The Road Less Traveled

I had a brilliant time with a new weight loss program brought to me by stomach flu. I guess my body enjoys the erratic release schedule for these episodes. Today's episode is on recent events in my life (congrats to my friend getting married!) and also one of my favorites simply because I'm in a much better place now both literally and figuratively. I'm truly thankful to still be alive and br able to be kind, be joyful, and be compassionate to the people around me. After years of darkness I've tried to stay in the light. I'd say I mostly succeeding on this road called life. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful.  - db

I apologize in advance that the middle portion turns into politics, but this is more of a state of affairs episode in the sense that I was catching up with a friend from prison and we couldn't understand the direction of things. This podcast is entirely for me trying to understand my situation having been in prison and the long term mental and physical affects it's had on me. My friend and I caught up and it had me taking stock of things. Hope if you're out there and you're listening that you're doing well, whoever you may be. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. -db

On this weeks episode of TRLT I explain why I've been on hiatus for a couple weeks (hint: it's actually a good thing this time). I also reminisce and explain why I'm so thankful for the life I've led and where I am today. I've been through some incredible tough times in my life, some of my own making, and it's been crazy to look back and think on. Thank you for sharing in that journey. - db

A continuation of my autobiography covering ages 10-16. They were pretty rough years unfortunately, and I've been dealing with a lot of that trauma ever since. It's hard to get closure on family deaths when you lose them at a young age. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. - db [Note: The plug to my mic wasn't all the way in so it sounds like it gave the recording a hollow sound. I didn't realize until literally the very end. Doh.]

There will always be stories I miss, memories I forget, or moments that escape me... but hopefully I capture more than eludes me. Here are some of the stories I didn't share during the first part of my autobiography story arc. Have fun! As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. -db

I'm finally getting around to the biography portion of this now-not-anonymous podcast. It started as an audio diary to help me cope and attempt to move forward after spending over five years in prison. I blacked out at home and woke up at the scene of an accident I had caused that claimed the life of an innocent person. Nothing said in this podcast/diary is an excuse or an attempt to garner sympathy. I'm still trying to this day to understand the difference between the good person that I was/am, with the person that did something so terrible. This was done entirely anonymously from the beginning up until now but has never been hidden. I've Googled myself. It's out there. My biggest hope is that if you're listening or happen to stumble upon this, there may be something in here that allows you to better yourself or avoid any mistakes I've made. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. - db   P.S. Sorry about the political views in the middle, but it does relate to how/where/by whom I was raised. Myrna was a beautiful and kind Canadian immigrant who I had the great fortune to be adopted by. Most parents get their kids by genetic lottery; a lucky few are chosen.

This episode focuses on storytelling as an artform, something that I believe in and also pride myself in. I always had my imagination fostered as a child (in addition to literally being a foster kid). I've come to love storytelling in various artforms and chose to study film and writing in college. I'm excited to share that my friend has tapped me for my expertise as a writer and assistant director for a 48 Hour Film Festival this weekend. I'd been struggling with motivation and feel like I've reignited my passion. Thank you for listening and being respectful. -db

I've been reading the book Atomic Habits by James Clear and have been slowly incorporating it into my daily life. After I got out of prison I focused on paying off my financial and legal debts and took a break from reading books. (I had read over 600 books during my time inside so I felt okay with that decision... at the time.) I've realized that I need to get back to some of the routines that I had established when I had minimal distractions. Self improvement seems like a good start. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. - db

On this episode of The Road Less Traveled I give a few updates and reintroduce myself and the purpose of this podcast moving forward. It will always first and foremost be an audio diary of my experiences of my five years in prison, but it will also tangentially be related since those years are a part of me and inseparable at this point. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. -db

Freedom of Speech is only true in the sense that you are absolutely free to say whatever you want... and then deal with the consequences afterwards. As always, thank you for being respectful and for listening. -db

I'm clearly upset with things, so just know I go on a rollercoaster rant. (I enjoyed the vent, but I hate the situation.) As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. Hope everyone's doing well out there. -db

We live in a time period where people seem to confuse their belief's and strongly held convictions to be the same if not better than facts. I grew up with a passion for storytelling and went to college to study it as an artform. It blows my mind these days that people continually follow a false narrative or spread misinformation as if it were gospel. Independent thinking is at an all time low and it's only getting worse. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. -db

All the insecurities, fears, self-doubt, self-hatred, and whatever negative thought you could have about yourself run through my mind like a bullet turned to shrapnel. I hate sharing those feelings with my girlfriend because in times like those it seems to hurt the most when someone is trying to be positive, tell you how much they mean to them, how important you are, the most important person in the world, and yet you only feel like you're sinking lower because you're unworthy of their love and kindness. That's what this experience has been like. But I'm still here. And I'm still trying. Love you babe. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. -db

I had what I firmly believe was a mild heart attack a couple days ago. I could go on and on about regrets and feeling sorry for myself, etc., but the biggest thing will always be that I'm sorry for my actions that led to me drinking and driving back in 2016 and killing my victim. I don't regret prison, the loss of opportunities for myself, or how difficult and depressing life has become lately. I only regret the harm I caused. -db

Okay, okay, I'm sorry that it took a topical/political turn but I did try to relate it to my experience in jail/prison. I recorded this episode on time and meant to upload to keep my regularly scheduled programming... but as you might notice in episode 74, that didn't happen, and then things got worse. I'm hanging in there, but it's been more downs than ups lately. -db

I've mentioned on multiple episodes that I work at a restaurant... Well, the secret is out apparently. I wanted to do this episode over a year ago when all these changes started trickling down from corporate but I was also trying to balance and maitain my anonymity with respect to the place that employs me. Please note that I overall have nothing against PF Changs/The Company as you will hopefully understand if you listen to the entire episode. The real problem was the previous CEO and whoever's brilliant idea it was to appoint him (I.E. the shareholders). They took a brand name that is recognized the world over and tried to squeeze every last penny from it with no regard to the people that actually run the restaurants. It's a shame. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. -db

On this weeks episode I talk about Olympians, DUI's, the hero complex, and a need for patience and understanding that just doesn't seem to be there these days. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. -db

This week's episode is dedicated to Music! (Yes, with a capital M.) It's funny, I think I only mention a couple random bands since the episode's conversation is mostly about how significant music was to me in jail/prison, its influence on me creatively and emotionally, etc. etc. so when I mention that I was having "a music day" I was listening to 70's/80's hits. The energy in songs from those decades is catchy. Music is like a snapshot of an era. Anyway, enjoy the episode and thanks as always for listening! -db

I recorded this episode on Wednesday and then got sidetracked and forgot to upload it. I know, I'm operating at an average 4 or 5 for personality type 3's. Understand what I'm talking about? Don't feel bad if you don't, I barely do. This week's episode is dedicated to the Enneagram, otherwise known as the Riso Hudson personality test. There's way more to it than I had time to talk about in the episode, but at the end of the day it does help to know yourself better. As always, thank you for listening and being respectful. -db

Sorry that I've been absent the last couple weeks, been going through a touch of depression. Turns out Mother's Day isn't my favorite. Not an excuse though, just shedding light on my current state. Hanging in there though, so until next time, thank you for listening and being respectful. -db