Becoming Wilkinson

In this engaging conversation, James Jardine shares his transformative journey from a corporate banking career in Southern California to embarking on adventurous road trips and working on a fishing boat in Alaska. He discusses the challenges and experiences he faced at sea, including a harrowing incident involving a capsizing boat. The conversation also touches on personal growth, the importance of saying yes to new opportunities, and the exciting new venture of creating content together on platforms like OnlyFans. As they reflect on their past adventures and future plans, both James and Wilkinson emphasize the value of living life to the fullest and embracing change.

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024
To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

Jonathan Brett is a Performer, Director, and Teacher (Credentialed in English/Theatre with a Master’s Degree in Social Emotional Learning). 

 He is a proud member of Sag Aftra.

 Some of his favorite theatrical performances include “Bye Bye Birdie” (Albert), “Let it Rain” (Mick, Best Actor- Professional, 2024 Desert Star Awards Nominee), “Little Shop of Horrors” (Seymour), “Fiddler on the Roof” (Motel), and “South Pacific” (Stewpot). He has also acted in TV shows such as “Zoey 101,” “Big Time Rush,” and “Cold Case,” as well as various other films, shows and commercials. Directed works include “Legally Blonde: The Musical” (Best Director, Best Musical, 2024 Desert Star Awards Nominee) “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” (Best Director, Best Play, 2024 Desert Star Awards Nominee) Nominee “Trap” (Best Director, 2024 Desert Star Awards Nominee), “Little Shop of Horrors” (Best Musical, 2023 Desert Star Awards Nominee), “A Christmas Carol” (Best Director Nominee, Best Play WINNER 2023 Desert Star Awards), “Theatre Duranged,” “Aladdin Jr., ” “Starlight Spotlight,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “The Sound of Music,” “Disney’s Deviants” and more. 

 As the head of the Theatre department at La Quinta High School, Mr. Brett teaches beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of theatre (including audition technique, scene study, improvisation, playwriting, history, and mindfulness, etc.). 

 Currently, he is Directing “She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition” at La Quinta High School. The show runs November 14, 15, 16 (6:30 PM) and November 17 (2:30 PM). Tickets are available at the box office on performance days. 

 He is thrilled to have an amazing husband (Randy) and fur-child (Clarence). 

 If you would like to contact him, please email him: [email protected]

RANDY BRENNER

In this engaging conversation, Randy Brenner shares his journey from a child performer in Philadelphia to a successful actor and director in theater and television. He discusses the challenges and joys of performing, his coming out experience, and his efforts to raise awareness and funds for AIDS through innovative theater productions. The conversation also touches on his marriage to his husband Jonathan, life in Palm Springs, and the importance of pursuing creative passions at any age.

BIO:
Mr. Brenner’s most recent directing credit, was the highly critical acclaimed Mr. Parker at Dezart Performs, nominated for 8 Desert Star Awards, including Best director, and won Best Drama Professional 2024! Previously, he was nominated for a DTL Award for his direction of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Gynecologic Oncology Unit At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Of New York City for Dezart last season. Mr. Brenner directed a very successful staged reading of Beverly Hills Hotel Peace Talks, which will have a full production and be part of the 2024-2025 season at CVRep. premiering May 20th. He has been nominated and won multiple Awards including the New York Outer Critics’ Circle, Drama-Logue, Robbie, Phoebe, Scenie, Desert Theatre League, GLAAD, and raves from the New York Times for his off-Broadway production of The Only Worse Thing You Could Have Told Me… starring Dan Butler and, later, Greg Louganis. He has directed over 50 musicals and plays including White Christmas, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown (with an all-star Broadway cast), Fiddler…, South Pacific, Nine, Stephen Schwartz’s Snapshots (Directed/Created with Stephen Schwartz), Autumn Canticle, Man of La Mancha, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and the first gay version of Marry Me A Little sanctioned by Mr. Sondheim himself. Previously, Mr. Brenner served as director and dramaturg for the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts’ GROW Program, leading a class he developed in collaboration with Steven Schwartz and Stormy Sacks, where young adults wrote and presented new musical works. Randy would like to thank his husband Jonathan, and their fur-child Clarence for their love and support. Randy is a proud member of SDC.  

 As an actor, Mr. Brenner was last seen on stage to rave reviews as Nostradamus in 5 Star Theatricals production of “Something Rotten” at Thousand Oaks Performing Arts  Center. Previously lead roles: Ballroom (CVREP), Aladdin (Disney’s California Adventure), Beauty and the Beast (Disney Imagineering), City of Angeles (Reprise!), Follies, How to Succeed, L’il Abner (MTW), Empire, Burlesque (The Broad), Toby in Sweeney Todd (SJCLO), Guys and Dolls (La Mirada), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shine, Tintypes (Virginia Museum Theatre). Broadway/Off- Broadway; Found a Peanut, The Front, Man of La Mancha, New Faces of ’52 (Revival), Joley (Pre Broadway). Touring; Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, Tintypes.TV/Film; “911: Lonestar”, “Glow”, “Seinfeld”, “My Name is Earl”, “SpongeBob”, “Evil Dead 2”, “Geppetto”. Randy is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.

Contract Randy via Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/randy.brenner.9

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

Dr. Robert Philipson
Filmmaker/Executive

Philipson is a former academic professor of African-American studies with a passion for Jazz & African art. A published author and Harlem Renaissance historian, he has produced multiple films about the intersectionality of Race, Music, & Sexuality. 

His newest film is "The Knowing"
Written by Dr. Robert Philipson and directed by Jonathan Rowan

Adam, a white man in his late 30s, is visiting his Black ex-lover, Peter, who is dying of AIDS in a DC hospital. The year is 1992. Also in attendance is Cherie, a Black lesbian naval officer who is Peter’s best friend. The two sympathetically listen to Peter’s complaints about how his “Christian” family has abandoned him until a nurse arrives to give Peter medication. While waiting in the hospital cafeteria, Adam and Cherie, meeting that day for the first time, compare notes about the course of Peter’s illness. This leads them to a terrible discovery. Adam, in particular, is confronted with a choice that, while still in shock, he doesn’t know how to handle. 

For more information on Dr. Philipson and Shoga Films, go to:
https://www.shogafilms.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

IN BRETT'S OWN WORDS:
I initially did the Ride in 1999 because, at the time, I thought I had only months to live. It was my sixth anniversary of being HIV. Medications were limited and toxic. My health was struggling greatly, so I wanted to challenge myself to fight for those living and aging with HIV/AIDS one last time, myself included. However, to my thankful surprise, I'm still here!

Since 1993, when the Ride began as the "California AIDS Ride," participants have raised more than $300+ million and completed more than 42,000 journeys on bikes from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

The stigma of HIV remains very prevalent, and many in the HIV community are still reluctant to talk about it. Those living and aging with HIV/AIDS struggle daily to maintain their health and get reasonably priced health services. New infections are still alarmingly present in communities all over the US. Those becoming HIV+ are constantly saying, "We didn't know, we didn't realize, we don't care, no one told us, we thought it was a manageable disease!.

We realize that the week out on AIDS/LifeCycle is the hardest we will work all year, but it is also the most emotional and fulfilling for me and the other Riders and Roadies. 

(from 2021) My personal training story started in September after a ten-month recovery from a nasty bike crash. Thankfully, I'm now riding 100-200 miles weekly, but it can be grueling, a huge time-suck, and days filled with mental and physical challenges, but I do it with my Desert Roadrunners team of like-minded and selfless individuals. Team Desert Roadrunners represents our own 'desert love bubble.' I was raised on the idea that community and service are essential and can fulfill your wildest dreams and goals. The love that comes towards you as a Rider or Roadie, you get to give back tenfold to other people. It's incredibly emotionally filling.

The AIDS/LifeCycle advances the shared interests of the beneficiaries in reducing new HIV infections and improving the quality of life for people living and aging with HIV/AIDS. It raises crucial awareness about the ongoing epidemic, in addition to funding critical services such as HIV testing and screenings for other sexually transmitted infections, medical care, prevention services, housing, and more.

In addition to the 1.2 million people living with HIV and AIDS in the United States, 1 in 7 people do not know they live with the disease. 

https://giving.aidslifecycle.org/participant/43387

Desert Sun: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/health/2022/06/03/palm-springs-resident-ride-545-miles-raise-funds-hiv-aids/7462292001/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

Daniel Stewart
After the death of his mother when he was only six years old was when his father said it was "God's will" and he was not to question it. That was only the beginning of his problems that went on for decades.

Daniel Stewart has led a very interesting life.  As a teen, he figured out that he was gay, was outed to his religious father by a disgruntled lover and was subsequently rejected and kicked out of his home. That started him on a precarious downward spiral.  But he figured out a way to turn his life around...

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

Dr. Sean Ferri, PsyD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California (#34510) and New Jersey (#35SI00737900). He currently serves as the Senior Manger, Clinical Support and Clinical Psychologist at the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert in Palm Springs. He also maintains a private practice. His doctoral research focused on the need for expanding LGBTQ+ competency within school-based mental health programs across the U.S. Prior to his clinical work, he was an educator and taught in a multitude of settings including China, Harlem, NY, and NJ. He currently teaches Human Sexuality and Intimacy at Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education & Psychology. His areas of focus include the LGBTQ+ Community, anxiety, grief, and exploring the intersectionality of neurodivergency and gender identity.

Contact Sean via email: [email protected].

LGBT youth crisis helpline. If you are thinking about harming yourself — get immediate support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/


Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

I'm very happy that my friend Amine came by and we recorded this podcast episode.  It's a definite eye-opener!

Contact Amine here:
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/amineraif/
email: [email protected]

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.    Text or call 988 on your cell phone for help.

LGBT youth crisis helpline. If you are thinking about harming yourself — get immediate support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/


Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

Ryan St. Michael is a full-time content creator based out of Palm Springs, CA. After graduating from the University of South Carolina in his home state, he moved to Cape Town, South Africa for fourteen months to study in a Masters in Public Health Program while on a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship. Following his time overseas, St. Michael went to law school at the University of Houston Law Center. He practiced family law litigation for four years before resigning to go into full-time business with his ex, an artist. In addition to owning and operating an art gallery for a dozen years, the couple co-founded a nonprofit for artists to train them on entrepreneurial skills. After their divorce, Ryan decided to pursue his passion of content creation.
Links:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryanstmichael
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryansaintmichael/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

In Shaun's own words:
As a young boy, growing up in Virginia, I used to pour over house plan books from the local library for hours! I was fascinated with interior design, architecture, and what HOME represents to all people. I found that rooms and our environments can influence us in many ways including our emotions and our life experiences. I continued my hobby of design, and architecture appreciation throughout my teen years. I initially followed a career path in Musical Theater, but that is a story for another time. After discovering that I preferred roots to wings I decided that the traveling life was not for me and honed my skills in hospitality management with the Marriott Corporation. It is there that I found my love of service and helping others realize their dreams. I moved to the Palm Springs area eight years ago after falling in love with the architecture and the natural beauty of the Coachella Valley. I am extremely grateful to be able to help others find their piece of paradise here in our glorious valley.

Contact Shaun: https://shaunwaters.com/
Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2024

Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]