, couples, and non-traditional relationships.  

He is a published author of two self-improvement books, “Redefining Normal 1 & 2: A Modern Gay Man’s Guide to Happy and Healthy Living” and was a senior columnist for Out Front Magazine.  

Brent is also the Executive Director of Perspective Shift, a national non-profit company focusing on producing educational and social community events benefitting LGBTQ+ and sex-positive charitable organizations.  

He won the title of Mr. Leather Colorado 2010 and finished in 4th place at IML.  He was the recipient of the Pantheon of Leather Award in 2015 and the NLA Community Service and Leadership Award in 2011.  He has been a judge for International Deaf Leather in 2011, as well as judging and emceeing many other events.  

Brent performs with his electronic music projects Probe 7, The AXIOM Divide, and Darling Kandie in addition to producing a new musical and writing songs for film and television.  

He currently lives in Palm Springs with his husband.

Contact Brent:

Web: http://www.BeginTheShift.org
Email: Brent@BeginTheShift.org

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Sean Hoey is a Democratic political operative who has worked for Democratic political candidates across the country, including Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

Sean was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin.  He's the son of small business owners, lived his childhood in the closet, and witnessed the power of politics growing up in a capital city.  His upbringing  informs the values and the candidates he believes in and advocates for.

Today, he lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Look him up for recommendations on what to do off the Strip!

Contact Sean:
608-287-8523
seanlhoey@gmail.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Daniel Bateman
Originally from Kansas City MO, Daniel has been performing since he was a toddler. He performed in several NYC Broadway musicals, national touring productions and studied with The Juilliard School in NYC as well as The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles;  a city where he lived and worked professionally over 10 years.

Most recently, he starred in the West Coast Premiere of “Why Can't the Trains Run On Time?” Now a Palm Springs resident, Daniel is thrilled to be on stage again here and has big goals he’s excited to work on building within the SoCal Arts community. Getting to tell LGBT stories is a dream come true and a huge passion of his. He is beyond grateful to his loving parents who have always been his biggest cheerleaders!

Contact Daniel:
Email:  ItsDanielBateman@gmail.com
Business #: 760.422.3041
https://www.instagram.com/dbatemanofficial/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

In David's words:
"Welcome! I'm glad you're here. My name is David Wichman, and I am an author, speaker, and certified Conscious Recovery™ coach with a focus on sexual wellness. I have been creating workshops and writing about sex and sobriety for many years. 

It is my deepest passion to witness men at the intersection of sexual freedom in recovery and I am dedicated to helping Queer, Gay, Bi, and Trans-identified men navigate the sacred and beautiful nature of sex love and intimacy. 

If you are in recovery or seeking guidance around sex in recovery, I hope you will explore working with me free of dogma,shame and judgement. 

 (NOTE: You do not have to be in recovery to work with me)."

David Wichman is an author, speaker, sexual healer, and entrepreneur who is respected and well-known all over the world to those who seek to live free of stigma, shame, and fear around sex, love, and intimacy.

Raised in Fremont, California, David survived a childhood marked by severe neglect and abuse, which led him into years of homelessness, alcoholism, and drug addiction. After decades of struggle and rehabilitation failures, he finally obtained freedom from his addiction in 2005. He remains an active member of New Thought and recovery movements to this day.

In 2006, David found a calling in sex work. While working with seniors, the disabled, and those with severe intimacy issues, he discovered the profound transformational power that sex work creates for both client and provider. In 2009, he founded his travel-companion company, the Male Adventure, through which he has accompanied clients on life-changing adventures to all seven continents. He is an activist, vocal ally, and grateful member of the LGBTQI2 community.

 
In 2016, David co-founded Heal-VR, a software development company that merges ancient spiritual principles and meditation techniques with modern virtual reality technology.

David lives with his partner Todd & their 3 rescue dogs: Panda Petey & Siain in their home in the Coachella Valley area of California.

Find David at: http://www.dpwichman.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

It's highly unusual for teens to know the direction they want to take in life.  But these two did... here's their story.

Preston Shatwell and Brenton Thomas have been together for over 13 years. Brenton added Preston on Myspace when they were 14 and 16 years old and that started their love story.

Preston is a born and raised Oklahoman with a passion for local progressive politics and advocacy. He is a creative professional using his skills to support causes he cares about and currently works in the adolescent sexual health nonprofit field.

https://www.instagram.com/prestonshatwell/
Email: prestonshatwell@gmail.com

Brenton works as a consultant at a software company. Brenton is fun-loving, excitable, and always ready to dance and laugh. He loves to travel, experience new cultures, and meet people.

https://www.instagram.com/brenton.thomas/
Email: brentonthomas1@gmail.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Mina Hartong

Emcee, Educator, Funny Lady

Award winning comedian Mina Hartong (Caroline’s New York, Curve Magazine, Cipriani’s) has been performing and touring for over twenty years. Favorite shows and venues include Don’t Tell Mama’s, Montreal Fringe Festival, and headlining at Iceland Pride where she marched with the lesbian mayor. Mina taught in the public schools for twenty years. 

These days, when she is not on stage, Mina enjoys teaching Acting and Stand up Comedy and developing new comics. Recent appearances include Palm Springs Pride, Diversionary Theater in San Diego, and The Triad Theater in New York City. Mina’s comedy show Lez Out Loud,  just had their seventh sold out show. She teaches online, in New York City, and with the McCallum Theater. 

In 2020, Mina and her wife relocated to Palm Springs to escape the pandemic in New York City. In less than a year, Mina produced her own comedy show Lez Out Loud at Runway Bar and Restaurant in Cathedral City to sold out audiences which continues today. 

Look for new Lez Out Loud shows coming in April. Mina also collaborates with The L-Fund, a non profit that assists cis and trans lesbians in the Coachella Valley. She recently Emceed the L-Fund’s sold out Gala in February, 2023. 

To book Mina for Hosting, teaching, or comedy shows, please contact her at:
https://linktr.ee/lezoutloud
 https://www.facebook.com/mina.hartong/
https://www.instagram.com/hartongmina/
https://vimeo.com/mshartong

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Growing up, Edras Cordova's father constantly reminded him of a saying.  Edras chose to remember his father's teaching by having it tattooed across the top of his chest.  Roughly translated, the words say:  "Only the one who carries a knapsack knows what's in it". 

We never know what another person is going through.  Edras took the message to heart and it softened him.  Unfortunately, it appears that his siblings and other family members did not learn such a message.

People are so often trapped in their religious beliefs and systems that they are blinded to truth and reality.

Many of my prior podcast guests have told stories of being trapped in such systems, and they described how they were able to escape and ultimately live fulfilled lives as their authentic selves.

Edras Cordova and his brother were both gay.  Edras was able to navigate his escape route from the Jehovah's Witness cult (his word) and to go on to live a life he never thought possible when he was trapped in that religious system.

His brother was not so fortunate.  He chose a path of staying in the system, marrying, have two children and believing that somehow he would be "cured" or "fixed" and being gay would go away.

The torment and pain of being caught in such an untenable position ultimately drove him to multiple suicide attempts.  Two weeks before taking his own life, he told his family that he was either going to live his gay life, or commit suicide.

Edras discusses the pain and fallout of his brother's choice in hopes that people who are caught in such systems will open their eyes and hearts to the truth:  If we don't allow ourselves and others to be who they are, the cost will be unbearable. 

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.    Text or call 988 on your cell phone for help.

LGBT youth crisis helpline. If you are thinking about harming yourself — get immediate support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

STEVEN SKEELS

SINGER • SONGWRITER • ACTOR • PRODUCER

"TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE" - WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Over his 40 year career, Steven Skeels has established himself as one of music’s most versatile artists, equally as passionate as a performer on the concert stage singing his own material to writing and producing for other artists as well. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, he has explored nearly every genre of music and continues to explore new sounds and experiences. He has performed in over forty countries and has been seen on the Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as numerous television programs throughout Europe.

As an actor and performer, Steven was handpicked by Andrew Lloyd Webber to originate the starring role of “Rusty” in the hit musical Starlight Express, both in Germany and Las Vegas. This role garnered him a European radio Top 10 single with the title song “Starlight Express” for CBS Records. Other roles include Lt. Cable in South Pacific (American Hawaii Cruise Lines), the Scarecrow in The Wizard Of Oz (Macy’s Theatricals of NYC), and Tom Thumb in Barnum (The S.S. Norway). In film, Steven has been featured in the award-winning short film, Leaving Malcolm, and as well as composing music for the film. Steven is currently in post-production for his documentary, Becoming Whole, which chronicles his journey from humble beginnings to the top of the entertainment business.

To see his entire bio and to contact Steven, go to https://www.stevenskeels.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com