the ACT OUT podcast

Adam Tomlin
  • 5.0 (14)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

On the ACT OUT podcast, Adam talks to people about their passions and how they relate to our world today. Expect honest conversations, humor, and a little sarcasm as guests share their stories, perspectives, and lessons. We’re here to challenge narratives, celebrate authenticity, inspire listeners to live unapologetically as themselves, and spark a feeling of connection and hope with the audience. Episodes usually feature Adam and one guest in a colorful, conversational setting, with new episodes dropping every Thursday. Adam’s humor, empathy, and insightful sarcasm make each conversation engaging, relatable, and thought-provoking.

  1. NOV 26

    Why We Act Out: The Heart of the Podcast and How We’ll Shape the Future

    Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this solo mini-episode, host Adam Tomlin takes a moment to pause, reflect, and reset as Season 1 heads into a well-earned holiday break. With his signature humor and heart, Adam looks back on the first dozen episodes and revisits the core question listeners keep asking: What does it mean to ACT OUT? Together, he explores the ethos behind the show—pursuing happiness, elevating passion, and changing the narratives that shape our communities and our country. Adam reflects on why the podcast was created in the first place: to champion compassion as strength, vulnerability as courage, and storytelling as a bridge between divided places. He dives into the narratives he’s committed to shifting—especially around mental health and politics—unpacking why polarization feels so deep and why it doesn’t have to be. Using the metaphor of Benjamin Franklin’s rising (or setting) sun, Adam reminds us that the future is collective: we rise together, or not at all. Listeners will gain insight into the mission guiding the ACT OUT podcast, what’s coming next after the holiday recording sprint, and how individual conversations can spark cultural change. Adam also shares a simple, audacious plan for moving forward: keep acting out—keep choosing joy, curiosity, and connection, especially when the world says “pick a side.” As Season 1 wraps, we’re so grateful you’ve been here. We’ll return in January with fresh episodes that inspire, challenge, and entertain. Until then, keep pursuing your happiness and acting out your purpose—right alongside us. Other ways to follow and connect with the ACT OUT podcast: Learn more at:https://www.theactoutpodcast.com/ Subscribe to the show on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theACTOUTpodcast Follow the show on Instagram: @‌actoutpodcast & TikTok: @‌actoutpodcast Credits: Mural: Tara E. @‌taradiiiise and @‌tarayakisauce Music: Matt Hobbs @‌matthobbs & Puppy Songs @‌puppysongs

    7 min

  2. NOV 13

    From Tinder to Trowels: A Story of Love, Loss & Digging for Literal Dinosaurs

    Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam sits down with his favorite co-conspirator—wife and resident “chaos wrangler” Kaylin—to revisit a decade of decisive leaps, heartbreak, healing, and building a life on purpose. Together, they trace the arc from a right-swipe on Tinder to cross-country travel with a toddler, from law-school masks to authentic partnership, and from Atlanta roots to a new home in Norfolk, VA. Expect humor, heart, and hard-won clarity on what it really takes to keep moving—together. Kaylin shares stories from behind the camera and on the road: producing a traveling podcast with a two-year-old, the whirlwind filming blitz across multiple cities, and the season of caregiving that reshaped everything. She and Adam get candid about grief (G’s cancer and passing), the logistics and love inside family estates, back surgery and recovery, and why COVID became a surprising reset. They also unpack the Norfolk leap, life in a 1910 house, and Kaylin’s much-talked-about “dino dig”—a practice in intuition, pattern-spotting, and trusting your own voice. Listeners will gain insights into making big decisions fast (and kindly), carrying loss without letting it define the story, communicating through mental-health lows and shame, and finding the good moments inside hard years. Adam and Kaylin also offer practical takeaways for partnership under pressure—how to divide roles, invite community, and keep choosing the life you want. Tune in every Thursday for episodes that inspire, challenge, and entertain. Whether you’re here for laughs, lived wisdom, or action steps, the ACT OUT podcast is your space to rethink growth, embrace self-awareness, and act out your passions. Other ways to follow and connect with the ACT OUT podcast: Learn more at:https://www.theactoutpodcast.com/ Subscribe to the show on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theACTOUTpodcast Follow the show on Instagram: @‌actoutpodcast & TikTok: @‌actoutpodcast Credits: Mural: Tara E. @‌taradiiiise and @‌tarayakisauce Music: Matt Hobbs @‌matthobbs & Puppy Songs @‌puppysongs

    1h 17m

  3. NOV 6

    TURNING Pain into PURPOSE: Erica Wright on Homelessness, Mental Health & Dignity

    Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam sits down with community leader and Project U First founder Erica Wright—the 2025 Phenomenal Women’s Community Servant Award winner—to talk dignity-first outreach, mental health, and what actually helps our unhoused neighbors. Together, they dive into Erica’s origin story (a Sunday-school prompt and a woman washing her hair under a bridge), how hygiene and “being seen” can unlock hope, and why real change requires wraparound services—not just photo ops. Expect candor, compassion, and a practical roadmap for helping that helps. Erica shares stories from 10 years on the ground: launching hygiene kits from church hallways, serving during the pandemic out of a Honda Civic, and scaling impact with partners (hello, sock drives!) while refusing to lose the human in the metrics. She and Adam unpack the realities of living with bipolar I, anxiety, and OCD, the non-glamorous side of nonprofit work, and the difference between short-term relief and long-term stability. Along the way they explore: care closets in schools, the U First Kids Bus, day services vs. shelters vs. “housing first,” and what happens when leaders roll up their sleeves and ask someone’s name before handing them a bag. Listeners will gain insights into designing support with dignity, why hygiene is often the first domino to employment and stability, how to collaborate across orgs without exploiting stories, and concrete ways to help today (from keeping kits in your car to building school-based resources). Adam and Erica also get real about self-care for caregivers—why the work is unsustainable if the worker isn’t well. Tune in every Thursday for episodes that inspire, challenge, and entertain. Whether you’re here for heart, realism, or action steps, the ACT OUT podcast is your space to rethink growth, embrace self-awareness, and act out your passions. Connect with Erica & Project U First: Website: Project U First (http://projectufirst.org ) Instagram & Facebook: @‌projectufirst Other ways to follow and connect with the ACT OUT podcast: Learn more at:https://www.theactoutpodcast.com/ Subscribe to the show on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@theACTOUTpodcast Follow the show on Instagram: @‌actoutpodcast & TikTok: @‌actoutpodcast Credits: Mural: Tara E. @‌taradiiiise and @‌tarayakisauce Music: Matt Hobbs @‌matthobbs & Puppy Songs @‌puppysongs

    1h 28m

  4. OCT 30

    VHS, Vegas & Very Bad Movies: Kristopher Bolz on Creativity, Nostalgia & Finding Your People

    Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam sits down with Atlanta creative and VHS Deathmatch co-host Kristopher Bolz to talk radio days, living-room comedy shows, and why “so-bad-it’s-good” movies are the perfect glue for community. Together, they dive into Kris's path from Chicago to Las Vegas to Atlanta, how boredom can spark bold ideas, and the origins of a live show that mashes up cult films, stand-up energy, and audience participation—complete with QR-code voting and over-the-top VHS “death” scenes. Expect nostalgia and a refreshing case for authenticity over perfection. Kris shares stories about turning 21 in Vegas, penny slots and “lost wages,” packing a house with strangers for DIY shows, and moving those parties into East Atlanta venues. Kris and Adam trace Kris's journey from Eight-Bit Comedy Night at Joystick Gamebar to VHS Deathmatch—editing full films down to tight clip blocks, riffing live with a co-host, and letting the crowd crown “the best of the worst.” Along the way Adam and Kris discuss: Spoon-throwing at The Plaza Theater watching The Room, wig disasters in Samurai Cop, the unkillable charm of Miami Connection, and why Atlanta’s food + arts scene keeps creative people circling back. Listeners will gain insights into building a niche live event, balancing a full-time sales job with night-and-weekend creativity, and using mistakes as fuel instead of proof you should quit. Adam and Kris unpack practical event craft, promotion that doesn’t feel gross, and the psychology behind nostalgia—why VHS era movies, horror, and cult action flicks hit our brains like comfort food. They also get real about confidence, rejection tolerance, and how being yourself on-mic (and on stage) is high-risk, high-reward—and absolutely worth it. Tune in every Thursday for episodes that inspire, challenge, and entertain. Whether you’re here for laughs, life lessons, or bold ideas, the ACT OUT podcast is your space to rethink growth, embrace self-awareness, and act out your passions. Connect with Kris on Instagram: @vhsdeathmatchatl Other ways to follow and connect with the ACT OUT podcast: Learn more at: https://www.theactoutpodcast.com/ Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theACTOUTpodcast Follow the show on Instagram: @‌actoutpodcast & TikTok: @‌actoutpodcast Credits: Mural: Tara E. @‌taradiiiise and @‌tarayakisauce Music: Matt Hobbs @‌matthobbs & Puppy Songs @‌puppysongs

    1h 2m

  5. OCT 23

    Getting Schooled: Lessons on Education from 42 Years in the Classroom with Mr. Donegan

    Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam sits down with longtime educator John “Johnny Danger” Donegan to explore teaching, learning, and how schools shape communities. Together, they dive into classroom realities, the evolution of middle schoolers over four decades, and what “school choice” really looks like on the ground. Expect candid conversation, humor, and heartfelt stories from a teacher who spent 42 years helping students think critically, laugh often, and grow up well. Adam and Mr. Donegan share personal tales from the front lines of education—subbing chaos to department-chair mentorship, building stable faculties, and why class size matters more than slogans. They unpack public vs. private schooling, vouchers, and magnet programs; how resources, family safety nets, and opportunity gaps change a kid’s trajectory; and the practical craft of teaching: mixing lecture, visuals, and group work so every learner finds a way in. Along the way: baseball dreams, parking-lot lesson plans, and the art of keeping a straight face when seventh-graders weaponize fart jokes. Listeners will gain insights into how leveling and mixed-ability classes work in practice, why stable staffing and administrative support transform schools, the trade-offs behind vouchers and funding formulas, and concrete ways teachers foster critical thinking without political tribalism. Adam and Mr. Donogan also discuss media literacy, sourcing facts (beyond Wikipedia), and the power of connection—why you often have to touch a heart before you can change a mind. Tune in every Thursday for episodes that inspire, challenge, and entertain. Whether you’re here for laughs, life lessons, or bold ideas, the ACT OUT podcast is your space to rethink growth, embrace self-awareness, and act out your passions. Other ways to follow and connect with the ACT OUT podcast: Learn more at: https://www.theactoutpodcast.com/ Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theACTOUTpodcast Follow the show on Instagram: @‌actoutpodcast & TikTok: @‌actoutpodcast Credits: Mural: Tara E. @‌taradiiiise and @‌tarayakisauce Music: Matt Hobbs @‌matthobbs & Puppy Songs @‌puppysongs

    1h 13m

  6. OCT 16

    Back Where I Come From: Life, Medicine & Cartersville

    Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam sits down with Dr. Alan Barnes, family physician and Cartersville local, to explore healthcare, community, and returning to one’s roots. Together, they dive into small-town life, medical practice, and personal experiences that shaped Alan’s career. Expect candid conversation, humor, and heartfelt stories about medicine, entrepreneurship, and the impact of community. Adam and Alan share personal tales from Alan’s journey through medical school, residency, and establishing his own direct primary care practice, including the challenges of healthcare bureaucracy, navigating insurance systems, and finding fulfillment in patient relationships. They also reflect on the nostalgia of growing up in Cartersville, maintaining lifelong friendships, and raising a family in a hometown that continues to grow and evolve. With honesty, humor, and practical insight, this episode explores how intentional living, relationships, and professional autonomy can guide both personal and professional growth. Listeners will gain insights into the differences between fee-for-service and direct primary care models, how healthcare systems impact doctors and patients, the importance of building strong community connections, and lessons from balancing family, career, and entrepreneurship. Adam and Alan also discuss small-town life, rural healthcare challenges, patient care philosophy, and why pursuing your own path in medicine can lead to both personal satisfaction and professional success. For more from Dr. Alan Barnes and to explore his direct primary care practice, visit Georgia Direct Family Care. Tune in every Thursday for episodes that inspire, challenge, and entertain. Whether you’re here for laughs, life lessons, or bold ideas, the ACT OUT podcast is your space to rethink growth, embrace self-awareness, and act out your passions. Other ways to follow and connect with the ACT OUT podcast: Learn more at: https://www.theactoutpodcast.com/ Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theACTOUTpodcast Follow the show on Instagram: @‌actoutpodcast & TikTok: @‌actoutpodcast Credits: Mural: Tara E. @‌taradiiiise and @‌tarayakisauce Music: Matt Hobbs @‌matthobbs & Puppy Songs @‌puppysongs

    1h 25m

  7. OCT 9

    Buy High, Sell Low and Don’t Freak Out

    Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam sits down with Craig Seligman, seasoned financial advisor at Proactive Wealth Strategies, to explore investing, market psychology, and making smart financial decisions. Together, they dive into the economy, stock market trends, and personal experiences that shaped Craig’s career. Expect candid conversation, humor, and insightful stories about money, risk, and long-term strategy. Adam and Craig share personal tales from Craig’s 30+ years as a financial advisor, including his early lessons in the industry, navigating market downturns, and understanding the real-life impact of financial decisions. They also discuss why technology has transformed investing, how most people make common mistakes like buying high and selling low, and the importance of time in the market versus trying to time the market. With honesty, humor, and practical insight, this episode explores how thoughtful planning, education, and perspective can guide both financial and personal growth. Listeners will gain insights into starting investing even on a modest income, understanding the difference between the economy and the stock market, building a long-term investment strategy, and why having a trusted advisor can help prevent costly mistakes. Adam and Craig also discuss Roth IRAs, ETFs, risk management, market bubbles, and the psychological side of investing, providing actionable advice for both new and experienced investors. For more from Craig Seligman and to explore Proactive Wealth Strategies, visit www.pwsatlanta.com Tune in every Thursday for episodes that inspire, challenge, and entertain. Whether you’re here for laughs, life lessons, or bold ideas, the ACT OUT podcast is your space to rethink growth, embrace self-awareness, and act out your passions. Other ways to follow and connect with the ACT OUT podcast: Learn more at: https://www.theactoutpodcast.com/ Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theACTOUTpodcast Follow the show on Instagram: @‌actoutpodcast & TikTok: @‌actoutpodcast Credits: Mural: Tara E. @‌taradiiiise and @‌tarayakisauce Music: Matt Hobbs @‌matthobbs & Puppy Songs @‌puppysongs

    51 min

  8. OCT 2

    Shadowboxing, Street Smarts, and Self-Awareness: Growing Up, Traveling, and Finding Your Tribe

    Welcome back to the ACT OUT podcast! In this episode, host Adam sits down with Phil Ramos, a Bronx-to-New Jersey native, traveler, and advocate for authentic experiences, to explore his fascinating perspectives on life, family, and personal growth. Together, they discuss their upbringings around police officers, shadow boxing and SWAT simulations, and how Phil’s family history shaped his understanding of the American dream. Expect candid conversation, humor, and eye-opening stories that blend real-world experiences with reflections on personal development and wellbeing. Adam and Phil compare personal tales from growing up in Cartersville, GA and New York/New Jersey, respectively, navigating cultural identity, and discovering the importance of internal security over external validation. They also explore the art of traveling off the beaten path, finding authentic local experiences, building meaningful friendships, and fostering mental wellness through exercise, routines, and community. With raw honesty, actionable takeaways, and engaging anecdotes, this episode shows how curiosity, courage, and perspective can guide both personal and professional growth. Listeners will gain insights into the complexities of cultural identity, generational perspectives on the American dream, authentic travel experiences, building supportive communities, managing anxiety, and redefining masculinity in modern life. Adam and Phil also discuss self-awareness, mental health strategies, and ways to cultivate internal security while navigating today’s fast-paced world. For more from Phil Ramos and to explore his travel and lifestyle insights, connect with him on social media [insert links if available]. Tune in every Thursday for episodes that inspire, challenge, and entertain. Whether you’re here for laughs, life lessons, or bold ideas, the ACT OUT podcast is your space to rethink growth, embrace self-awareness, and act out your passions. Other ways to follow and connect with the ACT OUT podcast: Learn more at: https://www.theactoutpodcast.com/ Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theACTOUTpodcast Follow the show on Instagram: @‌actoutpodcast & TikTok: @‌actoutpodcast Credits: Mural: Tara E. @‌taradiiiise and @‌tarayakisauce Music: Matt Hobbs @‌matthobbs & Puppy Songs @‌puppysongs

    1h 6m
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Trailer

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

On the ACT OUT podcast, Adam talks to people about their passions and how they relate to our world today. Expect honest conversations, humor, and a little sarcasm as guests share their stories, perspectives, and lessons. We’re here to challenge narratives, celebrate authenticity, inspire listeners to live unapologetically as themselves, and spark a feeling of connection and hope with the audience. Episodes usually feature Adam and one guest in a colorful, conversational setting, with new episodes dropping every Thursday. Adam’s humor, empathy, and insightful sarcasm make each conversation engaging, relatable, and thought-provoking.

Information

  • Creator
    Adam Tomlin
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 the ACT OUT podcast
  • Show Website
    the ACT OUT podcast