The Soul Stories Podcast Daniel Mazur, Kamga Tchassa

Note: Since this podcast was recorded, John now identifies as non-binary and professionally uses the pronouns "they / them" and personally uses all pronouns. In drag, they only go by "she".
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John McDermott is the Bodycare Manager at Natural Grocers and a good friend of mine with a gigantic heart. John shares in-depth about their mental health journey and diagnoses. They have been hospitalized eight times and have what is called chronic suicidal ideation. Trigger warning: John discusses multiple suicide attempts. They showcase an incredible amount of strength and ability to persevere throughout this conversation. This episode is equal parts heavy and fun. We end up talking about boxing, masculinity, identity and John's new passion for dressing in drag. I was really grateful to witness a story as powerful as this one and hope you have a similar experience.
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For more from John, check out their event, The Love and Hope Drag show, which will be streamed on Facebook live at 11:00 AM on February 14th, 2021. It’ll feature Ximena Latinx, Jessica L’Whore, Bella C Le Cher, Simon Paul, Celeste Brooks, Betty Sparkles, Lola Fierce, and Patricia Del Rosario. 
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Consider supporting The Soul Stories Podcast at Patreon.com/soulstoriesdenver or sending a small donation to our Venmo account @SoulStories!
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3:29 - Suicide in our country
11:33 - John's attempts and their love for others
17:16 - Experiencing a Mental Health Hospital
25:12 - Planning for a downward spiral
30:01 - "Seeing myself as worth it and deserving a life"
35:47 - Boxing and privilege
43:21 - White privilege and mental health co-existing
51:20 - Borderline Personality Disorder
58:36 - John's fluid identity and reckoning with masculinity
1:05:49 - Living in Alaska
1:11:09 - Pursuing the feminine 
1:16:22 - Discovering drag

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Gabriel is a Brazilian therapist and an incredibly warm, meditative and introspective person. This is a really special episode because he is my current therapist. And we dig deep into the therapeutic process. I talk about what I'm working through and Gabe shares intimate stories that really illuminate how beautiful and challenging healing can be. We talk about being triggered, childhood wounds, and strategies that we use even when they don't serve us. This conversation is informative and insightful. It feels like you are sitting down for coffee with a good friend. I had a good time and I believe you will too!
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To contact Gabriel, you can find him at gabrieldeoliveiraduarte@gmail.com 
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Consider supporting The Soul Stories Podcast at Patreon.com/soulstoriesdenver or sending a small donation to our Venmo account @SoulStories!
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1:14 - Gabriel's work and his wounds
14:21 - Introduction to Danny and Gabriel's therapeutic relationship
16:59 - Triggers: an opportunity for healing
18:56 - What prevents us from facing painful truths?
24:50 - Owning your own projection as a therapist
27:53 - Danny and Gabriel's boundaries
34:00 - Gabriel's body-based process with Danny and everyone else
42:09 - Abandonment and childhood fear
46:00 - Getting in touch with your heart - Gabriel and his brother
53:19 - One woman's incredible journey to set boundaries
59:39 - Why should we pursue healing? 

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Marisa Gullicksrud is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the State Clinical Director of Child First. I'm so excited that she is leading off our first episode of this season. She has been a mentor to me, is a leader in the Denver community and is an overall shining light of a person. In this episode she shares her experiences with depression and opens up about close family members she lost. We talked about the balance of human centered vulnerability and rigorous academic training in therapy. Marisa sheds light on why the mental health system is so challenging to navigate and how important it is that we de-stigmatize seeking help. I had a blast talking with her and hope you enjoy this one. Here is our episode!
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Consider supporting The Soul Stories Podcast at Patreon.com/soulstoriesdenver or sending a small donation to our Venmo account @SoulStories!
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1:44 - Marisa's journey to mental health work
12:32 - When the color drained from her life
19:40 - Self-discovery and purpose
23:20 - Working through shame and valuing vulnerability
29:15 - The challenges of accessing quality mental health care
33:23 - What does quality mental health care look like?
43:04 - The importance of creating vulnerable and empowering dialogue 
46:22 - "I was only able to stand up because other people were lifting me up"
50:36 - How to take the first step to get help
53:23 - Finding the right therapist and resources to do so
56:08 - The Colorado mental health crisis
58:40 - How mental health and the conversation needs to evolve
1:04:30 - Hope for the future

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Olufemi Nassi is an author, poet, and host of The In-Betweeners Podcast. Kamga Tchassa is a poet, writer, and multi-format content creator. In this special three-way conversation, Femi and Kamga share the nuances, complexities and challenges that come with immigrating to America. It's one of those conversations that will open your eyes and expand your perspective. I had a lot of fun in this conversation and I think you will thoroughly enjoy it. Here is our episode
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For more from Femi:
Her book, Ji Sokee: https://www.amazon.com/Ji-Sokee-Awakening-Femi-Nassi/dp/2376120241
The Inbetweeners Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1vigv4LkTBCUuDYx06Oy9z iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-in-betweeners-podcast/id1504104900
Instagram: https://instagram.com/femiche_
Website: https://feminassi.com/
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For more from Kamga:
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/tchassakamga Medium : https://medium.com/@tchassakamga
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Consider supporting The Soul Stories Podcast at Patreon.com/soulstoriesdenver or sending a small donation to our Venmo account @SoulStories!
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6:56 - Femi's introduction to the U.S.
11:34 - Kamga's introduction to the U.S.
16:54 - Adjusting to an Individualistic culture
23:29 - American racism from an African's perspactive
27:28 - Having to constantly explain their identities
34:30 - The expectations and assumptions of family back home
37:38 - Discovering their own identities
42:10 - Mental health and understanding loneliness
50:28 - The dark side of African collectivism
58:43 - Self-expression and making an impact through writing 
105:48 - What's next for Kamga and Femi
1:14:08 - How to find their creative work


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A special episode of The Soul Stories Podcast styled a la "This American Life". We explore how a peaceful protest turned violent sparked a national movement.
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