Interview: Stephen Chamberlin

In this intimate conversation, Stephen Chamberlain, a former U.S. Coast Guard officer, small business owner, and writer, candidly discusses his personal struggles and victories. From navigating anxiety disorders to his cathartic discovery of writing and poetry, Steve opens up about his life journey. He delves into the complexities of moral injury, the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, his 40-year relationship with disordered eating and anxiety, and his pursuit of contentment through nomadic living and creative expression.

Steve's raw honesty provides a unique lens into the challenges of coping with men’s mental health issues while striving for fulfillment. His writing not only serves as a personal outlet but also connects him to a broader community of writers and readers interested healing and self-reflection.

Timeline:

* 01:28 Background and Early Life

* 03:04 Struggles with Disordered Eating, Anxiety, and Joining the Coast Guard

* 04:22 Life in the Coast Guard and Personal Challenges

* 05:47 Post-Retirement Life and Discovering a Nomadic Writing Journey

* 07:35 Exploring New Ventures and Digital Nomadism

* 09:50 Writing as a Cathartic Experience

* 12:41 Peer Support and Mental Health Advocacy

* 17:56 Moral Injury in the Coast Guard

* 38:56 Struggles with Weight and Anxiety

* 40:00 Understanding Male Anorexia and Its Impact

* 40:47 The Battle Between Rational and Irrational Voices

* 42:38 Poetry as a Means of Control

* 45:14 Exploring Psychedelics for Treatment

* 47:28 The Transformative Impact of Psychedelic Experiences

* 58:13 Embracing Mortality and Planning Ahead

* 01:03:28 Future Plans and Other Pursuits

* 01:07:13 Connecting with the Audience

Connect with Steve and his writing @ Steve's Substack

Steve’s Collections of Poetry: My Raven and My Blackbird

AI Machine Transcription - Enjoy the Glitches!

Steve: Right off the bat, anyone who tries to write understands that writing is very difficult, but what I could do is write about my experiences. The things that I find easiest to write about are things I'm most familiar with, and the thing I'm most familiar with is what I'm feeling and thinking inside. This sounds clichéd, but it's true, cathartic and I found that relatability they feel less alone and that just encouraged me to write more. And quite frankly, if I have one person tell me that, "hey, that thing you wrote really resonated with me or helped me," I'm like a score! if I can help somebody, then it was worth putting out there.

Even if nobody reads them, it felt good to get them out. And it did feel cathartic to get it out. ​I've come to the conclusion that, what I want to get out of life in my remaining years is as many moments of contentment and fulfillment as I can.

[Music]

Leafbox: Good afternoon, Steve. 

Before we start, I wanted to thank you. Even though you're a smaller publisher and you're just starting off on your journey of writing.

One of the things that really stood out to me about your writing is that it feels like it's coming from a very authentic place. And, my own writing and my own efforts across life. That's one of the hardest things to find and be true to so thank you for at least expressing in a way that feels genuine and true and in today's world I think that's a harder thing to do.

Before we start, why don't you just tell us, Steve, a little bit about who you a