WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.500 Hey y 'all, welcome to Questions You Didn't Ask. 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:07.179 Did you know that this very spot could be showcasing 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:10.320 your business or event? Whether it's an audio 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:14.460 ad on our podcast, or a visual ad on our new 00:00:14.460 --> 00:00:18.100 YouTube station, or even both, we've got the 00:00:18.100 --> 00:00:21.620 space for you. Nyesha Frey Consulting is reaching 00:00:21.620 --> 00:00:24.420 a growing audience of over a thousand leaders 00:00:24.420 --> 00:00:27.839 who are passionate about health equity, social 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:32.070 justice, and civil rights activism. These are 00:00:32.070 --> 00:00:35.329 professionals just like you working across higher 00:00:35.329 --> 00:00:40.409 education, research, healthcare, nonprofit, government, 00:00:40.590 --> 00:00:44.030 and even public health sectors. If you're ready 00:00:44.030 --> 00:00:46.630 to get your message in front of a dedicated and 00:00:46.630 --> 00:00:52.469 engaged audience, send me an email at naishafrayconsultingllc 00:00:52.469 --> 00:00:57.149 at gmail .com. Let's talk about how we can help 00:00:57.149 --> 00:00:59.710 you connect with the people who need to hear 00:00:59.710 --> 00:01:02.829 about your services and products that advance 00:01:02.829 --> 00:01:06.969 health equity and wellness. Don't miss out. Get 00:01:06.969 --> 00:01:09.269 in the mix and let's make an impact together. 00:01:19.530 --> 00:01:22.629 Welcome back. to questions you didn't ask. The 00:01:22.629 --> 00:01:25.769 show where we peel back the layers, break the 00:01:25.769 --> 00:01:28.590 silence, and have the conversations that too 00:01:28.590 --> 00:01:32.670 often go ignored. This is season four, series 00:01:32.670 --> 00:01:36.269 two, and it's titled Trippin', Black Men, Mental 00:01:36.269 --> 00:01:39.730 Health, and Movement. This series is for anybody 00:01:39.730 --> 00:01:43.709 who's ever carried trauma in their body, questions 00:01:43.709 --> 00:01:47.150 in their mind, and still find a way to move through 00:01:47.150 --> 00:01:50.890 it. It's all about Black men, real ones. whole 00:01:50.890 --> 00:01:54.430 ones, complicated ones, and how their stories, 00:01:54.549 --> 00:01:58.569 pain, joy, and recovery journeys matter. This 00:01:58.569 --> 00:02:02.049 is a conversation about movement and stillness, 00:02:02.150 --> 00:02:06.430 about sobriety and storytelling, about what happens 00:02:06.430 --> 00:02:09.490 when Black people, especially Black men, step 00:02:09.490 --> 00:02:13.110 off the grid and into their healing. I'm your 00:02:13.110 --> 00:02:16.250 host, Nyesha Frey, and I bring to this conversation 00:02:16.250 --> 00:02:19.370 my background in psychology, clinical psychology. 00:02:20.169 --> 00:02:23.330 public health and health behavior my professional 00:02:23.330 --> 00:02:26.590 journey began as a substance use counselor in 00:02:26.590 --> 00:02:29.169 manhattan's lower east side where i witnessed 00:02:29.169 --> 00:02:32.590 firsthand the devastating impact of substances 00:02:32.590 --> 00:02:36.550 like cocaine heroin and alcohol on individuals 00:02:36.550 --> 00:02:40.849 and communities these experiences deepened my 00:02:40.849 --> 00:02:42.909 compassion for those struggling with addiction 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:47.039 Understanding that systemic pressures like American 00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:50.960 capitalism, institutionalized racism, and complex 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:54.180 social environments often make illicit drugs 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:58.099 seem like a viable coping mechanism. But healing 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:01.900 is possible. And sometimes healing starts with 00:03:01.900 --> 00:03:05.800 stepping outside, literally. Did you know that 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:08.580 Black Americans are less likely to receive mental 00:03:08.580 --> 00:03:10.439 health treatment than their white counterparts? 00:03:11.469 --> 00:03:16.009 In 2022, only 15 % of non -Hispanic Black adults 00:03:16.009 --> 00:03:19.710 received mental health care, compared to 27 % 00:03:19.710 --> 00:03:23.629 of non -Hispanic white adults. This gap isn't 00:03:23.629 --> 00:03:27.509 just about stigma. It's about access, affordability, 00:03:27.509 --> 00:03:30.689 and a health care system that hasn't always served 00:03:30.689 --> 00:03:34.030 Black communities equitably. And the consequences 00:03:34.030 --> 00:03:38.349 are devastating. The suicide rate among Black 00:03:38.810 --> 00:03:41.710 or African -American populations has been rising. 00:03:42.050 --> 00:03:47.909 In 2011, the rate was 5 .5 per 100 ,000. By 2020, 00:03:48.310 --> 00:03:53.930 it climbed to 7 .7 per 100 ,000. This increase 00:03:53.930 --> 00:03:56.870 is alarming, especially when we consider that 00:03:56.870 --> 00:03:59.949 suicide rates among Black youth have nearly doubled 00:03:59.949 --> 00:04:03.789 in the past decade. But here's something powerful. 00:04:04.150 --> 00:04:07.860 Access to nature is linked to better mental health 00:04:07.860 --> 00:04:11.039 outcomes. According to research from the American 00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:14.460 Psychological Association, spending time outdoors 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:18.259 can lower cortisol levels, reduce anxiety, and 00:04:18.259 --> 00:04:22.500 even improve cognitive function. Yet, Black communities 00:04:22.500 --> 00:04:25.879 often face disparities in access to nature, from 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:29.860 environmental injustices to a lack of self -welcoming 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:34.310 outdoor spaces. And this has consequences. Did 00:04:34.310 --> 00:04:37.009 you know that the life expectancy of Black men 00:04:37.009 --> 00:04:40.290 in the U .S. is significantly lower than that 00:04:40.290 --> 00:04:43.610 of Black women? According to the CDC, Black men 00:04:43.610 --> 00:04:47.810 have a life expectancy of 67 .7 years compared 00:04:47.810 --> 00:04:52.629 to 74 .9 years for Black women. Factors like 00:04:52.629 --> 00:04:56.269 chronic stress, systemic racism, and limited 00:04:56.269 --> 00:04:58.889 access to health -promoting environments, including 00:04:58.889 --> 00:05:02.920 nature, play a role in this gap. That's why this 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:06.300 conversation matters. In this episode, I sit 00:05:06.300 --> 00:05:09.480 down with Charles E. Chambers. Charles, the fat 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:12.879 cat. Chambers is a brand developer and founder 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:16.019 of Set Trippin' Outdoor Adventures, a movement 00:05:16.019 --> 00:05:19.000 focused on reconnecting our communities with 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:22.079 the outdoors through adventure, culture, and 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:25.519 the freedom to explore, play, and thrive in nature. 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:28.920 As a lifelong traveler and creative storyteller, 00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:32.740 Charles brings mindfulness, design, and cultural 00:05:32.740 --> 00:05:35.939 pride together to inspire connection, adventure, 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:39.980 and community. His work invites Black folks to 00:05:39.980 --> 00:05:42.759 see the outdoors not just as escape, but as a 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:46.519 place to thrive. As someone rooted deeply in 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:49.279 public health, I spend my life working on the 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:52.459 structural side of health equity, social determinants, 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:55.620 systemic barriers, policy, and program design. 00:05:56.459 --> 00:06:00.339 Charles works on the deeply personal side, using 00:06:00.339 --> 00:06:03.600 his life as a canvas to explore what healing 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:06.300 can look like through movement, mindfulness, 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:10.500 and entrepreneurship. This series brings our 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:13.740 worlds together. Together we explore the social 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:16.500 determinants of health, the conditions in which 00:06:16.500 --> 00:06:21.300 people are born, grow, work, live, worship, and 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:25.550 age. that influence health outcomes. And we challenge 00:06:25.550 --> 00:06:29.209 the idea that outdoor activities, hiking, camping, 00:06:29.449 --> 00:06:33.550 fishing, are white things. Black people have 00:06:33.550 --> 00:06:36.449 always been connected to the land. From Solomon 00:06:36.449 --> 00:06:39.110 Brown, the first African -American employee of 00:06:39.110 --> 00:06:42.149 the Smithsonian Institution, to Charles Young, 00:06:42.410 --> 00:06:44.810 the first Black superintendent of a national 00:06:44.810 --> 00:06:49.860 park, to Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro. Black 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:52.920 conservationists have paved the way for a new 00:06:52.920 --> 00:06:56.939 generation reclaiming outdoor spaces. Today, 00:06:57.220 --> 00:07:00.379 Black -led organizations like Outdoor Afro and 00:07:00.379 --> 00:07:04.240 Black Men Hike are reshaping the narrative, proving 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:07.560 that nature is for everyone. Because whether 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:11.240 we're talking about therapy or camping, hiking 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:14.939 trails or healing trauma, this conversation is 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:18.529 about liberation through land. access in the 00:07:18.529 --> 00:07:22.389 stories we tell ourselves and each other. Let's 00:07:22.389 --> 00:07:25.470 get into it. Thank you. Thank you so much, Charles, 00:07:25.610 --> 00:07:27.490 for being here today on Questions You Didn't 00:07:27.490 --> 00:07:29.470 Ask. You know I've been looking forward to this 00:07:29.470 --> 00:07:33.189 conversation with you. I know my guests are pumped 00:07:33.189 --> 00:07:36.389 up and ready to hear this amazing discussion. 00:07:36.870 --> 00:07:40.389 So without any further ado, let's just jump right 00:07:40.389 --> 00:07:44.509 in. So my first question I love to ask my guests 00:07:44.509 --> 00:07:47.449 is just tell my audience, why in the world did 00:07:47.449 --> 00:07:49.410 you decide to join me on questions you didn't 00:07:49.410 --> 00:07:52.509 ask today? Right. You know, I like that question. 00:07:52.670 --> 00:07:56.189 The straight answer is because you asked me to. 00:07:56.329 --> 00:08:01.389 I mean, you know, but I came on because, you 00:08:01.389 --> 00:08:03.910 know, it's it's about showing up and being present. 00:08:03.970 --> 00:08:06.430 So this was another opportunity for me to do 00:08:06.430 --> 00:08:10.160 so. You ask. And so here I am. Awesome. Awesome. 00:08:10.519 --> 00:08:13.759 So for my audience out there, for those of you 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:17.060 who are looking for partnerships and opportunities, 00:08:17.339 --> 00:08:21.180 just remember, ask. Ask is one of the most important 00:08:21.180 --> 00:08:23.699 things to do is just put yourself out there and 00:08:23.699 --> 00:08:25.959 ask the question. You oftentimes will get the 00:08:25.959 --> 00:08:29.279 response that you need. Right. And that you want. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:33.080 So let's start off with you sharing with my audience 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:36.200 and with me to a little bit more about your personal 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:40.779 journey. and how it led you to founding Set Trippin' 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:44.120 Outdoor Adventures. Yes, this journey actually 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:50.879 started back in 2020. That's when I sobered up. 00:08:51.100 --> 00:08:55.019 I quit drinking, quit smoking. And it wasn't 00:08:55.019 --> 00:08:57.500 a choice that I said, oh, I'm going to quit drinking 00:08:57.500 --> 00:09:00.360 and smoking. It was the thing of, it was really, 00:09:00.419 --> 00:09:02.460 it came down to a choice of whether I wanted 00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:07.259 to live or die. For a long time. The drinking, 00:09:07.340 --> 00:09:10.879 it was no longer serving me, and my health was 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:15.580 just horrible. I had chronic migraines. My balance 00:09:15.580 --> 00:09:21.320 was off. I could barely walk. I should say that 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:24.659 I worked for myself, and I would work from home. 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:28.899 I think what I was doing was isolating myself. 00:09:30.110 --> 00:09:32.950 from the rest of the world. And I was quite comfortable 00:09:32.950 --> 00:09:35.470 with it sitting in it. You know, I thought that 00:09:35.470 --> 00:09:39.090 was living until it wasn't. Then it became this 00:09:39.090 --> 00:09:42.649 thing that consumed me and I wanted free from 00:09:42.649 --> 00:09:49.190 that. And I tried quitting myself for the longest, 00:09:49.389 --> 00:09:53.250 when I say the longest, I mean years, like, okay, 00:09:53.289 --> 00:09:54.950 I'm gonna try it this way. I'm gonna try it that 00:09:54.950 --> 00:09:59.789 way. And it wasn't until I asked for help that 00:09:59.789 --> 00:10:06.149 actually a change happened. And I wanted to make 00:10:06.149 --> 00:10:08.889 sure I mentioned that person, Yolanda Higgins. 00:10:08.929 --> 00:10:12.350 That's my cousin. I watched her sober and I was 00:10:12.350 --> 00:10:15.190 so inspired. It showed me that it can be done 00:10:15.190 --> 00:10:17.129 because her and I used to be drinking buddies. 00:10:18.870 --> 00:10:21.570 Right. And so it was a thing of here's a person 00:10:21.570 --> 00:10:24.809 that I love dearly and she's right there in front 00:10:24.809 --> 00:10:27.450 of me and I'm watching her life change literally. 00:10:27.669 --> 00:10:32.450 And I wanted that. And so in 2020, this was right 00:10:32.450 --> 00:10:35.669 around the time of the pandemic. That was the 00:10:35.669 --> 00:10:38.649 only thing I could do at that moment was to go 00:10:38.649 --> 00:10:41.570 to the hospital. And it wasn't a light thing. 00:10:41.649 --> 00:10:45.870 I was in intensive care for three days. and then 00:10:45.870 --> 00:10:48.909 in the hospital for a couple of more days. That 00:10:48.909 --> 00:10:52.330 whole year, the first year when I stopped, was 00:10:52.330 --> 00:10:57.549 really just 24 -7 around recovery from meetings, 00:10:57.789 --> 00:11:00.389 hospital doctor visits. That's the other thing. 00:11:00.509 --> 00:11:02.970 Before I sobered up, I wasn't going to the doctor. 00:11:03.129 --> 00:11:06.850 I wasn't eating right. I wasn't exercising. So 00:11:06.850 --> 00:11:10.269 this tripping thing that I do now, it's about 00:11:10.269 --> 00:11:13.690 all the things opposite of how I was living. 00:11:14.139 --> 00:11:17.860 before and that i was living in isolation the 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:22.139 work that i do uh helped me not have to deal 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:25.440 with the public and so i had this buffer between 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:30.139 me and folks and so once i sobered up it became 00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:32.740 a question of well okay now i'm sober so how 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:36.100 you want to live what are you gonna do and um 00:11:36.100 --> 00:11:39.159 i wanted to live now that i got this life back 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:42.159 right and so then i started looking at all the 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:46.980 things that I had always wanted to do things 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:49.940 that I like to do, and I just started checking 00:11:49.940 --> 00:11:53.440 off that list. I put together, I sort of combined 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:55.639 them, and that's what this tripping is about. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:59.700 I decided I would go on this, I would travel. 00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:03.039 I was thinking that the traveling would help 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:06.940 put me in situations that would help me face 00:12:06.940 --> 00:12:11.149 reality on real time in its terms. to get me 00:12:11.149 --> 00:12:15.830 out of the routine and to get me out there in 00:12:15.830 --> 00:12:20.370 terms of interacting with people. And the traveling 00:12:20.370 --> 00:12:23.789 helps me stay in the moment. You know, it's a 00:12:23.789 --> 00:12:26.690 beautiful thing. I tell you, it's exceeded my 00:12:26.690 --> 00:12:28.809 expectations of what I thought this would be. 00:12:29.509 --> 00:12:32.929 So for the last three years, what I've been doing 00:12:32.929 --> 00:12:40.000 is in January, I load up my Jeep. I'd take off 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:43.879 for the six -month trip. I'll loosely plan a 00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:46.519 few destinations, but for the most part, I deliberately 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:48.799 leave it loose so that I could just pretty much 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:51.840 go with the flow wherever the energy was. I wasn't 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:54.600 uptight about any type of time schedule other 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:58.659 than I'll return to Cleveland in June, which 00:12:58.659 --> 00:13:01.259 happens to be the same month as my birthday. 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:05.620 It all just fits nicely. This being my third 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:09.820 year, last year what I did was it just, it was 00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:14.600 life changing. Last year what I did was I started 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:18.480 a company that helps other people go through 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:21.600 what I've been experiencing. So I've been putting 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:24.860 together outdoor adventure activities for groups 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:31.139 of people to come out and experience nature for 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:33.700 what it is. It's something about being out there 00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:37.120 in the forest that for me, it's calming. It's 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:40.799 like me being a designer. I'm real sensitive 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:44.779 to my environment visually and physically, emotionally. 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:49.080 I think I feel more than I see. So in other words, 00:13:49.259 --> 00:13:53.419 when I'm in the city, to me, what I hear is noise 00:13:53.419 --> 00:13:58.429 and what I see is chaos and just clutter. To 00:13:58.429 --> 00:14:02.870 me, visually, being in the city is, to put it 00:14:02.870 --> 00:14:07.289 frank, often it's ugly. Everything just flows. 00:14:07.610 --> 00:14:12.590 I mean, between the sounds, the colors, it's 00:14:12.590 --> 00:14:18.250 a whole different space out there. So the tripping 00:14:18.250 --> 00:14:21.990 company, Set Trippin, I put that together to 00:14:21.990 --> 00:14:25.429 share what I've learned. That is so very powerful. 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:28.759 The first question, me saying, why did you join? 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:30.899 He said, because you asked. And then the second 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:33.440 question, one of the most pivotal points in your 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:37.120 process, in your journey, was that you asked 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:41.100 for help, right? And then you asked yourself 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:45.600 again, once you reclaimed your life, what am 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:50.799 I going to do with this new found life that I 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:53.620 have? And how am I going to live it differently? 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:57.960 And and then you asked yourself again, how can 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:01.000 I share this with other people? Because this 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:06.019 is not just something that I needed, but to avoid. 00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:10.899 It sounds like the continuous isolation of I'm 00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:13.940 going to go on these journeys. You're also inviting 00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:16.940 people in, asking people to join you or asking 00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:20.039 people if this is what they also need and how 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:23.679 you can facilitate that for them. It's a beautiful 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:28.679 thing. It really is. It really is. And I applaud 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:33.620 you for being so bold to reclaim your life, right? 00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:37.379 And to use that list of things that you always 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:42.159 wanted to do in real time to redefine who you 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:44.899 were and not just allow it to stay in the space 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:48.500 of a dream in one day, but to make it real and 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:51.360 current. time so that you could experience it 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:54.039 and that you realize that you deserved experiencing 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:58.200 it yes and now it's on steroids it's a practice 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:02.139 every day of living that way it's it's a choice 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:05.299 every day every second of me being sober and 00:16:05.299 --> 00:16:07.980 to be honest with you I think the life that I 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:11.120 have now was the life that I wanted to have in 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:15.080 my mind when I was drinking But the alcohol never 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:18.639 even got me nowhere close to how my life is today. 00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:22.360 In terms of the connection with other people, 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:27.500 the experiences that I have, I call it artificial. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:31.559 So I can't see myself going back to that lifestyle 00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:38.360 of where I was. That's powerful. So because we're 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:40.720 talking a little bit, well, we're talking quite 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:44.330 a bit about your journey. In your experience, 00:16:44.649 --> 00:16:50.470 how do systemic factors like racism and economic 00:16:50.470 --> 00:16:53.970 pressures contribute to substance use in Black 00:16:53.970 --> 00:16:57.250 communities? Of course, that's a loaded question. 00:16:57.570 --> 00:17:00.590 I mean, there's tons of stuff inside that question. 00:17:00.809 --> 00:17:04.089 And you're absolutely right. You're spot on that. 00:17:04.190 --> 00:17:08.230 I think there's this weight that's on us, us 00:17:08.230 --> 00:17:10.490 being our people. And I think it's different. 00:17:10.569 --> 00:17:13.200 I think it's different for women. There's a pressure 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:20.000 that's on us. And it's real. It really is. I 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:25.339 think that that's why a lot of folks turn to 00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:29.960 the alcohol or that type of behavior. I think 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:33.019 it's a learned thing. I believe that's how I 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:36.839 started. I grew up with a family. It's a loving 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:40.910 family. When we got together, there would always 00:17:40.910 --> 00:17:44.450 be alcohol involved. And so I always thought 00:17:44.450 --> 00:17:47.109 that, you know, that was just a part of life. 00:17:47.329 --> 00:17:49.910 You know, everybody drank. And I thought that's 00:17:49.910 --> 00:17:53.150 just what you do when you grow up. That it's 00:17:53.150 --> 00:17:57.349 become so much a part of our culture, our thing. 00:17:57.789 --> 00:18:03.269 And it's harm in us. If you're enjoying the show 00:18:03.269 --> 00:18:06.430 as much as we love creating it. Consider showing 00:18:06.430 --> 00:18:10.450 your support by buying us a cup of coffee. Visit 00:18:10.450 --> 00:18:16.490 buymeacoffee .com slash Nyesha Frey O. That's 00:18:16.490 --> 00:18:23.769 buymeacoffee .com forward slash Nyesha Frey O. 00:18:23.890 --> 00:18:29.089 All one word. Each cup is just $5 and every single 00:18:29.089 --> 00:18:32.730 one helps us continue to produce, develop, and 00:18:32.730 --> 00:18:35.839 sustain the high quality content. you've come 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:38.880 to expect from questions you didn't ask. Thank 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:41.779 you for your continued support and let's keep 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:46.180 the conversation going. Yeah. Yeah. I often, 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:50.319 you know, think about how, and I am a drinker, 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:54.099 so I have to be very honest about that in that, 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:58.700 I mean, I've also dealt with the impacts of alcoholism 00:18:58.700 --> 00:19:04.119 in my personal and professional life. And that, 00:19:04.809 --> 00:19:08.769 has given me some different insight into alcohol 00:19:08.769 --> 00:19:13.769 use, substance use, and how we are so socialized 00:19:13.769 --> 00:19:18.049 and oftentimes pressured into using alcohol. 00:19:18.289 --> 00:19:23.450 We think about peer pressure when we're... going 00:19:23.450 --> 00:19:26.789 into puberty, when we're teenagers, preteens, 00:19:26.809 --> 00:19:29.009 all that good stuff, you know, health class, 00:19:29.190 --> 00:19:31.329 if there's still a health class, I hope there 00:19:31.329 --> 00:19:33.829 is. My health class was, you know, constantly 00:19:33.829 --> 00:19:36.029 talking about things like peer pressure and how 00:19:36.029 --> 00:19:38.769 to avoid them, avoid peer pressure. But what 00:19:38.769 --> 00:19:42.849 we, what I saw happening in my adult years was 00:19:42.849 --> 00:19:46.789 that peer pressure continues. And sometimes it 00:19:46.789 --> 00:19:50.170 continues in the workspace. Some of my close 00:19:50.170 --> 00:19:54.509 friends, family members, I saw developing and 00:19:54.509 --> 00:20:01.309 having an active alcohol problem because of their 00:20:01.309 --> 00:20:04.450 professional networks and what was accepted, 00:20:04.829 --> 00:20:08.230 what was expected from their peers, from their 00:20:08.230 --> 00:20:10.950 boss, the social environment that they were in. 00:20:11.210 --> 00:20:14.869 One example was in banking. You know, when I 00:20:14.869 --> 00:20:18.630 lived in New York, I had a close friend who was, 00:20:18.630 --> 00:20:21.230 you know. Work for the big companies. I'm not 00:20:21.230 --> 00:20:23.210 going to name any names and wind up in trouble. 00:20:23.789 --> 00:20:26.509 But some of those big, big companies that we 00:20:26.509 --> 00:20:30.089 think about on Wall Street and the idea that 00:20:30.089 --> 00:20:33.369 they had carts of liquor that would come around 00:20:33.369 --> 00:20:36.690 during the day, that it was expected that they 00:20:36.690 --> 00:20:39.849 would go out after work and drink and not just 00:20:39.849 --> 00:20:43.829 have a drink, but to drink a lot. The fact that, 00:20:43.869 --> 00:20:48.400 on another hand... I've heard in the sales industry 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:51.980 in particular, there is a lot of drug and substance 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:55.599 use. And so we oftentimes think about, you know, 00:20:55.619 --> 00:20:59.599 even the pressure of racism within workplaces 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:02.640 where it's like you need to be a part of the 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:06.900 in crowd, right? You need to be close to your 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:11.740 boss in order to get that promotion. And so in 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.859 order to do that, you have to kind of emulate 00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:17.299 those same. cultures, those same values, those 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:20.059 same behaviors in order to have that quote unquote 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:23.319 quality time with those people in order to aid 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:27.240 you in your process to advance. And then not 00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:30.000 to mention, like we talked about, just our family 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.200 structures, traditions. I know that I have some 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:37.460 traditions related to alcohol in my family, and 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:41.359 a lot of it is festive. A lot of it is paired 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:44.279 with very good times and celebration. And some 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:47.039 of it is paired with when we're sad and grieving 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:51.140 and methods to get numb some of that pain and 00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:53.819 help us to get through, quote unquote, some of 00:21:53.819 --> 00:21:56.940 that pain. And so those things play themselves 00:21:56.940 --> 00:22:01.279 out in that some people actually struggle with 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:04.799 that alcohol use and outside of those isolated 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:10.750 or what may be perceived as isolated. events 00:22:10.750 --> 00:22:15.269 continue into day -to -day functioning. And so 00:22:15.269 --> 00:22:17.910 I just really appreciate where you're coming 00:22:17.910 --> 00:22:21.849 from in regard to how these different communities 00:22:21.849 --> 00:22:24.789 and groups and networks that we're connected 00:22:24.789 --> 00:22:27.910 to and how that contributes to alcoholism and 00:22:27.910 --> 00:22:32.369 how accepted it is as opposed to what we consider 00:22:32.369 --> 00:22:36.789 when we think about cocaine or crack or even 00:22:36.789 --> 00:22:42.349 heroin and the whole pandemic that we're facing 00:22:42.349 --> 00:22:46.150 in that regard of substances or even how people 00:22:46.150 --> 00:22:49.210 conceive of now the challenge is, you know, we 00:22:49.210 --> 00:22:51.509 have these gangs that are pushing drugs as opposed 00:22:51.509 --> 00:22:56.359 to, no, it's right there on the corner. It's 00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:59.579 in every ad. It's in every movie. It's in every 00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:02.759 it's everywhere you go. So let's think about, 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:05.359 you know, how are we creating spaces where people 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:10.759 can be fulfill health and joy without this alcohol 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:15.359 or drugs encroaching on experience? Right. And 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:17.259 I could give you another example. I was in the 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:23.400 Marine Corps and my first year in, I went overseas 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:27.759 and. I walk into the squad bay. And the first 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:29.900 thing I see is beer machines. They actually had 00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:32.859 beer machines in the barracks. And I was just 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:36.319 fascinated by that to this day. Like, why would 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:39.940 they put a vending machine of beer inside the 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:42.140 barracks? It's like, so in the Marine Corps, 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:45.079 there's, and probably the other services, it's 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:49.039 not written down anywhere, but it's this undertone 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:52.960 of party hard, like it's your last day. And so. 00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:56.059 Here at the Marine Corps, you get all these young 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:59.619 individuals that are healthy and clear -headed. 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:03.970 And to me, they're like a factory. I actually 00:24:03.970 --> 00:24:06.809 have this contempt for the Marine Corps because 00:24:06.809 --> 00:24:09.210 I believe that there's more that they could do 00:24:09.210 --> 00:24:13.009 to not have that type of environment. And it 00:24:13.009 --> 00:24:15.890 really could be the opposite. They could be taking 00:24:15.890 --> 00:24:18.170 these young men and really helping them develop 00:24:18.170 --> 00:24:20.609 into the people that they should be. Why they 00:24:20.609 --> 00:24:23.549 don't, I don't know, but I believe it's deliberate. 00:24:24.150 --> 00:24:26.609 I went in the Marine Corps with the idea that, 00:24:26.609 --> 00:24:29.900 okay, within the four years I was... The game 00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:32.140 plan was I would have my associate by the time 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:35.740 I got out. The first, in other words, I would 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:39.059 work and go to school to sort of make my time. 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:42.299 My first three years in the Marine Corps was 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:46.160 just a blur. It was like I joined, and then next 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:48.380 thing I knew, I was waking up three years later, 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:51.380 realizing that I'm getting out next year. And 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:53.920 so then I started looking into going to school. 00:24:54.490 --> 00:24:57.369 finally and when i looked into that they do offer 00:24:57.369 --> 00:25:01.390 the courses but the courses are crap and sorry 00:25:01.390 --> 00:25:04.509 the credits that i earned while i was in the 00:25:04.509 --> 00:25:07.250 marine corps didn't even transfer over to the 00:25:07.250 --> 00:25:11.390 schools they it it's it would be these one room 00:25:11.390 --> 00:25:16.910 um type of facilities that are i guess what i'm 00:25:16.910 --> 00:25:19.950 i'm trying to point out the difference uh between 00:25:19.950 --> 00:25:23.509 the things that the marine corps do to help build 00:25:23.509 --> 00:25:28.380 up The individuals, they'll have these elaborate 00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:32.359 enlisted men clubs, e -clubs, where it's state 00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:35.960 -of -the -art. And then for the education system 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:38.500 programs that they have going on, it's pretty 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:42.859 much antiquated type of situations that no one 00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:45.660 even uses the services. And so I believe it's 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:47.859 because of the environment that they foster. 00:25:49.049 --> 00:25:51.410 while you're in there. I don't think they want 00:25:51.410 --> 00:25:54.390 people to develop. But I just wanted to mention 00:25:54.390 --> 00:25:56.230 that for people thinking about the military. 00:25:56.410 --> 00:25:58.690 So when my younger cousins ask me about joining 00:25:58.690 --> 00:26:01.490 the military, I tell them don't. The divorce 00:26:01.490 --> 00:26:04.690 rate in the military is through the roof. The 00:26:04.690 --> 00:26:08.490 suicide rate is through the roof. It's an environment 00:26:08.490 --> 00:26:11.970 that's not, well, that's toxic, actually. If 00:26:11.970 --> 00:26:16.130 you don't have to. It wasn't all bad for me. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.180 I was at a time when I wasn't sure what I was 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:21.839 going to do with my life. And so I thought that 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:24.259 that would be some positive time I could spend 00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:27.400 in the Marine Corps figuring it out. But the 00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:30.980 racism and all of the other isms is alive and 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:34.740 well in the military. Not to be, if you are going 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:37.660 to go in there, to be clear about what you're 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:42.109 going to do and do it. Yeah. Yeah. So that's 00:26:42.109 --> 00:26:46.130 another major area and pathway, you know, a profession, 00:26:46.410 --> 00:26:50.490 a training ground that we have to be very honest 00:26:50.490 --> 00:26:54.589 with ourselves, with our youth about what are 00:26:54.589 --> 00:26:57.630 those options really yield? What do they really 00:26:57.630 --> 00:27:00.269 look like? And what are the things that you need 00:27:00.269 --> 00:27:04.609 to be cognizant of if that winds up being the 00:27:04.609 --> 00:27:08.390 best option for you? You know, if you are in 00:27:08.390 --> 00:27:12.450 there, you need to kind of come equipped. and 00:27:12.450 --> 00:27:15.690 be very honest about what are some of the pitfalls 00:27:15.690 --> 00:27:19.609 that might come along the way. So one of the 00:27:19.609 --> 00:27:23.309 other questions that I have is, you know, how 00:27:23.309 --> 00:27:25.470 has, and you kind of touched on this a little 00:27:25.470 --> 00:27:28.069 bit, but how would you say reconnecting with 00:27:28.069 --> 00:27:30.490 nature? You know, so we talked about, you know, 00:27:30.490 --> 00:27:33.329 our families, we've talked about traditions, 00:27:33.569 --> 00:27:38.240 we've talked about... work spaces, societal problems, 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:42.440 and all those things. But how has nature, reconnecting 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:46.079 with nature, played a role in your healing and 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:48.920 your recovering process? It's played a major 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:53.420 role in it. For me, when I'm out there, it puts 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:56.660 me in the moment, in the present. It's hard to 00:27:56.660 --> 00:27:59.200 be wondering about if I left the iron on when 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:02.299 you're out in the middle of the forest. To me, 00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:09.079 it slows things down. It's everything. I mean, 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:12.740 it's where life makes sense for me. I've had 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:16.599 some of the best sleep out there, and food always 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:18.779 tastes better out there, no matter what it is. 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:23.059 I'm not sure why. And then also, I've noticed 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:26.559 that when I take groups out, it happens routinely. 00:28:28.170 --> 00:28:31.450 My job when I take groups out is really I focus 00:28:31.450 --> 00:28:36.529 on the safety of what we're doing and everyone 00:28:36.529 --> 00:28:39.930 being prepared. And it's really nature that does 00:28:39.930 --> 00:28:43.470 the magic when we're out there in terms of having 00:28:43.470 --> 00:28:47.809 groups bind together. I've often seen issues 00:28:47.809 --> 00:28:51.150 that people had inside come out just because 00:28:51.150 --> 00:28:53.150 the only difference is that we're out in the 00:28:53.150 --> 00:28:55.750 middle of the forest. It's something about that 00:28:55.750 --> 00:28:58.559 experience that does that. That's interesting. 00:28:58.579 --> 00:29:03.740 It kind of helps people shed some of the outer 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:08.279 parts, distractions, and kind of focus in on 00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:12.339 what really matters in that moment. Exactly. 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:15.140 It also teaches life lessons, like being out 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:18.359 there, you can't take everything with you. And 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:22.779 so it's the thing of you're committing by saying, 00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:25.700 okay, I'm only going to take this, this. So there's 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:28.789 a commitment involved. Often what I learned out 00:29:28.789 --> 00:29:32.690 of nature translates directly to how I behave 00:29:32.690 --> 00:29:37.569 here in the city. I learned that there's a lot 00:29:37.569 --> 00:29:39.630 of things inside the city that I don't need, 00:29:39.730 --> 00:29:43.369 that I could survive without. I don't have to 00:29:43.369 --> 00:29:46.529 have, you know, the flat screen TV and the hundred 00:29:46.529 --> 00:29:51.440 channel cable channel. Living with just a few 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:55.519 things can be just as fulfilling as being in 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:57.960 the city. Actually, to me, it's better out there 00:29:57.960 --> 00:30:01.500 as to having everything I need, I would want 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:05.279 inside the city. It's a huge difference. So kind 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:07.480 of getting to the core of the issue is shedding 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:11.420 away all of these extraneous distractions and 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:14.900 being able to focus on what's really important, 00:30:15.160 --> 00:30:17.960 what's really necessary. And redefining what 00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:21.940 happiness and satisfaction is. So one of the 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:24.099 other things that you mentioned about your journey 00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:28.700 is related to isolation. And one of the things 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:31.960 that I understand is that isolation can be a 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:35.920 common experience among Black men. How has isolation 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:39.339 impacted your mental health and your entrepreneurial 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:42.940 journey? It seems like your, you know, concepts 00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:46.930 of isolation. you know, have have either been 00:30:46.930 --> 00:30:53.029 a motivator or the opposite. Exactly. Exactly. 00:30:53.450 --> 00:30:55.750 And you're right. You're pointing out there's 00:30:55.750 --> 00:30:58.470 two different types of isolations that I've been 00:30:58.470 --> 00:31:00.990 talking about. And there was the one when I was 00:31:00.990 --> 00:31:04.990 drinking, when I was in my addiction, I'd isolated 00:31:04.990 --> 00:31:08.710 myself. And I guess the difference is, is it 00:31:08.710 --> 00:31:13.480 was more like. I think I was hiding when I was 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:18.799 in my addiction. It was an isolation where it 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:21.819 was avoiding being present, avoiding showing 00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:26.740 up, avoiding engagement, avoiding, it wasn't 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:29.559 really living, avoiding life, like, you know, 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:33.880 just kind of hanging out on the fringe. And to 00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:36.279 be honest with you, back then, I was quite cool 00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:38.380 with that. And in fact, I used to call myself 00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:40.500 the fat cat in the back. Like, I didn't have 00:31:40.500 --> 00:31:43.460 to be out in front and with all these folks in 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:48.059 my job. I'm working with people with, well, I'm 00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:50.279 connected to several events throughout the year. 00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:55.160 I could be out in the middle of all these experiences 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:59.660 with people, but I chose not to. And I was cool 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:03.700 with that. So that type of isolation was more 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:09.019 along the toxic kind of that's not really living. 00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:11.680 Actually, I think that's just dying, waiting 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:18.519 to die. Whereas in today's me being sober, it's 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:22.660 more like. I wouldn't even use the word isolation. 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:27.400 Well, but it's the same meaning. But I guess 00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:31.279 the way it serves me now is that I use that time 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:35.559 when I'm solo to check myself. I repeat this 00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:38.759 process that I've gone through with sobriety 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:42.680 every second, every hour, every day, acceptance, 00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:47.519 taking self -inventory on myself. There's a number 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:50.180 of things that... that I just constantly do. 00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:53.720 When I'm in nature or isolated, it gives me time 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:59.460 to sort through these ideas, meditating, to sort 00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:05.279 of recenter myself on these trips. And it's not 00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:08.200 used in that toxic way that I used to do before, 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:13.019 but really more to elevate me, to clear my lenses 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:16.779 of how I see things. It gives me time to reflect 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:20.559 on life. More so today it propels me forward 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:24.299 than it does hold me back. Yeah. And it's interesting 00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:27.680 how, you know, when you first started talking 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:32.099 about isolation in the midst of the addiction, 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:35.299 it was almost like you were just existing. Like 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:40.000 you say, kind of just waiting to die. But and 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:43.059 that's really powerful because I think a lot 00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:45.579 of people that are going to watch this or listen 00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:48.529 to it. are going to be able to identify with 00:33:48.529 --> 00:33:51.750 that there are a lot of us who are just existing 00:33:51.750 --> 00:33:54.750 or waiting to die just kind of you know checking 00:33:54.750 --> 00:33:57.630 the boxes just kind of going through the motions 00:33:57.630 --> 00:34:02.410 right but then you know right i used to say well 00:34:02.410 --> 00:34:04.410 i'm gonna die from something i might as well 00:34:04.410 --> 00:34:08.570 you know live this way do my thing i'd rather 00:34:08.570 --> 00:34:13.739 go out this way than I remember reading the disclaimer 00:34:13.739 --> 00:34:16.980 on the package of cigarettes. It says it's toxic 00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:19.760 for you. And so I'm smoking a cigarette and reading 00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:26.940 it. Right. And the alcohol, I knew it was hurting 00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:32.159 me. It was damaging. But I figured, you know, 00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:34.880 life sucks. This is just the way that it is. 00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:40.230 And, you know, I think what happened. i really 00:34:40.230 --> 00:34:45.469 start to feel the the weight of my drinking i 00:34:45.469 --> 00:34:47.929 mean i i drink a lot when i say i drink a lot 00:34:47.929 --> 00:34:52.230 i drink a lot and uh whatever you think is a 00:34:52.230 --> 00:34:56.250 lot double that i drink all day every day for 00:34:56.250 --> 00:35:02.050 decades and um and it well okay to put it short 00:35:02.050 --> 00:35:06.469 basically it's a it attitude it doesn't really 00:35:06.469 --> 00:35:12.460 matter it and Today, it does matter for me. It's 00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:15.300 showing up and being present and a clear crystal, 00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:19.260 clear mind is everything. It's everything. I 00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:22.079 asked myself a question. It's sort of a rhetorical 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:25.860 question. So it's really a conversation that 00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:28.239 I have with myself. And so I'll ask myself, so 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:32.280 if I knew that the world would end a day tomorrow 00:35:32.280 --> 00:35:35.760 or two or three days from now, would you drink? 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:39.260 Would I drink? Would I pick up? What would I 00:35:39.260 --> 00:35:43.880 do? And the answer to that changes. So I sort 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:45.860 of ask myself that when I'm checking in with 00:35:45.860 --> 00:35:48.699 myself to just give as a barometer how I'm feeling, 00:35:48.820 --> 00:35:51.500 what I'm thinking about. And I would like to 00:35:51.500 --> 00:35:53.320 think that I wouldn't. I would like to think 00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:56.900 that those last days, I want to be clear -minded 00:35:56.900 --> 00:36:02.030 to enjoy those last times. with a clear head 00:36:02.030 --> 00:36:05.309 as opposed to a fog, you know, drinking myself 00:36:05.309 --> 00:36:10.630 into oblivion and not even remembering or experiencing 00:36:10.630 --> 00:36:14.849 engaged with any of it. So let's discuss this 00:36:14.849 --> 00:36:18.130 term that I understand gets under your skin, 00:36:18.250 --> 00:36:23.150 like irritates you. Functional alcoholism. Yeah, 00:36:23.170 --> 00:36:27.809 yeah. Why doesn't this term resonate with you? 00:36:27.889 --> 00:36:30.590 And what alternative language do you prefer? 00:36:30.710 --> 00:36:32.929 Let's talk about what is functional alcoholism 00:36:32.929 --> 00:36:38.190 or the perception of it. Yeah. Right. So that's 00:36:38.190 --> 00:36:41.489 a term that in our culture, I think that term 00:36:41.489 --> 00:36:47.010 right there is hurting us big time. So it's sort 00:36:47.010 --> 00:36:50.630 of like saying it's okay to... to drink in excess 00:36:50.630 --> 00:36:54.510 we acknowledge okay he's an alcoholic or she's 00:36:54.510 --> 00:36:56.389 an alcoholic but she's functioning she's doing 00:36:56.389 --> 00:37:00.789 all right well she she's she has a job a nice 00:37:00.789 --> 00:37:05.170 job educated you know how bad could it be well 00:37:05.170 --> 00:37:08.349 yeah it's bad that's the thing about addictions 00:37:08.349 --> 00:37:10.690 the addictions that don't tell on themselves 00:37:10.690 --> 00:37:15.190 does that to further itself those are the bad 00:37:15.190 --> 00:37:19.539 ones those are the ones that are killers because 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:26.079 the consequences are delayed and that's what 00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:29.059 the alcoholism is doing to our community and 00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:31.500 on the death certificate they don't put down 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:35.639 alcoholism they say cirrhosis of the liver or 00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:38.789 they'll define everything else other than alcohol 00:37:38.789 --> 00:37:42.210 but the real the reality is the alcohol is killing 00:37:42.210 --> 00:37:46.110 our community and a functioning alcoholic is 00:37:46.110 --> 00:37:50.909 not something to praise or or oh that's nice 00:37:50.909 --> 00:37:55.130 that's saying you know your survivor as opposed 00:37:55.130 --> 00:37:58.289 to praising people for healing using that same 00:37:58.289 --> 00:38:02.349 energy functioning alcoholic so for me when i 00:38:02.349 --> 00:38:06.039 hear that term i just make it a point even when 00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:07.960 I don't want to bring it up, don't feel like 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:10.260 getting into the whole conversation, I just make 00:38:10.260 --> 00:38:13.559 it a point to say what I want to say about that 00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:16.920 term, to do my part, to say, hey, this is not 00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:20.639 cool. I had a cousin that passed away recently, 00:38:20.780 --> 00:38:26.420 and it was alcoholism, to put it bluntly. And 00:38:26.420 --> 00:38:30.960 so we're out hanging with each other, and we're 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:34.400 not. being upfront and honest with each other. 00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:40.539 Like when I was in my addiction, it was people 00:38:40.539 --> 00:38:44.079 telling me that, hey, this is a problem that 00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:47.980 helped me to see. So when I was in my funk, I 00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:51.320 couldn't really, my reality was distorted. So 00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:54.019 these outside voices, these words that we hear 00:38:54.019 --> 00:39:00.119 help on that road to recover. The words that... 00:39:00.730 --> 00:39:05.809 that are wrapped in reality do help people on 00:39:05.809 --> 00:39:09.989 that course to reality saying, hey, this is not 00:39:09.989 --> 00:39:14.369 cool and this isn't accepted. And because when 00:39:14.369 --> 00:39:16.050 we're in our addiction, we hear those words. 00:39:16.110 --> 00:39:19.030 We may not respond to them directly, but it's 00:39:19.030 --> 00:39:23.489 important to step up and share how you feel and 00:39:23.489 --> 00:39:26.309 express your point about these things that are 00:39:26.309 --> 00:39:30.820 hurting us. That's a wrap on this episode of 00:39:30.820 --> 00:39:33.719 Questions You Didn't Ask. I'm Nyesha Frey, and 00:39:33.719 --> 00:39:36.099 it's been a privilege to speak with Charles Chambers, 00:39:36.219 --> 00:39:39.480 founder of Set Trippin' Outdoor Adventures. His 00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:42.539 reflections on freedom, recovery, and reclaiming 00:39:42.539 --> 00:39:45.940 space set the stage for what's ahead. Join me 00:39:45.940 --> 00:39:49.739 next time as Trippin' Black Men, Land, and Liberation 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:50.380 continues.