Courage to Be Courageous Dan Bolen

This is an incredible podcast of two great men who have persevered through the odds and have used courage and optimism, to get through their fear and setbacks. Cam Davis has a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science/ Psychology and English, a JD degree, and an MBA. He is presently the Managing Director of Investments for Wells Fargo Advisors. Sam Randazzo has a Bachelors of Science in Advertising and Marketing from Ferris State University in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Sam has been in media and advertising for his entire  career and ended as the Managing Director of Media Maniacs, a company that he owned. Cam has had to reinvent his career three different times, being at the top of his game and losing a substantial amount of financial security two times over. He will show perseverance, as well as positive attitude of optimism and moving forward. Sam, who has had 12 back surgeries and two neck surgeries, and is still facing more surgeries, showcases moving forward despite health challenges by having a positive attitude with a great partner/husband who totally supports him. This is an great story of two incredible people who’ve had to learn, adapt, change, through adversity, listen and understand one another to accomplish their life goals. This is a riveting and powerful podcast.

Dennis lived in a generation where you could not come out as gay because it was considered a psychiatric disorder. He even made a couple attempts at suicide. Dennis lived in a generation where there was no moral support and no role models for LGBTQ individuals. He used education to bury his feelings, receiving a bachelors degree two masters degrees, and a PhD in Public Health . He connected to The Trevor project and applied to become a voluntary youth crisis counselor in which he has been doing for three years .The Trevor project receives calls from all over the United States with children between the ages of 13 to 24 years old, who are struggling with suicide forLGBTQ youth .Dennis is a digital counselor which is done over the Internet . The Trevor project is the one that I, Dan Bolen support and you will get to see the inner workings of a volunteer youth  crisis counselor . The film Trevor was released in 1995 and received an Oscar for Best Short Subject  at the 67th Academy Awards. For  those that would like to trained to be a voluntary youth crisis counselor you can go to their website www.thetrevorproject.org. Not only does Trevor Project receive digital program calls, but they also have a suicide hotline number 1866-488–7386 or text 678–678

Crystal Waltman was extremely good at softball, and got a scholarship for Central Arizona College for softball and won two national championships in softball . After receiving her Associate Degree she went on to Arizona State University, and  received her Bachelor Degree in Communications . After the death by suicide of her best friend, she started to bury her feelings and become numb to any emotion. She used alcohol to numb all the feelings she had. After struggling in her marriage and having a beautiful daughter named  Liv Crystal hit rock bottom . When she was driving home from a restaurant intoxicated with her daughter in the car it brought  her to surrender; It brought her to her knees. With the support of her family, who were at first in denial she was able to get sober . She released a book/memoir, entitled “Quitting to Win”, A Proven Plan to Let Go of Bad Habits ,Learn to Feel and Love Yourself. It gets top ratings on Amazon. This is an inspiring story of a beautiful woman, embracing her fear and using courage to get through it.
Crystal‘s website is www.crystalwaltman.com. Please check out this incredible podcast!

Rich T graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from San Jose State University in Hospitality Management. Rich was raised in a sports environment and played all different types of sports and was particularly good at swimming and diving which he did in college . He volunteered to go into the army and was sent to Korea . Rich knew he was attracted to older men and he struggled with that trying to convince himself that he wasn’t gay. He ended up in two relationships in the military with two men who were colonels and were married and had children. Rich struggled with this, knowing that he didn’t want to live the life with men who were married and were hiding from their wives. When Rich got out of the army, he dated a woman and were engaged and then he realized that he couldn’t do it. He also met a man who was vice president/pastor of a huge Megachurch, whose children were also pastors who secretly carried on in the relationship with Rich and others until Rich found out who he was. It showed the hypocrisy of organized religion. He showed courage by dealing with PTSD caused by the army, and also being sodomized as a young man. Rich we’ll talk about his healing, and the peace he has from being his authentic self.






 

Mike Klein graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in finance from Arizona State University, and received his Master in International Management (MIM) at Thunderbird University. He grew up in Mesa Arizona where he was a member of the LDS church. He also went on a mission for the church and became a high achiever in all the leadership positions in the Mormon church thinking that if he did all these good things and high achievements in the church that God would take away his gayness. Mike struggled a good part of his life, trying to fit in and trying to deny that he was a gay man. He even went to repetitive/conversion therapy. The reality was he was attracted even more to men which added more shame to his life. Mike married his wife and proceeded to have seven children and continued struggling with himself, even to the point of considering committing suicide. He tells a fascinating story of how he was able to pull his life together and become his authentic self. He will also talk about his relationship with God, and what God thinks of him. This is an incredible podcast.

Steve Gumble is founder of SBG productions which is a special event production company located in Telluride Colorado. He has Bacheors of Arts from the University of Hampshire, in Parks and Recreation /Tourism. He married a beautiful woman that he met in college, named Lynn and they stayed married for 12 years. This produced two beautiful girls, Katy and Taylor. Steve showed courage by coming out as gay to his wife and also to his two daughters. Even though this ended in divorce, this is a powerful podcast about courage, grief, anger, and acceptance, Steve And Lynn, our best friends, and do things together with Steve and his partner, Jake. This is a unique story, of courage and on the part both Steve and Lynn and eventually total acceptance.