Geoff Hulse knew two things to be true when he was young. He would never live in the relatively small eastern North Carolina city of Goldsboro, where he had grown up, and he would never be a lawyer. He was wrong on both counts. Except for college and law school, he has lived his life there, and he has done so as a lawyer. He and his wife have raised two wonderful and successful daughters.

Still, all the success was not enough to stave off the illness of alcohol, which also had touched his father. Slowly at first, then quickly spiraling out of control, he came close to losing it all. Only a family and friend intervention saved him. That, and the love and warmth of his family and his friends in his hometown who would not let him go.

Today, he remembers his descent and his recovery and wants to tell you about it. He wants to let you know how he truly started all over again and made something terrific out of himself. For Geoff, it will always be one step, one day at a time. For you, it will be a rare treat to listen to this courageous and optimistic individual tell you what he believes to be important in life, and how he found it. Life for Geoff Hulse is good.

Dana Stevens has had a long career writing feature films and television. Her most recent movie, "The Woman King" starring Viola Davis premiered in 2022 to wide acclaim and is now on Netflix. Other films include The City of Angels, starring Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan, Safe Haven from the book by Nicholas Sparks, For Love of the Game with Kevin Costner and Kelly Preston as well as creating and producing "Reckless" a legal drama for CBS. Upcoming projects in development include the romance "28 Summers" which will bring back memories of "Same Time, Next Year" and a biographical film about singer Carly Simon.

It is a fascinating podcast which will take you a bit inside to the making of movies and the life of one who writes those scenes and words.

I first met Leslie Van Der Have many years ago after making a talk at the North Carolina Bar Center when she approached me and pressed a hand written note in my hand. It was a full page of hope. Leslie has practiced law for about twenty two years, most of them in her family law firm in Greenville, North Carolina. Listening to her, you soon learn that I am not the first or last person to whom she has given or expressed hope. She does that with all her clients, along with a cup of grit and optimism. Those traits, along with endurance and persistence, are what she talks about for just over half an hour in this new podcast. Every day she lives and practices the words of Nelson Mandela that Hope is the most powerful weapon when all else seems lost. What a great way to spend a few minutes of your time!

Freddy Kassab, was the stepfather of Colette and by extension the grandfather of Kimberly and Kristen. When they died on February 17, 1970, a piece of Freddy went away as well. But enough was left for him to pursue justice for them, and successfully encourage others to do so as well. He felt he had no other choice. What else would you have had him do? He gladly dedicated all his remaining years for them. He pushed, he argued, he did whatever he felt he could, and then when he could not do any more, he did. He never gave up. He was simply an unconditional man. And he was my friend.

While the first part of this episode dealing with Mental Health and Depression challenges continues with some stumbling on my part, the fall and early winter brings the beginning of recovery and starting over. Having said no to suicide and resolved to better myself and just get through it all, I plead guilty to any and all charges against me, with no deal, get an active sentence, write a book, make speeches about my experiences and give talks to the legal profession and business groups of whatever persuasion about all that I have learned. For me, there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and it was not another train coming my way, but daylight. This is my story of those eventful days in my life.

Duke Psychiatric Hospital - my home for a week. Therapy sessions with my doctor sometimes twice a week. Asking me questions such as when was the last time in my life I was carefree and happy, followed by what in my life was in technicolor and what was in black and white. If all this was not enough, I learned in mid July, 1993, that I was going to be indicted by a Grand Jury. I did not want to go through that and thought of killing myself as a possible alternative. In this podcast, I talk about all of this and specifically thoughts of suicide but in the end, walking away from that permanent solution. I did pretty deep into depression and find the seeds of renewal and survival.

This is the beginning of a story of someone who rose very high, fell very low in a very public way, and survived. It is also the story of mental illness in general and depression in particular and the treatment that was necessary to get well and have a second chance in life. This Episode is Part One, the beginning of it all. It happened many years ago, but of course it seems like yesterday. It is my story. I hope my retelling it will help you. Remember, whatever is happening to you, as Gracie Allen once wrote to her husband, George Burns, right before her death, "do not put a period where God has placed a comma".