Becoming Wilkinson

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Vinnie Rotalo is an amazing man. 

He hasn't had an easy life.  When he was only 14, he tried to save his mother's life via instructions in CPR given by a 911 dispatcher.  After her death, he had to go live with his father whom he didn't really know.

He became a trainer and was settling into a successful career with modeling potential when he became paralyzed.  It took him a year of fierce struggle to come back to his normal self.

He got involved in drugs, spent some years in the gay porn industry and lost his partner to suicide.  He also lost his beloved feline buddy Baxter, who had stuck with Vinnie through all of the ups and downs.

Vinnie is a courageous, beautiful man who's a bit shy - but he's very funny when you get to know him.  His beautiful energy will be obvious to even the most casual observer as you listen to his story and be encouraged...

Vinnie's contact info:
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/vjr39/
Email: [email protected]

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022

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

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

NOTE: This is a re-issue of an episode I did earlier in 2022 when my podcast was "newish".  I've been re-posting some of the really good ones on Fridays this year, so that a wider audience can now enjoy listening to them.

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It's highly unusual for teens to know the direction they want to take in life.  But these two did... here's their story.

Preston Shatwell and Brenton Thomas have been together for over 13 years. Brenton added Preston on Myspace when they were 14 and 16 years old and that started their love story.

Preston is a born and raised Oklahoman with a passion for local progressive politics and advocacy. He is a creative professional using his skills to support causes he cares about and currently works in the adolescent sexual health nonprofit field.

https://www.instagram.com/prestonshatwell/
Email: [email protected]

Brenton works as a consultant at a software company. Brenton is fun-loving, excitable, and always ready to dance and laugh. He loves to travel, experience new cultures, and meet people.

https://www.instagram.com/brenton.thomas/
Email: [email protected]

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

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

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

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Mina Hartong

Emcee, Educator, Funny Lady

Award winning comedian Mina Hartong (Caroline’s New York, Curve Magazine, Cipriani’s) has been performing and touring for over twenty years. Favorite shows and venues include Don’t Tell Mama’s, Montreal Fringe Festival, and headlining at Iceland Pride where she marched with the lesbian mayor. Mina taught in the public schools for twenty years. 

These days, when she is not on stage, Mina enjoys teaching Acting and Stand up Comedy and developing new comics. Recent appearances include Palm Springs Pride, Diversionary Theater in San Diego, and The Triad Theater in New York City. Mina’s comedy show Lez Out Loud,  just had their seventh sold out show. She teaches online, in New York City, and with the McCallum Theater. 

In 2020, Mina and her wife relocated to Palm Springs to escape the pandemic in New York City. In less than a year, Mina produced her own comedy show Lez Out Loud at Runway Bar and Restaurant in Cathedral City to sold out audiences which continues today. 

Look for new Lez Out Loud shows coming in April. Mina also collaborates with The L-Fund, a non profit that assists cis and trans lesbians in the Coachella Valley. She recently Emceed the L-Fund’s sold out Gala in February, 2023. 

To book Mina for Hosting, teaching, or comedy shows, please contact her at:
https://linktr.ee/lezoutloud
 https://www.facebook.com/mina.hartong/
https://www.instagram.com/hartongmina/
https://vimeo.com/mshartong

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

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

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

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Growing up, Edras Cordova's father constantly reminded him of a saying.  Edras chose to remember his father's teaching by having it tattooed across the top of his chest.  Roughly translated, the words say:  "Only the one who carries a knapsack knows what's in it". 

We never know what another person is going through.  Edras took the message to heart and it softened him.  Unfortunately, it appears that his siblings and other family members did not learn such a message.

People are so often trapped in their religious beliefs and systems that they are blinded to truth and reality.

Many of my prior podcast guests have told stories of being trapped in such systems, and they described how they were able to escape and ultimately live fulfilled lives as their authentic selves.

Edras Cordova and his brother were both gay.  Edras was able to navigate his escape route from the Jehovah's Witness cult (his word) and to go on to live a life he never thought possible when he was trapped in that religious system.

His brother was not so fortunate.  He chose a path of staying in the system, marrying, have two children and believing that somehow he would be "cured" or "fixed" and being gay would go away.

The torment and pain of being caught in such an untenable position ultimately drove him to multiple suicide attempts.  Two weeks before taking his own life, he told his family that he was either going to live his gay life, or commit suicide.

Edras discusses the pain and fallout of his brother's choice in hopes that people who are caught in such systems will open their eyes and hearts to the truth:  If we don't allow ourselves and others to be who they are, the cost will be unbearable. 

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/2022

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

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

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In David's words:
"Welcome! I'm glad you're here. My name is David Wichman, and I am an author, speaker, and certified Conscious Recovery™ coach with a focus on sexual wellness. I have been creating workshops and writing about sex and sobriety for many years. 

It is my deepest passion to witness men at the intersection of sexual freedom in recovery and I am dedicated to helping Queer, Gay, Bi, and Trans-identified men navigate the sacred and beautiful nature of sex love and intimacy. 

If you are in recovery or seeking guidance around sex in recovery, I hope you will explore working with me free of dogma,shame and judgement. 

 (NOTE: You do not have to be in recovery to work with me)."

David Wichman is an author, speaker, sexual healer, and entrepreneur who is respected and well-known all over the world to those who seek to live free of stigma, shame, and fear around sex, love, and intimacy.

Raised in Fremont, California, David survived a childhood marked by severe neglect and abuse, which led him into years of homelessness, alcoholism, and drug addiction. After decades of struggle and rehabilitation failures, he finally obtained freedom from his addiction in 2005. He remains an active member of New Thought and recovery movements to this day.

In 2006, David found a calling in sex work. While working with seniors, the disabled, and those with severe intimacy issues, he discovered the profound transformational power that sex work creates for both client and provider. In 2009, he founded his travel-companion company, the Male Adventure, through which he has accompanied clients on life-changing adventures to all seven continents. He is an activist, vocal ally, and grateful member of the LGBTQI2 community.

 
In 2016, David co-founded Heal-VR, a software development company that merges ancient spiritual principles and meditation techniques with modern virtual reality technology.

David lives with his partner Todd & their 3 rescue dogs: Panda Petey & Siain in their home in the Coachella Valley area of California.

Find David at: http://www.dpwichman.com

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

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

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

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Daniel Bateman
Originally from Kansas City MO, Daniel has been performing since he was a toddler. He performed in several NYC Broadway musicals, national touring productions and studied with The Juilliard School in NYC as well as The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles;  a city where he lived and worked professionally over 10 years.

Most recently, he starred in the West Coast Premiere of “Why Can't the Trains Run On Time?” Now a Palm Springs resident, Daniel is thrilled to be on stage again here and has big goals he’s excited to work on building within the SoCal Arts community. Getting to tell LGBT stories is a dream come true and a huge passion of his. He is beyond grateful to his loving parents who have always been his biggest cheerleaders!

Contact Daniel:
Email:  [email protected]
Business #: 760.422.3041
https://www.instagram.com/dbatemanofficial/

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

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

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

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Sean Hoey is a Democratic political operative who has worked for Democratic political candidates across the country, including Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

Sean was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin.  He's the son of small business owners, lived his childhood in the closet, and witnessed the power of politics growing up in a capital city.  His upbringing  informs the values and the candidates he believes in and advocates for.

Today, he lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Look him up for recommendations on what to do off the Strip!

Contact Sean:
608-287-8523
[email protected]

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

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

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

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Daniel Patrick O'Reilly  is a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none.  You can find him selling wine by day, slinging drinks by night, or on your television sets as a young dad in a First Five California commercial. 

If interested to know more about his life and adventures, you can reach out to him on his IG at  http://www. Instagram.com/danpatrickoreilly

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

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

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

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“…I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” Joseph Campbell

Michael is a native Nevadan who spent his childhood between a high desert dirt pile surrounded by every animal his parents would let him have and a tire & auto repair store alongside his parents while on roller skates. 

He has lived in 3 of the 4 US time zones and the country of Sweden while in college. He is an alumna of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI and Simpson College in Indianola, IA.   Ask him about his careers in sales, marketing, accounting, property management and hospitality or the 3 businesses and 501(c)3 non-profit that he started and operated or currently operates. 

He is an outdoor and sports enthusiast and has/does actively engage in: soccer, track, downhill skiing, sailing – racing/cruising, hiking, camping, mountain biking, volleyball, rollerblading and swimming, but still doesn’t do near enough kite flying or throwing a Frisbee. Other interests that are close to his heart are regenerative agriculture and silvopasture, food as medicine, home renovation and design, wine (particularly anything sparkling), real estate, travel, other cultures and traditions and the stories and lessons learned from the paths of others. 

He was given the gift of singing and has performed in a number of concerts and productions from the time he was 4 (which may have included dancing with a broom). He is currently contributing his time and talents to the Miracle Activation Center as the Director of Operations – a non-profit healing center – where he hopes to support others on their journey as he actively follows his. He is currently working toward becoming an Ordained Ministerial Counselor and a Certified Food Matters Nutrition Coach.

Michael's email:   [email protected]

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

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

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]

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Brent Heinze has a master’s degree in clinical counseling and has been working in the mental health field for over 18 years.  He is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California specializing in working with gay men, sexuality, couples, and non-traditional relationships.  

He is a published author of two self-improvement books, “Redefining Normal 1 & 2: A Modern Gay Man’s Guide to Happy and Healthy Living” and was a senior columnist for Out Front Magazine.  

Brent is also the Executive Director of Perspective Shift, a national non-profit company focusing on producing educational and social community events benefitting LGBTQ+ and sex-positive charitable organizations.  

He won the title of Mr. Leather Colorado 2010 and finished in 4th place at IML.  He was the recipient of the Pantheon of Leather Award in 2015 and the NLA Community Service and Leadership Award in 2011.  He has been a judge for International Deaf Leather in 2011, as well as judging and emceeing many other events.  

Brent performs with his electronic music projects Probe 7, The AXIOM Divide, and Darling Kandie in addition to producing a new musical and writing songs for film and television.  

He currently lives in Palm Springs with his husband.

Contact Brent:

Web: http://www.BeginTheShift.org
Email: [email protected]

Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023

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

To contact Wilkinson- email him at [email protected]