Becoming Wilkinson

Send us a textPaul Hietter This is Paul's second visit as a guest on my podcast.  This time we discuss aging as gay men in Palm Springs and a few of life's learned lessons.Paul is a true renaissance man - having worked in a number of industries, with his favorites of being a caterer and event planner to the stars and a new thought minister. He is always happiest when he is of service and learning something new.   Overcoming life’s obstacles seems a good hobby and with hiking, working out, being a Chef and humanitarian, there is never a dull moment.  Currently single, and a cat daddy of Rumi and Leo,  Paul lives in Palm Springs, CA. He may be reached at 760-567-5820 or PaulHietter@icloud.com. Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textNathan SerratoAs an ICF Certified Life Coach, Reiki Practitioner, Yoga Instructor, and Master Practitioner & Trainer in Time Line Therapy®, Hypnotherapy, and NLP; Nathan Serrato helps queer leaders and visionaries in their journeys toward deeper intimacy, spiritual reclamation, and purpose driven living so that they can fully embody their authentic, gifts and savor the joys of the queerdom along the way. Website: queerconscious.com/soulconfidenceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/queerconscious/Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textOriginally from Boston, for the last decade, Alan Carvalho has been semi-retired in Cathedral City, CA. He continues shooting videos throughout the valley with his company: Cambridge Video.He's been with his partner for 50 years and they've been in a 3 person relationship (throuple) for 28 years (they all live together).  And now they're ready to conquer the next stage of retirement!Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textBill MarxWilliam Woollcott Marx (born January 8, 1937) is an American pianist, arranger, and composer. He is the adopted son of actors Harpo Marx and Susan Fleming.Marx was placed in the Children's Home Society in Los Angeles by his birth parents when he was eight months old, and four months later he was adopted by Harpo Marx and his wife, Susan Fleming. He attended the Juilliard School, where he studied composition and he studied with composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. He began working in entertainment when he was 12 years old, when he was put in charge of his father's props for shows, including his harp. At 16 he became arranger and musical conductor for his father. Marx's compositions include concertos for alto saxophone, flute, harp, piano, and violin.] He also composed symphonies and scores for films, including the score for the film Weekend Pass (1984). Marx transcribed music that his father composed, because the elder Marx did not read music. The two worked together on two albums that Harpo recorded in the early 1960s. He also composed and arranged for recording artists in both jazz and popular music. In 1961, Marx signed with Vee-Jay Records. His projects there included arranging cover versions of music for four albums by the Castaway Strings. In 1967, he began writing music for commercials. In the 1970s, he composed for several low-budget horror movies, including Scream Blacula Scream, Terror at Red Wolf Inn, and Count Yorga, Vampire. For these projects, he often collaborated with lyricist Marilyn Lovell. He continued his work on films outside the horror genre throughout the 1980s, such as arranging music for John Cassavetes' Big Trouble . As a performer, Marx has played in jazz clubs, lounges, and theaters In the late 1980s, Marx and harpist Carrol McLaughlin toured the United States, giving performances and promoting Harpo Speaks, his father's autobiography. In the early 1990s, Los Angeles magazine named Marx the most popular lounge pianist in that city. In 2002, he received a star at 265 S. Palm Canyon Drive on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.                                                           (Adapted from wikipedia). Buy the books:Bill's book: https://www.amazon.com/Son-Harpo-Speaks-Bill-Marx-ebook/dp/B00INB1JLW/Harpo's book: https://www.amazon.com/Harpo-Speaks-Marx-ebook/dp/B06XWDPNB4/Susan's book : https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Harpo-Susan-Fleming-Marx-ebook/dp/B09XTJ1KC6/Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textGina Zollman grew up in Southern California, always singing in choirs and being in shows. She graduated from UCSD with a BA in Linguistics and a minor in Music. Her choral career extended way beyond college, culminating with performances at Carnegie Hall in NYC and at the Nokia and The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA.After being trained on Wall Street and establishing herself as a successful stockbroker in San Diego, Gina moved back to the LA area and worked as an executive in her family’s business, but soon show biz called and Gina pivoted to what she’d always longed to do. Soon she was a SAG member and putting on one-woman shows at nightclubs and bistros across the Southland. A highlight was selling out the Hollywood-Roosevelt Cinegrill, receiving 3 standing ovations, her name emblazoned on the 30-foot marquee. Gina has also performed extensively in Palm Springs, appearing at The Arthur Newman Theatre with her one-woman show, appearing with Derrik Lewis and his “It’s Better With a Band” series, various nightclubs, and guest starring at Jazzville, at Agua Caliente Resort this past November.Gina recorded her first CD “Anywhere With You” and released it at Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood in March of 2023, to critical acclaim. She is poised to appear in 3 musical theatre productions at The Palm Canyon Theatre’s 2023-2024 season and has 2 one-woman shows she is booking in the US and Canada: “Love, Loss, and What I Weighed” including comedy as well as all the songs from her CD; she is also starring in a brand new “Anne Murray Tribute Show.” She has been called a “song stylist par excellence” and excels at getting to the heart of her carefully chosen songs, mostly from the Great American Songbook, sprinkled with original material and arrangements.Contact Gina at: http://www.ginazollman.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a text"I had another experience when I was meditating that affirmed my life was transforming again. I dreamed I was standing on a river bank. There were people in canoes peacefully rowing in a river. I came to understand that the river was peaceful flow. The people in the canoes waved and smiled to come in. I looked up and down the river bank. There were countless people standing on the banks. Some walked into the river and a canoe appeared for their transport. Some shook with fear on the side. Those in the river were committed. Somehow I knew it was a big commitment. I waded in and the next thing I knew I was in a canoe. I felt immense peace. I knew I would never go back to the river bank. At the same time, there was no judgment about those on the river bank. There was a simple invitation to wade into the peaceful river of life...I have witnessed the prison-house closing in on the growing child within myself and within my family. My work is dedicated to millions who have felt bound by the conditions that would imprison. My story is not unique. My message is simple, never ever give up! There is always hope. It is my intention that as you hear the story of my journey,  you will remember from deep within you-- your calling, your purpose, and your recovery of the truth of who you are. You are already free. You simply need to remember."           Larendee RoosFounder Director Miracle Activation CenterFounder CEO Roos AdvisorsPartner Ador DevelopmentFacilitator Trainer Pathways of LightGrateful Spouse, mom, and grandmother. Daughter of Abba Father.To contact Larendee, simply text her at 1-801-209-3611Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.comNOTE: This episode with Larendee originally aired in early 2022 when my podcast was new and I had few listeners/followers.  I've re-mixed the audio and I'm re-publishing it now because a larger audience should hear her story.

Send us a textEnrique Quintero  is a Puerto Rican actor, writer, and video editor andwho now lives between Palm Springs and LA. His television credits include Amazon’s Bosch, HBO Max’s Queer You Are, Netflix’s High Heat, and Hulu’s Tengoku Daimakyo. He appeared recently on films such as Anchor and Hope and Tu Me Manques. He has graced the stage on productions of Chicago (Billy Flynn), In The Heights (Sonny), Arena (Adan Torrez), and Daddy Date (Beto). He is currently working on a comedy screenplay called Kill Your Selves and is editing a queer documentary titled Flamingo Camp. He was a finalist on the NBC Nosotros’ Ya Tú Sabes! Monologue Slam as a writer.Represented by Trinity Artists International (310) 728-4000 For more into- email: wendy@trinityartist.comhttps://www.instagram.com/enriquequintero787/http://www.youtube.com/c/dorksidedhttp://www.twitter.com/@dorksided787Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textByron Scott Jones"Everything you want is on the other side of fear".  Transforming from an introverted gay man to performing naked in a play on stage.  Byron discusses the process he went through in order to change.   It happened one day in 2015.  He sat down and made a list of all of the things that he felt were causing his depression.  But he didn't stop there.  He did something about it!Byron is a 52 years old Miami native. He's  been programming computers since he was a child and is currently a software engineer in the Healthcare education industry. He's also a photographer, a model, an astronomer, a great cook and an avid reader.He's been married 33 years, although that's coming to an amicable end shortly. Byrons says that a he's looking forward to starting the next chapter of his life and will be moving to Palm Springs as soon as his family responsibilities allow.  Stay tuned...Contact Byron via email:  Byronjones@outlook.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2023Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Send us a textHelene Verin has a B.S. in Art from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and has a certificate in arts appraisal from NYU. Verin has worked for many galleries, museums as well as individual artists;  including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, Documenta (where she worked with Joseph Beuys), was the Edinburgh Arts Administrator, and worked for Dennis Oppenheim as his registrar.  She has written for FlashArt, Interview, and the Smithsonian.As an award-winning designer of shoes, rugs, wallpaper, and tiles, Verin is intimately involved with contemporary design, with a specialty in couture and accessories.  Her work has appeared in countless books and publications.  A Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Verin has lectured around the world.Recognized as the expert on Beth Levine, (having written Beth Levine Shoes, (Stewart, Tabori & Chang 2009) and curated 3 exhibitions, as well as authored Arsho Baghsarian (Schiffer Fashion Press.)Verin moved to Palm Springs during Covid, May 2020.Contact Helene: helene.verin@gmail.comHelene's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heleneverin/?hl=enHelene's Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/helene.verin.9Artsy Article:  https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-sit-andy-warholLABUCQ interview: https://labucq.com/pages/helene-verinHelene's Books:"Beth Levine Shoes " (2009)https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584797592/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0"Arsho Baghsarian: A Life in Shoes"  (2019) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764357328/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.comNOTE: THIS IS AN INTERVIEW FROM MID 2022 WHEN MY PODCAST WAS NEW AND I DIDN'T HAVE MANY FOLLOWERS.  I'VE BEEN RE-ISSUING SOME OF THE BETTER EPISODES SO THAT MY CURRENT AUDIENCE CAN ENJOY THEM!

Send us a textThe last two weeks, I visited my middle son Dave, his wife Meredith and my two grandsons Henry and Jack at their home in Dartmouth MA.Dave is a good sport.  He agreed to be interviewed for my podcast.  After we were finished, he told me that it was now my turn and that he was going to interview ME for a podcast episode!I was surprised at what I was feeling at first.  I guess I was afraid of what he might ask.  After all, he IS an attorney and he's be putting me on the stand, so to speak.  LOL.But as I thought about it and mentioned to my friend and energy guru Mark Hollenstein, he encouraged me to do it.  He thought it would be good for both of us.Before this interview, I had a little time to reflect and one of the things thatI realized was that I knew virtually nothing about my own father (or his father).  What a gift it would have been to have been able to sit my own "Pop" down and ask him a bunch of questions.    So we did the interview.  I kind of figured that it would be a gift to each of us.I had no idea what Dave would ask me.  There were some interesting questions and I'm pretty sure that he got some interesting answers.  Like:  "Whoa.  No, I did not know that grandma used to be an underwear model before she met your Dad and then she became a radio preacher"!It's a light-hearted interview with a lot of interesting questions.  I appreciate the time Dave took in preparing to participate.Listen in to our bantering, interspersed with some great dialogue.  Photo copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.comNOTE:  This interview was recorded earlier, when my podcast was new.  I've enhanced the audio, upgraded the artwork and re-issued it now that more listeners will get to enjoy it.