Becoming Wilkinson

Send us a textRam Charan has been passionate about exploring consciousness through meditation and healing work for decades. A native of New York, he has spent the greater part of 30 years in India where he gained a deep appreciation and understanding of spiritual awareness practices and intuitive wisdom, which finds expression in his practice of integrative bodywork and transformational coaching. He combines this with extensive training in multiple holistic therapeutic approaches. He received his coaching training and certification through Coacharya in Chennai, India. His bodywork and coaching styles integrate his skills in a wide variety of manual techniques with a subtle understanding of the healing value of deep presence and conscious dialogue. He teaches and works extensively internationally and is based on Cape Cod from Spring through Autumn. For more information about his coaching and bodywork services, see: www.healherenow.comwww.adamramcharan.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textRUSSELL POEWhen he was a young man, Russ Poe had a professor who told him not  to follow his passion of becoming a teacher.  Years later, with a lot of life experiences under his belt and with three children of his own, circumstances in his life changed and he was able to once again come back to his passion. He returned to school, obtained the necessary teaching credentials and began teaching.That was twelve years ago.  having moved from the Chicago suburbs to the desert, he now teaches middle school in Desert Host Springs.He shares some insights from teaching middle schoolers and also manages to share a few life lessons with us.Borrowing a line from a Ben Rector song, he says:"I'm living my best lifeI wake up with the sunriseIt does not look a thing like I thought that it wouldI've been getting my steps inAnd I sleep with my best friend..."Russ says that he feels like he's cheating at life.  His second chapter is starting so well...He lives with his wife and three children in Cathedral City, CA.Contact Russ via email: russp1968@gmail.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textRICKY REIDLINGRicky was born in the small southern town of Winder, Georgia on May 15th. Doing local theater productions since he was a kid he got his first real break when he was 15 when he was asked to audition for "Annie Get Your Gun" playing 'lil Jake, Annie's brother. He won the audience's over with great reviews to follow. Ricky continued acting in various productions throughout his career and finally decided to make the move to California where he was referred to a talent agent by a well known casting director and appeared in several films. Ricky then decided to start his own entertainment company where he would write/produce/direct and act in some of his own productions.Ricky is a filmmaker, writer, actor and creator of the Cable series BoysTown, the feature film HEELS and the T.V. pilot Some Kind of Wonderful.Some Kind of Wonderful  Website:   www.skowseries.comRicky's IMDB profile and info: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1579379/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ricky.reidlingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickyreidling/Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textI met Tom Grissinger online more than 20 years ago.  We had initially considered dating but that didn't work out.  We remained friends over these many years.In this episode, he discusses the  rather unique grieving process he used in dealing with the unexpected death of his partner Kelly Turner.We bounce around on many topics, including why he chose to father four children for four lesbian couples, some crazy dating stories and why he's so obsessed with game shows (and how he managed to successfully go on so many of them).Lastly, he chats about his latest ventures in writing plays and storytelling.Tom lives with his husband Andy Kelchner and they spend time between their homes in Oakland and Palm Springs.Contact Tom via email: tgriss@gmail.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textWho is Alex Stratikis?  Here's his story in his own words:"Hi, I’m Alex Stratikis, founder of Autism Adventures Abroad.  I’m a 20-something travel blogger/writer (I’m also a Japanese to English translator too!) and I just happen to have an Autism diagnosis too. I was inspired to start my blog and establish this website to encourage other young autistic people who are ambitious about exploring the world to push their boundaries and give traveling a go, even if society may convince them otherwise. I could never have imagined that my life would turn out the way it has!I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 6 (I now simply identify with the broader Autism Spectrum). I always knew there had to be a bigger, more interesting and exciting world than the small ex-mining community where I grew up in Scotland. I dreamt of living in Japan and from the age of 13 I began to study the language, I eventually studied for an Honours Degree in Japanese at Newcastle University in England and graduated in 2019.I traveled myself for the first time abroad at the age of 19, to Japan and spent 6 months in Tokyo, studying at a language school.  Those were some of the best times of my life. I learned a lot about myself, my limits, my likes and dislikes, I really pushed myself to try new things and explore new places during my stay.I started to develop connections with others who like me were living in a foreign country and this was a key point I noted.  Nobody was there to judge anyone else’s differences, everyone was there to connect with the people present, most of whom were of different cultures to themselves.I was raised in Scotland (I’m Greek/Scottish) and really struggled socially throughout my childhood, I struggled to make friends because no-one I knew seemed to be interested in the things I wanted to talk about and here I am now at the beginning of an incredible journey that has seen me travelling (mainly solo) to over 30 countries, 6 of which I have lived, worked and studied in.  I now have friends in countries all over the world!I have a real interest in visiting sites and venues of historical and architectural significance (I did think about studying archaeology at university before I settled on Japanese).I post regularly on Instagram, photos and stories from my travels so please take a look, like my posts, leave me a comment and if you like what you see, follow me and I might just follow you back"!Alex's blog:  https://www.autismadventuresabroad.comFacebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AutismAdventuresAbroadAlex's travel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismadventuresabroad/Alex's tip jar/donation: https://gofund.me/20645a45 orhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AlexStratikisPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textXIAOBING is from China.He spent four months as an artist in residence at the Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles.After that experience, he's been traveling around the US.  I caught up with him as a guest at my Airbnb in Palm Springs (Palm Springs Interlude).He chats with me about his art, his family and gay life in China.Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.comWilkinson's airbnb:  https://www.airbnb.com/users/251586484/

Send us a textVinnie Rotalo is an amazing man.  He hasn't had an easy life.  When he was only 14, he tried to save his mother's life via instructions in CPR given by a 911 dispatcher.  After her death, he had to go live with his father whom he didn't really know.He became a trainer and was settling into a successful career with modeling potential when he became paralyzed.  It took him a year of fierce struggle to come back to his normal self.He got involved in drugs, spent some years in the gay porn industry and lost his partner to suicide.  He also lost his beloved feline buddy Baxter, who had stuck with Vinnie through all of the ups and downs.Vinnie is a courageous, beautiful man who's a bit shy - but he's very funny when you get to know him.  His beautiful energy will be obvious to even the most casual observer as you listen to his story and be encouraged...Vinnie's contact info:Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/vjr39/Email: Vjrotalo@gmail.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textA native of San Diego County, Rev. Dr. Jerry Troyer has been a New Thought/Religious Science minister since 2007.Jerry is a founding board member and currently Director of Relationship Development for Urban Street Angels, an organization in San Diego that works to end youth homelessness by providing housing, life skills training and employment referrals to homeless transition age youth, ages 18 to 25.He also serves as staff minister for Om Center for Spiritual Living, and is the author of the acclaimed book, Coming Out to Ourselves:  Admitting, Accepting and Embracing Who We Truly Are.  Rev. Dr. Jerry’s husband, also Jerry, died in 2018, after a 33 year relationship.  As a result of experiencing conflicting feelings of grief, loss and “toxic positivity,” he created an interactive workshop titled “The Search for Inner Peace:  Being at Home in the Muddy Water.”  Through the grieving process, Jerry connected with others, especially in the LGBTQ community, experiencing difficulty in finding a sense of purpose and possibility after the death of a dear one or other life trauma.  As a result of his connection with “ElderPride,” a focus ministry of the Centers for Spiritual Living, he began creating his second book about life after 60, which is expected to be published in 2023.  Rev. Dr. Jerry lives in La Mesa, a suburb of San Diego, with his English Cream Golden Retriever, “Maggie.” His son Brandon and family, including seven grandchildren, live near Eugene, Oregon.Links:http://www.revjerrytroyer.comhttp://www.urbanstreetangels.orghttp://www.omcsl.orghttp://www.elderpride4me.orgPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textDan RossiDan discusses his coming out process, life on the east coast and other topics, including his vast experience heading up several large non-profits.Prior to his current job as Executive Director of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Dan  was with the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, where he led the very successful Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh over 12 years. Dan is a Pittsburgh native and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Carnegie-Mellon University, as well as a Master’s Degree from Robert Morris University. His extensive nonprofit experience spans not only animal welfare but also human health, having served as CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona, part of the United Cerebral Palsy network which is one of the largest health nonprofits in the United States. Dan’s animal welfare journey really took off in 2010 when he accepted the role of Executive Director at the Animal Rescue League. Under his leadership the ARL experienced unprecedented growth and became the largest animal shelter in the Pittsburgh region, touching the lives of more than 25,000 animals and 30,000 households annually. In 2017, Dan was named CEO of Humane Animal Rescue – the legacy organization of the merged Animal Rescue League and Western PA Humane Society.Dan  is married to his husband Ed Garofolo and they live with their pets in Palm Springs, California.Visit the Palm Springs Animal Shelter: https://psanimalshelter.orgPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textJohn Adam Di Pietro John earned his J.D. degree from the University of Notre Dame. In addition to being a civil litigator for most of his career,  he also brought in excess of four decades of experience in real estate, title, zoning, land use, litigation, business and municipal law to The Danek Law Firm. He has served as solicitor for many municipalities and zoning and planning boards. In addition to representing local governments, he has acted as legal counsel for real estate developers, general contractors and financial institutions. He has also served a five-year term as in-house underwriting counsel and marketing agent for a national title insurance company. John was a panel participant in numerous legal seminars for members of the Pennsylvania Bar and for various professional organizations, including the National Business Institute. Some of his presentations have been at the following seminars: “Practical Guide To Zoning and Land Use Law” Philadelphia, PA March 14, 2016;“Practical Guide To Zoning and Land Use Law” King of Prussia, PA September 16, 2015;“Title Law From Start To Finish” Philadelphia, PA April 28, 2015;“Title Workshop: From Examination to Commitment: March 10, 2014;“Title Law in Pennsylvania” Philadelphia, PA July 10, 2013;“Practical Guide To Zoning and Land Use Law” Philadelphia, PA October 1, 2013; and “Legal Issue in Local Government” Philadelphia, PA March 2, 2012.He was often a guest columnist on legal issues in a variety of internet media outlets. As a member of the Pennsylvania, Montgomery and Philadelphia County Bar Associations he  practiced before several U.S. Federal District Courts. As an appellate attorney he has also represented clients before the Commonwealth’s appellate courts.He is fluent in Italian and French and has represented clients abroad in various business matters.John was also active in local politics. In 1979, he was elected as councilman-at-large to Wilkes-Barre City Council for a four-year term. Community service includes Chairperson of the East Norriton Township Zoning Hearing Board and member of the Human Relations Commission of East Norriton Township. He is also a member of the Independence Business Alliance of Philadelphia.Past Solicitorships:Luzerne County Institution District;Borough of Conshohocken; 1992 – 2004;North Wales Borough;Springfield Township Zoning Hearing Board; Springfield Township Civil Service Commission; Special Counsel to Borough of Conshohocken; Special Counsel to Ambler Zoning Hearing Board.John is married to his husband Rich and now enjoys a busy life of retirement in Palm Springs, California.Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com