Rainbows in the Dark

It's Pride weekend in San Francisco, and as a Super Introvert, even the 'small' Trans March (10-20k people, vs. Sunday's million) is a lot. This quick episode is on why showing up still matters even when you feel invisible in the crowd — and why it's worth holding compassion for the people fighting hardest against Pride, too.

After a few weeks of posting silence, DK back — riding in a self-driving car that somehow already knows his taste in music, which is either impressive or creepy, and possibly both. In this episode: the push-pull of creating content in a system that benefits people you didn't vote for, why small acts of random goodness still matter anyway, the Old Dominion ROTC cadets who "rendered a shooter no longer alive," and what collective energy shifts actually look like when they're real. Also: why we're all peasants, and why that's not as hopeless as it sounds.

It's Transgender Day of Visibility, so here are some unscripted, unpolished thoughts on being a "passing" trans person who benefits from male privilege — and why that makes visibility feel important right now. Plus: the division game, why trans people are perennial easy targets, the up-down vs. left-right thing, and why "trans rights are human rights" isn't just a slogan. Also featuring: brown eyes as a metaphor. No notes.

January can be a heavy month — and this year feels heavier than usual. Not just personally, but collectively. A lot of people are sensing that something big is shifting, even if no one can quite name what comes next.

In this episode of Rainbows in the Dark, I talk about what it’s like to live inside a major transitional time in history — when old systems stop working, the new ones aren’t fully formed yet, and people quietly start blaming themselves for feeling lost or exhausted.

If you’ve been feeling confused, disillusioned, anxious, or like the old rules don’t apply anymore, this episode is a reminder that you’re not failing — you’re responding appropriately to a world that’s changing faster than our nervous systems were designed to handle.

This is a gentle reframe, a little nervous-system grounding, and an invitation to replace fear with curiosity — without bypassing what’s real.

Pause. Breathe. You’re not broken.
Keep on keeping on — and keep shining in the dark. 🌈✨

On a walk by the ocean, I found myself talking about aging, limits, and the things we stop doing as we get older.

And then the universe sent a rebuttal.

This episode is about getting older, staying embodied, and the strange freedom that comes from letting go of shame, certainty, and pants. It’s a reflection on mortality, movement, and the moments when life answers you faster than you expect.

As always, this is Rainbows in the Dark: noticing what’s real, even when it’s awkward — and sometimes especially then.

Last week, my new book Booze to Balance officially launched, which meant my very first bookstore events — and a level of imposter syndrome I did not see coming.

Right before the events, my inner critic went into overdrive:
“You don’t know anything.”
“This book is too small.”
“Who do you think you are?”

But the show had to go on.

This is a short reflection on doubt, visibility, and doing the thing anyway — even when your nervous system would very much prefer to hide.

A little darkness.
A little truth.
And, as always, a rainbow somewhere in it.

In this episode, Dr. Kim shares the unexpected link between addiction, brain chemistry, and liver health — and what he learned during his intensive addictionology training back in the mid-2000s.

You’ll hear:

• a simple, clear definition of addiction
• what different addictions have in common neurologically
• why supporting the body (and especially the liver) matters
• how somatic and mind-body tools fit into modern addiction recovery
• why Booze to Balance focuses on physiology, not shame

This isn’t a “fix everything” approach. It’s a grounded, compassionate look at how supporting the liver and nervous system can create meaningful shifts — especially for people exploring healthier, more balanced habits.

A little light blinking in the dark. ✨

Get details, links, and upcoming event info at:

👉 https://linktr.ee/drkimsf

Ever mess up your perfect plan—only to realize it worked out better that way? Dr. Kim shares the story of his 88 Blessings project, a missing day, and the eerie synchronicity that turned a math error into a moment of magic. A funny, soulful reminder to trust the process and keep creating, even when it doesn’t go according to plan.

This episode runs a little longer than usual, because the story is worth it. I open up about my struggle with type 2 diabetes and how nothing seemed to help much — until art, music, and love cracked something open. From Tribal Baroque’s prayformances to a fog-soaked Macbeth at Fort Point, I discovered what one woo-woo healer once told me I was missing: the sweetness of life.

If you’ve ever wondered where true healing comes from — and why it’s not always in the doctor’s office — this one’s for you.

And guess what? My new book Booze to Balance: A Chill 30-Day Liver Healing Program is now on pre-sale! You can find it at Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon:

https://linktr.ee/drkimsf

Pre-sales are hugely helpful for authors, so grab a copy — maybe even one for a friend — and give your liver some extra love!

Sometimes self-care feels impossible—not because we don’t know how to care for ourselves, but because… human condition, trauma, blah blah blah. In this episode, I share a simple thought experiment: imagine swapping bodies with someone you love dearly for a year. How would you treat their body differently than your own? More rest? Better food? More water, more joy? And then—what if you treated yourself with that same level of love and care?

A short reflection that circles back (as always) to self-love.