A Joyful Rebellion

Episode Summary
What if the voice that saves your life is your own? In this deeply human conversation, writer and coach David Alan Brown traces the slow erosion of self that came from always being “the good one”—the supportive partner, the present dad, the dependable friend—until one pandemic night he drove in circles, ideating, and realized he needed help. Therapy, awareness, and a surprising validation—“anger is the appropriate reaction here”—reopened his emotional life. From there, David rebuilt with a simple framework: cultivate awareness, honor emotion (without judgment), and take aligned action.
That framework became Convergence, his program for weaving three voices—instinct/emotion, active intellect, and a higher-power “I got you” presence—into one integrated way of living. We dig into functional depression, the gifts inside every feeling (“the gift of anger is motivation”), and how to move from autopilot to authorship—on purpose, one step at a time. If you’ve been drifting through your own story, this episode hands the pen back to you.
 
Show Notes & Chapters
[00:00] Cold open + premise: “Find the simple thing that helps you remember you are worthy…”
[02:30] Author your life: handing the pen to others vs. taking it back (James & David)
[05:00] Backstory → “good guy” identity; slow self-erasure by helpfulness and humility
[10:00] Functional depression as numbness; the lyric that revealed “I haven’t felt anything”
[11:30] Pandemic triggers; late-night drive and suicidal ideation; choosing to tell the truth in therapy
[20:00] Relearning feelings without judgment; “anger is appropriate” + the gifts inside emotion
[29:30] The return of the third voice: “I got you” (story of his son + the inner voice)
[31:00] Convergence framework: emotion ↔ action ↔ higher-power integration (Venn lens)
[39:00] Building the program with community conversations; who it helps most
[43:30] What it’s like to work the program: tools, community, authenticity, love in action
[48:00] Writing the memoir as unflinching self-inventory; why he knows what he knows
[51:30] Big life bet: moving to NYC with faith and practices intact
[53:30] Close: worthiness, simple mantras, one step at a time
Resources
Website: home
Program: Convergence (details via website/contact)

Episode Summary
In middle school, Laura Bratton looked up at the blackboard and the words had disappeared. A rare retinal disease began taking her sight piece by piece—with no timeline, no roadmap, and no way to “prepare.” What followed was denial, panic attacks, and a daily apprenticeship in grit. With parents who refused to lower the bar (see the now-famous dishwasher story), Laura learned to take life inch by inch: get up, get dressed, get to school—win the day. Later, a guide dog in San Francisco became her first big “I can” moment.
In this conversation, Laura reframes two ideas most people get wrong: grief and gratitude. Grief isn’t failure; it’s fuel for grit. And gratitude isn’t loving your trauma—it’s appreciating what helps you navigate it (hello, guide dogs, Siri, and Alexa). Laura shares practical coaching cues for agency (“What’s one step today—one call, one email?”) and leaves listeners with a simple charge for any identity shift: give yourself compassion, then take the first step forward.
 
Show Notes & Chapters
[00:00] Gratitude clarified: not for trauma, but for what helps you navigate it (yes, Siri/Alexa).
[01:00] The geography-class moment: the blackboard goes blurry; life tilts.
[05:00] Denial → “I can’t do this” → anxiety and depression.
[08:30] “Inch by inch”: parents’ day-by-day mantra.
[10:00] The dishwasher story: standards stay high; victim identity denied.
[14:00] First guide dog in San Francisco: choosing to embody grit.
[16:30] Identity + grief: permission to grieve and move forward at once.
[21:00] Coaching others: acknowledge loss, then ask for one step today.
[31:00] “Grief fuels grit”: holding both at the same time.
[32:00] Gratitude practice: three specifics per day, no repeats; the mindset shift.
[36:00] Myths: gratitude ≠ forced happiness; keep it embodied, not rote.
[38:00] Agency: you can’t control circumstances, but you can control response.
[40:00] Core message: “You are still enough” through any identity change.
[41:00] Where to find Laura & her work: Laura Bratton | Keynote Speaker .
[43:00] Final charge: self-compassion first, then one courageous step.
Resources
Book: Harnessing Courage: Overcoming Adversity with Grit and Gratitude — Laura Bratton.
Speaking/Coaching: Laura Bratton | Keynote Speaker (contact, programs, book info).

Episode Summary
What if the feeling you can’t explain is actually the clearest voice you have? In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, intuition coach and speaker Anna Quigley breaks down how to recognize, trust, and train your inner guidance—especially in midlife. Anna shares the surprising “shopping test” that convinced her intuition was real (complete with a last-minute nudge to “just ask”), the freeway vs. back-road detour that saved her 30 minutes, and why she believes midlife isn’t a crisis—it’s a calling.
We dig into the difference between intuition and emotion, why the rational mind can act like a “bully,” and practical ways to create the calm your intuition needs to be heard: two quiet minutes in the car, time in nature, water, yoga, meditation, even a simple tracking sheet to gather “evidence” you can trust. You’ll also learn how intuition shows up—gut feelings, a quiet inner voice, “thin slicing” certainty, and repeating cues—plus questions to rediscover what you loved before life got noisy. This is a gentle, actionable roadmap from distraction to discernment.
 
Show Notes & Chapters
[00:00] Opening: “Have you ever had a hunch so strong it felt like more than a feeling?”
[02:00] Why intuition (not “woo-woo”)—Anna’s origin story and early seeking
[04:00] The “shopping test” & the inner nudge to “just ask” (it worked)
[06:00] Leaving a beloved but toxic job; realizing “it’s my time”
[07:00] Midlife crisis as calling; what second-act purpose looks like
[12:00] The practice of calm: meditation, yoga, nature, water; turning down the rational mind
[13:00] The rational mind as “bully”; emotion vs. intuition (discernment)
[16:00] Ideas in motion: a scientist’s best insights while running at Torrey Pines
[18:00] The freeway/back-road story: ignoring guidance = 30 minutes of construction
[20:00] Client win: “dig a little deeper”—the job that became five times bigger
[22:00] How to build trust: use a tracking sheet; notice patterns & results
[24:00] How intuition shows up: gut, chills, inner voice, “thin slicing,” repeating cues
[31:00] Finding direction: what you loved as a kid; ask friends “what am I really good at?”
[33:00] A personal example: importing what she loved (accessories) after feedback clicked
[35:00] Tiny practices: two quiet minutes in the car; water as a shortcut to calm
[37:00] “Go sit on the mountain”: traveling to an ashram and learning next-step faith
[40:00] Closing challenge: review your life’s turning points—where was intuition already guiding?
Resources
Coaching & speaking with Anna Quigley (San Diego-based; virtual groups and talks)
Intuition practice ideas: meditation, yoga, nature/water time, personal tracking sheet

Episode Summary
What happens when the identity you built your life around falls apart overnight? In this raw interview, Dean Patrick—Stanford dropout, former crypto fund manager, and now author of God Money: Lost and Found in the Crypto Wilderness—traces the arc from early “prodigy” ambition to addiction, collapse, and a near-suicide on a 30th-floor balcony in Manhattan. Family pulled him into recovery in 2018. The years that followed weren’t linear: relapses, resets, and finally a shift from status to substance—trading a high-profile accelerator role for a humble job that protects the two practices that rebuilt him: writing and Zen meditation.
Dean shares how week-long silent retreats and six months living at a Zen monastery gave him a new center, why success without values is a dead-end, and how “boring, systematic” routines actually fuel creative work. If you’ve ever asked, Is this really the life I want?—this conversation is your permission slip to choose differently, start smaller, and build a life that can actually hold you.
 
Show Notes & Chapters
[00:00] Opening: identity, ambition, and the prodigy trap
[03:00] Homeschooled faith → atheism → “my new god became money”
[05:30] Stanford insecurity, stimulants for confidence, and the crypto fund
[07:30] Tripling the fund… then the crash, panic attacks, and the balcony
[10:00] The phone call that pulled him back; rehab and the non-linear climb
[12:30] Two steps forward, almost two back: relapse, lessons, and four years sober
[13:30] Choosing a smaller life to save the bigger dream (service job → space to write)
[15:00] COVID as a reset; five years to write God Money
[18:30] Thoreau experiments: raw land, a DIY cabin, and what didn’t work
[19:30] Zen practice begins: Rochester Zen Center, retreats, and rigor
[21:00] Zazen: posture, pain, and why stillness hurts before it heals
[26:00] The field beyond thought: “no problems” and taking the edge off life
[28:30] Stoicism parallels; spiritual materialism and the ego in robes
[33:00] Monastery life: 4:00 a.m. bells, choreographed breakfasts, work as practice
[35:00] Designing a “boring, systematic” routine to protect creativity
[41:30] Publishing God Money, reader response, and the next (auto)fiction project
[43:00] Closing: being as an end in itself
Resources
Book: God Money: Lost and Found in the Crypto Wilderness — Dean Patrick
Audiobook: narrated by the author
Website: http://DeanPatrickAuthor.com
Community/Practice: Rochester Zen Center (mentioned)

Episode Summary
Former Marine officer and bestselling author David Richards shares how a life built on momentum—and other people’s expectations—finally hit a wall. From a childhood head injury and constant relocation to 15 years in the Marines, two divorces, and a pandemic-era low point, David explains how he began taking radical accountability and rebuilt his life from the inside out. The shift started with a simple but potent reframing: awareness creates reality—direct it, or life defaults to autopilot.
We trace the “judgment day” meditation that forced a life review, the mysterious “you’ve got a year” nudge from Jack Canfield, and the journaling marathon that became his books—including Love Letters to the Virgin Mary: The Resurrection of King David and Becoming One with Christ. David breaks down his three levels of mastery—intellectual, emotional, physical—and how daily incantations rewired his faith into lived experience.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re working hard but drifting, this episode is a compass: awareness, honesty, and everyday practices that create the life you actually want.
Show Notes & Chapters
[00:00] “Your mind is an ocean… your awareness is the lighthouse” — the premise of directed attention
[03:00] Military childhood, constant moves, and an early head injury that changed everything
[11:00] ROTC to Marine officer; 4 years becomes 15; realizing he’d followed his father’s model
[18:00] Marriage, divorce, and the cost of living in two-to-three-year cycles
[23:00] Choosing radical accountability; journaling to “reconcile with God”
[25:00] The Santa Barbara mastermind; Jack Canfield’s “You’ve got a year” and the emptiness that followed
[35:00] A “judgment day” meditation and a life review focused on love and relationships
[41:00] From films to faith: patterns, King David, and a turning point toward Christ
[44:00] A thousand pages of journaling; the title Love Letters to the Virgin Mary lands
[46:00] “Tony wants to read your book” — grace and momentum, then a crash and reset
[48:00] Subtitle inspiration and finishing the manuscript; launching Becoming One with Christ
[56:00] Three levels of mastery & the power of incantations (from belief to embodiment)
[61:00] Who the work is for: the religious, the spiritual, and the curious
[64:00] Final note: “Life happens for you, not to you.”
Resources
Website: http://DavidRichardsAuthor.com
Instagram: @‌DavidRichardsAuthor
Books:
Whiskey and Yoga
The Lighthouse Keeper
Love Letters to the Virgin Mary: The Resurrection of King David
Becoming One with Christ: The Lessons of King David
 
 

Episode Summary
What if talk therapy isn’t enough—because your trauma lives in your body? In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, world-record tap dancer turned trauma recovery coach Heather-Ann Ferri shares the raw story behind her work: childhood abuse, brain-level injury, and the long road from “performer with a mask” to a woman who uses her voice without apology. Heather-Ann explains why many survivors don’t remember early trauma, how perfectionism and people-pleasing take root, and the practical protocols that helped her heal when life fell apart: involuntary shaking, breath patterns rooted in Sanskrit, “medical-grade” hydration, and neurologically informed routines designed to calm a dysregulated system.
We also dig into shadow work, boundaries with family, and the difference between forgiving too soon and actually becoming whole. If you’ve ever felt stuck repeating patterns—or you’ve tried everything and nothing seemed to stick—this conversation offers a grounded way forward: simple tools, consistent practice, and the courage to tell the truth.
Show Notes & Chapters
[00:00] Becoming “spiritual people in physical bodies”; why language and behavior matter
[03:00] Early home life, generational trauma, and the first cracks in the system
[08:00] Abuse, dissociation, and how the body keeps score
[12:30] Tap as first voice; when performance becomes protection
[15:00] Why talk isn’t enough: shaking, breath, hydration, neurological protocols
[19:00] Shadow work, ego death, and rebuilding discipline
[22:00] Culture, religion, and the limits of “forgive and forget”
[24:30] Addiction as unaddressed trauma; pioneers and influences
[28:30] Kids, play, and screens: what the next generation needs
[33:00] Past lives, programming, and widening the healing lens
[40:00] PTSD in the body: feet, calves, and designing better protocols
[42:00] The Guinness record—and when the healing made things look worse
[47:00] No guru phase: listening within, then coaching others
[49:00] Who shows up: common ages, patterns, and readiness
[51:00] Boundaries vs. early forgiveness; becoming your own mother/father
[58:00] Where to start: first-chapter download and next steps
Resources
Website: Home - Heather Ann Ferri (first chapter download available)
Books (upcoming): Three-part series on trauma healing with guided practices
Influences mentioned: Alice Miller; Gabor Maté; body-based trauma modalities
 

Episode Summary
What happens when the secret holding you back is one you’ve been keeping from yourself? In this raw, unguarded conversation, writer–producer Alan Katz (HBO’s Tales from the Crypt) traces the arc from early Hollywood wins to a two-decade spiral—then the moment truth became non-negotiable. We dig into the creative birth of the Crypt Keeper, how Tales helped change HBO’s culture, and the studio politics that turned a thriving franchise into the feature fiasco Bordello of Blood. Alan shares the near-suicide that forced him to confront a childhood trauma, the mood-stabilizer that “put the darkness in a box,” and how telling the truth—to himself first—unlocked a second act.
Today, he runs Costard & Touchstone Productions and makes story podcasts as activism: How NOT to Make a Movie, The Donor: A DNA Horror Story, The Hall Closet, and Just the Photographer. This episode is a masterclass in creative integrity, personal recovery, and building work that answers to your soul—not the system.
 
Show Notes & Chapters
[00:00] “The truth will set you free” — telling your story to yourself first
[03:00] Early wins, New York to LA, and meeting producer Gil Adler
[08:00] Tales from the Crypt: franchise building and the birth of the Crypt Keeper
[16:30] “It’s not TV, it’s HBO” — culture shift and creative freedom
[19:30] Feature deal at Universal; Demon Knight lands, Dead Easy dies
[22:00] The Bordello of Blood pivot: impossible timelines, miscasting, and studio politics
[31:00] Fallout: a burned-out crew, shelved integrity, and a friendship broken
[33:00] Two decades of depression and the secret underneath it
[34:30] Mood stabilizer, therapy, and the moment the rage “clicked off”
[35:30] Naming childhood abuse; why truth changes everything
[37:00] Podcasting as catharsis: How NOT to Make a Movie reunites old partners
[41:00] Owning IP and flipping the Hollywood dynamic
[44:00] The slate: The Donor, The Hall Closet, Just the Photographer
[56:00] “How to Live Bullshit Free”: purpose, bliss, and helping others
Resources
Costard & Touchstone Productions: Home
Podcasts: How NOT to Make a Movie • The Donor: A DNA Horror Story • The Hall Closet • Just the Photographer
Blog/Book: How to Live Bullshit Free (in progress)

Episode Summary 
Jack Kammer has spent over four decades asking the uncomfortable questions about gender, power, and fairness—and he’s not done yet. In this episode, the former social worker, parole officer, and longtime advocate for men’s issues joins A Joyful Rebellion to unpack what he calls a “Vitamin M deficiency” in modern life.
From stories of fatherlessness and male dropout to the overlooked emotional needs of boys, Kammer offers a perspective that challenges dominant gender narratives—without rejecting the value of feminism. We explore the male and female “power structures,” the cost of being excluded from emotional spaces, and how society might benefit from men reinventing their roles—not with rebellion, but with reintegration.
If you’ve ever questioned how we got here—or how we get out—this conversation might just shift your lens.
Show Notes with Chapters
[00:00:00] Introduction to Jack Kammer and his lifelong work[00:03:00] Challenging the myth of universal male privilege[00:05:30] American vs. French Revolutions as metaphors for gender progress[00:07:00] Jack’s origin story: co-ed softball and aha moments[00:10:30] “The Misfortune 5 Million” and redefining power[00:16:00] The invisible female power structure and the Big Red Heart[00:21:00] The original radio show and what men called in about[00:24:00] Divorce, fatherlessness, and societal bias[00:30:00] Are we struggling because we’ve lost purpose?[00:34:00] Men’s opportunity to reinvent themselves (IBM analogy)[00:39:00] Raising kids, deserving vs. needing, and Vitamin M[00:46:00] Responsible motherhood and fatherhood—what’s missing[00:50:00] Reclaiming the value of masculinity and presence[00:55:00] The need for balance, not backlash[01:00:00] What men and boys are facing today[01:02:00] Final thoughts and the call for shared respect
Resources 
Male Friendly Media: Jack Kammer’s platform
National Fatherhood Initiative: https://www.fatherhood.org
Book: No More Mr. Nice Guy by Dr. Robert Glover
Book references: The End of Men, Are Men Even Necessary?

Episode Summary
Sometimes the most unexpected stories aren’t about what happens—but how someone chooses to live through it.
In this powerful episode of A Joyful Rebellion, disability advocate and author Jennifer Gasner shares what it’s like to receive a life-altering diagnosis at 17—and then keep going. Diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia, a rare degenerative disorder, Jennifer was told she’d be in a wheelchair by 20 and gone by 25. She just celebrated her 51st birthday.
We talk about her memoir My Unexpected Life, the difference between the medical model and the social model of disability, and how Jennifer learned to embrace her identity and advocate for others. She shares stories of visibility, vulnerability, and an unexpected friendship with Dave Matthews that changed her life.
Whether you’re navigating disability or just want to better understand the world around you, this conversation is a powerful reminder that value isn’t tied to ability—it’s about being fully human.
Show Notes & Chapters
[00:00] Medical model vs. social model of disability
[01:30] Meet Jennifer Gasner and My Unexpected Life
[03:00] Diagnosed at 17: The moment that changed everything
[05:00] A grim prognosis—and why it didn’t come true
[07:00] From broadcaster dreams to reimagined purpose
[09:30] Turning 25 and realizing: “I’m still here”
[11:00] Why Jennifer wrote the book—and who it’s for
[13:00] Structuring a memoir—and choosing what to include
[14:30] Embracing the social model of disability
[16:00] Vulnerability, visibility, and reader response
[18:00] Judy Heumann, Rebecca Taussig, and other influences
[20:00] FA’s wide spectrum—and how connection heals
[22:00] Book events, disability orgs, and imposter syndrome
[24:00] The Dave Matthews story: friendship and generosity
[26:00] What nondisabled people often miss—and how to do better
[28:00] Fear, socialization, and why low expectations persist
[30:00] Changing the narrative—and being part of the shift
[32:00] Final thoughts: Worthiness, identity, and perspective shifts
Resources
Website: jennifergasner.com
Book: My Unexpected Life: Finding Balance Beyond My Diagnosis
Instagram: @‌jennygwriter
Facebook: Jennifer Gasner, Author
Recommended Books:
Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau
Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Taussig
Being Heumann by Judy Heumann
The Anti-Ableist Manifesto by Tinu Abayomi-Paul

Episode Summary
What if the hard season you’re in isn’t a detour—but the actual path?
Steven Zeller is a serial entrepreneur, technologist, and futurist who’s built and lost businesses, found clarity in discomfort, and never stopped chasing what’s next. In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, Steven shares how being broke, unsupported, and underestimated became the foundation for his most innovative work.
We talk about building your first million (and losing it fast), navigating entrepreneurship without a safety net, and how failure became his best mentor. Steven opens up about growing up without support, learning business in real time, and why your inner circle matters more than your pitch deck. Then we shift into the future: AI, genetic engineering, wearable tech, deepfakes, and the fine line between human potential and transhumanism.
This episode is a rare peek into the mind of someone who sees the future clearly—and isn’t afraid to walk straight into it.
 
Show Notes & Chapters
[00:00] Opening question: Is technology making us dumber—or just more reliant?
[01:00] Meet Steven Zeller: serial entrepreneur, tech futurist, self-made risk-taker
[03:00] From Midwest middle child to forging his own path—without college
[06:00] Choosing neurosurgery… or entrepreneurship?
[08:00] Breaking generational expectations without a support system
[11:00] Early mistakes, bad influences, and learning business by doing
[13:00] Making a million—and losing it fast
[15:00] The “woe is me” moment, and what he did differently the second time
[18:00] Why iteration matters more than perfection
[21:00] Version 3.0 of your life—and why reinvention is your best strategy
[24:00] AI, robotics, and why humans were built for more than monotony
[28:00] The distinction between usable and distraction tech
[33:00] How we think with tools—and why that isn’t always a bad thing
[36:00] Deepfakes, disinformation, and the need for AI fact-checkers
[39:00] What Steven’s most excited about: genetics, organ regeneration, and life extension
[43:00] The ethics of editing embryos—and the danger of designer babies
[45:00] Medical disruption vs. medical monetization
[47:00] The idea of “downloading a cure” in the not-so-distant future
[50:00] Transhumanism, identity, and what makes us human
[52:00] Final thoughts: Better tech, better humans, and drawing the line
Resources
Connect with Steven on LinkedIn 
Topics mentioned: ChatGPT, Sora, Quantum Computing, Human Genome Project, IPS cells, Brain-computer interfaces