141 episodes

When I started this podcast, I thought it would be the story of my journey from married man with three sons, involved in ministry in the NW, to my current life as a gay man in Palm Springs, CA. I'd weave in interesting interviews with amazing people whom I've met along the way. But as the podcast has evolved, I realized that interacting and hearing other people's stories has changed me. The Universe always sends me just the right person at just the right time to guide me along my own journey of "Becoming". Join me as I have conversations with these fascinating people and share this journey with you.

Becoming Wilkinson WILKINSON

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.9 • 15 Ratings

When I started this podcast, I thought it would be the story of my journey from married man with three sons, involved in ministry in the NW, to my current life as a gay man in Palm Springs, CA. I'd weave in interesting interviews with amazing people whom I've met along the way. But as the podcast has evolved, I realized that interacting and hearing other people's stories has changed me. The Universe always sends me just the right person at just the right time to guide me along my own journey of "Becoming". Join me as I have conversations with these fascinating people and share this journey with you.

    "In the Beginning"... Musings on "Why Another Podcast", "My Move to Palm Springs" and "Potlucks and Parties and People. Oh My"

    "In the Beginning"... Musings on "Why Another Podcast", "My Move to Palm Springs" and "Potlucks and Parties and People. Oh My"

    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

    • 25 min
    Andrew and Peter- Falling in Gay Love Today. Many in my generation had no concept of what it would be like today... The idea that two men could fall in love and get married, never crossed our minds. Things have changed!

    Andrew and Peter- Falling in Gay Love Today. Many in my generation had no concept of what it would be like today... The idea that two men could fall in love and get married, never crossed our minds. Things have changed!

    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

    • 17 min
    What in the World is an Ex "Ex-Gay"? I'm gay. Now I'm "saved". They can "fix" me. I can help fix others. Oops, nope- I'm gay after all. The very hilly ride of the ups and downs that religious folks offer as an unworkable solution.

    What in the World is an Ex "Ex-Gay"? I'm gay. Now I'm "saved". They can "fix" me. I can help fix others. Oops, nope- I'm gay after all. The very hilly ride of the ups and downs that religious folks offer as an unworkable solution.

    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

    • 25 min
    Jerry Lynch is a Former Priest who left the Ministry to Live an Authentic Life as a Gay Man. He loved his ministry as a priest. But the day arrived where he had to walk away. He just couldn't live that life any longer.

    Jerry Lynch is a Former Priest who left the Ministry to Live an Authentic Life as a Gay Man. He loved his ministry as a priest. But the day arrived where he had to walk away. He just couldn't live that life any longer.

    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

    • 23 min
    Exploring Good Sex with Patrick Prohaska. Everbody likes to listen in on a discuss about sex, right? Patrick sheds some light on a few things we might not have thought about before.

    Exploring Good Sex with Patrick Prohaska. Everbody likes to listen in on a discuss about sex, right? Patrick sheds some light on a few things we might not have thought about before.

    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

    • 28 min
    Endeavor with Jase... What's it like to live in a place where you are "different" in some way? Jase shares his thoughts on diversity in the desert. And why is he so positive about everything? We discuss his thoughts on this.

    Endeavor with Jase... What's it like to live in a place where you are "different" in some way? Jase shares his thoughts on diversity in the desert. And why is he so positive about everything? We discuss his thoughts on this.

    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

    • 21 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
15 Ratings

15 Ratings

lgavs ,

Like this pod. Good interviews.

Happy I found this pod. Good interviews, wide ranging topics, and like the flow. Always interesting.
Thank you Wilkinson.

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