Out of the Blue - The Podcast: Finding the Way Forward

Vernon West
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Self-Improvement

Out of the Blue-the Podcast features interviews with inspirational survivors of traumatic out of the blue events who have overcome unimaginable challenges, sharing their stories of resilience and triumph. By sharing these stories, "Out of the Blue" aims to create a community where others who have faced similar hardships can find solace and strength as together, we find the way forward.

  1. 9h ago ·  Video

    Healing Through Vibration and Harmony with Kidd Griffey

    Seizures that strike in your sleep change the way you think about tomorrow. Music artist Kidd Griffey sits down with us to tell the story of what happened when his life took an unexpected turn at 21, how fear and uncertainty reshaped his priorities, and why music became a dream and then a lifeline.  We talk about the “out of the blue” moments that defined his path, including a disruptive move to Detroit during high school, the isolation of being forced to learn independently, and the slow rebuild that followed years of health battles. Griffey explains what it’s like to create while you’re still healing and how faith helped him shift from constant stress to a steadier mindset. Along the way, we discuss songwriting choices: uplifting records versus sad songs, how harmony and vibration feel physical, and why live music can feel like church.  Griffey describes his transition from hip hop into country music and his decision to pull his catalog from streaming platforms. If you care about resilience, spiritual growth, and independent artists, this conversation is for you. Follow Kidd Griffey: @iamkiddgriffey Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

    45 min

  2. May 27

    Resilience Is A Daily Practice with Dave Loiterstein

    Dave Loiterstein's recovery story starts earlier than most, with a quiet belief he carried as a kid: if his own mother didn’t want him, nobody ever would. Alcohol and drugs showed up fast, and the “off switch” never really existed. Together we talk honestly about what craving feels like, why some brains chase blackout instead of “just one,” and the disease model of addiction. Then we get into the part most people avoid saying out loud: relapse. Dave doesn’t glamorize it or call it inevitable, but he also refuses to let shame be a life sentence. He shares what it meant to have 21 years of continuous sobriety followed by relapse. We dig into the pressure of the sobriety number and the daily reprieve that keeps recovery alive. Dave’s journey stretches far beyond survival: a music-driven life, a career as a Hollywood makeup artist, and a pivot into substance abuse counseling and rehab admissions, taking crisis calls from families who need help immediately. Structure, routine, creativity, and parenting with boundaries are part of this discussion, because stability can feel unfamiliar after years of chaos. Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

    42 min

  3. May 20

    Groove And Gratitude with Steve Thoma (Part 2)

    We pick up part two of our conversation with Steve Thoma and get honest about what happens when a musician finally lands the dream gig and decides it is time to “relax” with alcohol and drugs. Steve traces the arc from steady ambition to “using with great purpose,” and why the post-show rush can become the most seductive drug of all. We also get into the nuts and bolts of recovery in the real world: getting sober while still surrounded by touring life, the anxiety of being searched, and the quiet code of “Friend of Bill.” Steve talks about how sponsorship, meetings, and service keep people grounded. The spiritual side comes up too, including the tension many feel around higher power and how some people choose to stay anyway and keep moving forward. Steve Thoma concludes the episode with a message that applies to both recovery and artistry: dreams are not granted by hype or competition, they are earned through preparation, listening, and practice. Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

    40 min

  4. May 7

    Groove And Gratitude with Steve Thoma (Part 1)

    At six years old, playing piano duets with his grandmother was the first step toward the music industry, Hollywood, and even Frank Sinatra for musician Steve Thoma. From Detroit roots to a life as a classically trained pianist, arranger, composer, and conductor, Steve serendipitously found himself in “right place, right skill, right attitude” moments you can’t plan. Steve breaks down what musicianship really is when the lights come on: paying attention, listening harder than you play, and learning how to support other people. We talk about Catholic school training and the high school scholarship that changed everything by turning Steve into the go-to accompanist for choirs and productions. We also get into the professional world that shaped his standards; truly just the tip of the iceberg. Steve shares why ambition needs boundaries and why humility is the hidden engine behind long-term creative excellence. Stay tuned for Part Two. Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

    34 min

  5. Apr 29

    Reconstructing After Addiction with Dr. Nicole Labor (Part 2)

    In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Nicole Labor, we discuss practical healing from trauma and why the "survive, strive, arrive, and thrive" model can work for anybody, not just those who are recovering from addiction. We get concrete about nervous system support: movement, breath work, cold exposure, and the “smallest possible win” approach when depression or shutdown makes everything feel impossible. Then we zoom out to the bigger arc of growth and the key areas of Dr. Nicole Labor's books: survive, strive, arrive, and thrive. “Arrive” is the moment you’re no longer only your recovery story – you’re a whole person with identity, goals, and meaning. “Thrive” is what comes next: optimizing health, cognition, and quality of life while accepting that life still gets messy. For more on Dr. Nicole Labor: Laborhood Change Project, Inc. Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

    32 min

  6. Apr 23

    Reconstructing After Addiction with Dr. Nicole Labor (Part 1)

    Dr. Nicole Labor returns to Out Of The Blue The Podcast to talk about what “reconstruction” really means after addiction and why recovery is about building a life that can hold happiness, connection, and purpose. Dr. Labor breaks down addiction neuroscience in plain language, including her unforgettable dopamine baseball field analogy that explains tolerance, anhedonia, and why “normal” pleasures stop working. From there, we zoom out to what drives substance use disorder in the first place: pain, trauma, and the fact that every brain interprets experience differently.  We also dig into harm reduction, naloxone access, and the tough truth about stigma: sometimes the loudest judgment comes from people who quit easily and assume everyone else can too. Stay tuned for Part Two. For more on Dr. Nicole Labor: Laborhood Change Project, Inc. Out Of The Blue: Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

    32 min

  7. Apr 8

    Pushing Forward Parkinson's Awareness with Dr. George Ackerman

    Dr. George Ackerman lost his mother to Parkinson’s disease and refused to let her story end there. His promise became Together For Sharon, a family-driven platform for Parkinson’s awareness, caregiver support, and education that now reaches thousands of people searching for answers and community. Advocacy is not optional when research depends on funding. George shares what it’s like to go to the Capitol as a Parkinson’s advocate, what he learned through the Michael J. Fox Foundation community, and why Parkinson’s research funding should stay bipartisan. We talk about the fight for better diagnosis, including progress toward biomarkers, the harm of misdiagnosis, and the hope for a simple test that can catch Parkinson’s earlier. Then we go where it hurts and where it helps: the caregiving reality. George describes dealing with medication changes, mobility trouble, and what families face across the stages and symptoms of Parkinson’s. The power of consistent outreach to elected leaders provides hope for a cure. For more on Dr. George Ackerman: Together For Sharon Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

    43 min

  8. Apr 1

    Turning Trauma Into Art and Mentorship with Ashshahid Muhammad (Part 2)

    Our conversation with Ashshahid Muhammad continues. One moment he’s describing the shock of walking into art college, the next he’s explaining why he refuses to “sugarcoat” what addiction, homelessness, rehab, and relapse actually feel like. We follow the path that takes him from learning graphic design to turning his life story into comic books, with room to carry the stories of people who never make the newspaper. We also dig into One Eye Television, his Staten Island Community Media show and YouTube channel where he films his paintings, his process, and the raw truth behind the art. To Ashshahid, content creation matters; when someone else edits your story, you lose the parts that make it real, and when you control the narrative, you can show what healing actually looks like. Ashshahid also shares how one of his favorite books, "Who Moved My Cheese?", becomes a blueprint for staying in motion, adding skills, and never getting too comfortable. For more on Ashshahid Muhammad: Graffiti University Comics - YouTube Graffiti University Comics - Instagram "Real Friendz: North Park" Comic Book - Buy Here "W.B.C: Dopeboy Dreamz" Comic Book - Buy Here "W.B.C 2: Wave Nu-Vo Era" Comic Book - Buy Here Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Out of the Blue-the Podcast features interviews with inspirational survivors of traumatic out of the blue events who have overcome unimaginable challenges, sharing their stories of resilience and triumph. By sharing these stories, "Out of the Blue" aims to create a community where others who have faced similar hardships can find solace and strength as together, we find the way forward.

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