Disinfecting Sunlight

You don't need eyesight to see.  John Bramblitt proves that everyday.  He paints people he can't see with his eyes, but see with his hands.  He sees by feeling.  A combination of epilepsy and lyme disease left him blind by 30. This could've ruined his life, but he refused to let it.  He has two murals, one in Dallas and one in New York.  He's traveled all over the world teaching workshops on art, and he spent over an hour with me sharing his story.  I am beyond grateful for the opportunity.  If you want to learn more of his story or purchase one of his works, visit the links below:

https://bramblitt.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/Bramblitt/

https://www.instagram.com/bramblitt/?hl=en

Or if you want to buy his book:

https://amzn.to/2ZV0Tlt

Our show is primarily listener funded.  Consider giving a monthly donation of $5 to keep us going: paypal.me/disinfectingsunlight

Stay in the light.

If you like the show, consider a $5 donation to keep us up and running.  This can be a one time donation or a monthly one.  You can give here at paypal.me/disinfectingsunlight

"A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don't function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick."

Brene Brown

Justin R joins us to talk about the trauma of being uprooted from his home in Texas to upstate New York, following a father struggling with alcoholism.  We talk about what happens to young gay boys when they do not feel acceptance or validation and how they numb that pain.  We talk about religious fanaticism and how traumatic that can be for children.  And we talk about how those forces combined led to a rough addiction and how he's found his way out.  

 

If you would like to leave a comment on a particular episode or a suggestion, please leave us a voicemail at (214) 997-4985. To reach me via email: [email protected]

Alcoholics Anonymous - www.aa.org

Narcotics Anonymous - www.na.org

None of the groups are affiliated or associated with Disinfecting Sunlight and are provided solely as resources for help.  

I can be reached directly at [email protected]

Stay in the light,

 

Paul

“When you need to be loved, you take love wherever you can find it. When you are desperate to be loved, feel love, know love, you seek out what you think love should look like. When you find love, or what you think love is, you will lie, kill, and steal to keep it. But learning about real love comes from within. It cannot be given. It cannot be taken away. It grows from your ability to re-create within yourself, the essence of loving experiences you have had in your life.” ― Iyanla Vanzant

Patrick B joins us to talk about his journey from seeking intimacy in secret bars down back alleys to losing friends in the AIDS crisis to getting caught up in a crystal meth addiction.  He found recovery, and by doing his work, he found himself.  

If you would like to leave a comment on a particular episode or a suggestion, please leave us a voicemail at (214) 997-4985. 

Alcoholics Anonymous - www.aa.org

Narcotics Anonymous - www.na.org

None of the groups are affiliated or associated with Disinfecting Sunlight and are provided solely as resources for help.  

I can be reached directly at [email protected]

Heroes walk among us daily. This story is dedicated to the Walmart associates who became first responders and silent heroes that day, August 3rd, 2019.  Gilbert Serna, who many have deemed a hero, will tell us the story of that day from his eyes. 

A special thank you to all who contributed to this episode.  Texans are stronger than anyone who would try to divide us. 

Here are some numbers and places to turn to if you need grief counseling in the wake of this weekend's tragedy at Walmart:

To speak to a counselor, text HOME to 741741 to be connected to a Crisis Counselor or call the Crisis Mental Hotline at 1-877-541-7905.

You can call the Emergence Health Network Crisis Hotline at 915-779-1800.

The VA of El Paso is urging any veterans who are victims or are family of any victims to call the Veteran Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. The El Paso Veterans Center is providing crisis counseling to all veterans in the El Paso area. They are located at 1155 Westmoreland Dr.. For more information call (915) 772-0013.

Billie Franklin is coming up on 3 decades clean from drugs and alcohol.  Her journey here was anything but easy though.  She's ready to shine some light on childhood abuse, living a double life, finding recovery, and the importance of boundary setting. 

If you would like to leave a comment on a particular episode or a suggestion, please leave us a voicemail at (214) 997-4985. 

Alcoholics Anonymous - www.aa.org

Narcotics Anonymous - www.na.org

None of the groups are affiliated or associated with Disinfecting Sunlight and are provided solely as resources for help.  

I can be reached directly at [email protected]

 

Share the show!

Cailey Baker of What It's Like Project joins us to talk about the traumas she's endured including a volatile childhood, a suicide attempt, and the death of two of her brothers.  She also talks about being in recovery and realizing that she's not actually an addict.  She also talks about her daily struggles with anxiety and depression.  Cailey has turned her pain into an outlet for others to share their own personal struggles with mental illness through What It's Like Project.  Visit links below for more info:

http://www.whatitslikeproject.org/

https://www.facebook.com/whatitslikeproject/

https://www.instagram.com/whatitslikeproject/

If you're in the Houston area and want to take part in What It's Like Project's next event, please email 3 examples of your artwork to [email protected], along with a description of how your artwork and artistry help fulfill our mission of removing the stigma of mental illness. We cannot wait to see your submissions. The event will be held on January 11, 2020. Not all submissions will be picked for the event.

Doug joins us to prove that addiction doesn't always start with trauma.  He talks about growing up with instant gratification and how that fed into his addiction.  We also talk about how the current atrocities in the world affect the mental health of those who feel very deeply about others.  

Please don't forget to support the show.  Share it.  Leave it 5 star reviews. Get a free audio book of your choice and a 30 day trial of Audible at www.audibletrial.com/disinfectingsunlight . If you're struggling, reach out to me: [email protected]

Can you believe it's been 10 episodes already?! I feel like we're just getting started.  This episode contains some clips from previous episodes along with some never before released audio and lessons I've learned along the way. You'll also get to know me a little better and the reason why I say, "Girllllllll."

Please don't forget to support the show.  Share it.  Leave it 5 star reviews. Get a free audio book of your choice and a 30 day trial of Audible at www.audibletrial.com/disinfectingsunlight . If you're struggling, reach out to me: [email protected]

Shay Calhoun has a great life and a great husband, but rewind the clock 21 plus years and his world looked very different.  

He shares with us the depths his addiction took him to and how he got and stayed clean for 21 years!  This is one of the funniest episodes thus far.  

Please don't forget to support the show.  Share it.  Leave it 5 star reviews. Get a free audio book of your choice and a 30 day trial of Audible at www.audibletrial.com/disinfectingsunlight . If you're struggling, reach out to me: [email protected]

PLEASE GIVE TO OUR FUNDRAISER IF YOU ARE ABLE.  HELP US SPREAD THE LIGHT.

https://www.facebook.com/donate/698771117210146/

Crystal M, my other BFF finally makes an appearance on the show.  This is a great interview spanning her time both in active addiction and in recovery.  We talk spirituality, the G word, and, of course, Brene' Brown.  You'll also hear how she walked through the fear of returning to a town synonymous with her using days and the lessons she learned from that experience.  

Please don't forget to support the show.  Share it.  Leave it 5 star reviews. Get a free audio book of your choice and a 30 day trial of Audible at www.audibletrial.com/disinfectingsunlight . If you're struggling, reach out to me: [email protected]