EPISODE 581 - Thomas Cullen - Federal Trial Judge and Author Shares a Story of the journey toward manhood in the American South

Thomas Cullen is a Federal Trial Judge and former U.S. attorney in Virginia. He is also an accomplished writer, regularly publishing op-eds and essays for national and regional media outlets over the past decade. Thomas graduated near the top of his class from William and Mary Law School and was recently honored as its 2024 Carter O. Lowance Fellow. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Thomas studied history and ran track at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, which recently awarded him an honorary doctorate. Charlie-Man is his first novel.

Book: Charlie-Man

It’s August 1994, and Charlie Stewart begins his final year at St. Mark’s Episcopal School, a prestigious all-boys school in Richmond, Virginia. Charlie, an undistinguished student by St. Mark’s standards, faces tough odds as he seeks to rekindle his relationship with Katy Hendricks, a beautiful tennis star, and gain admission to a highly selective state university. Through it all, Charlie relies on Beau Miller, his best friend and the top student athlete in their class. Despite Beau’s movie-star looks and infectious charm, he has a darker side, which becomes more apparent as the year progresses. Charlie endures his trials with wry determination and ultimately emerges with a renewed sense of purpose. This is a heartrending but hopeful story of one boy’s journey toward manhood in the American South.

https://www.brandylanepublishers.com/product/charlie-man/
https://prbythebook.com/experts/thomas-cullen/

Support the show

___
https://livingthenextchapter.com/
podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 580 - Debbra Blosnich - It Ends With Me - Breaking the Cycles that keep us Stuck

It Ends with Me is a Movement to empower people to Reclaim their power after Trauma AND to educate people on how to protect our children from abuse today.

The two part mission is a result of Debbra’s story of growing up a victim of Childhood Sexual Abuse and living a life shadowed by the lingering affects of such a childhood. The mission includes helping others Reclaim their power in months versus years with specific tools and mindset shifts. The other focus is on education about how to keep children from abuse today. A difficult conversation today avoids a painful healing process later.

Book: It Ends With Me: Breaking the cycles that keep us stuck

The cycle of abuse ends here, now. I will heal myself. I will go boldly to share my story and end the shame of what was done to me; for me and those who need to do the same.

These generational curses that plague our families have to end. I let it all go. It wasn’t my fault. I was a child whose innocence was stolen. Whose identity was tarnished. I had been brave and strong for far too long.

From now on I will love myself with the same love I have for others. I know love is supportive. Love cares when you are hurt. Love uplifts and encourages. Love seeks to help you become your best self. Love appreciates who you are. Love accepts your faults but requires you to rise above them when necessary and do better. Love wants you to be safe and happy. Love is a place to be your true self. Love is reciprocal. It cherishes you and celebrates you. Love wants to see the love you give returned to you tenfold. Love sees your pain and wipes away your tears. Love opens its arms and offers a safe place to lay it all down and know you are loved.

Find the love you are so deserving of and give it to yourself!!

I decided to create a book that is also a journal that will hopefully start you on a journey to loving yourself and seeing yourself as the amazing individual you are.

https://www.itendswithme.me/

Support the show

___
https://livingthenextchapter.com/
podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

Episode 579 - Bill Hulseman - Six to carry the casket and one to say the mass - Reflections on life, identity, and moving forward

Six to carry the casket and one to say the mass: reflections on life, identity, and moving forward offers the unique opportunity for its readers to start a new dialogue, take an active hand in creating culture and reshaping the world, and think about making meaning from formative experiences and relationships. From family dynamics and professional challenges that bolstered and battered him to the TV shows, films, books, and people who impacted his queer identity, Bill deconstructs the world that he inherited and begins to reconstruct the person he wants to become through short, poignant, thought-provoking, and frequently hilarious essays.

The post-2020 world revealed to Bill that social transformation only comes with individual choices. If he wanted the world to change, he had to truthfully and compassionately understand how choices made long ago brought him to this moment and how the choices he makes now shape the future.

This book is not didactic or instructional; not self-help or psychology; not academic philosophy or cultural criticism. It is an exercise in honesty and a portrait of Bill, his family, and how we construct multiple identities—sexual, religious, philosophical, political, familial, relational—without reducing them to a monolithic whole, without being argumentative.

For anyone looking to make meaning out of their lives and the world around them, this book offers a model.

https://www.billhulseman.com/

Support the show

___
https://livingthenextchapter.com/
podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca