The Wondered Bliss Podcast

Kevin shares ideas from a quiet morning walk and his perspective as a restaurant general manager who trains staff in customer service, explaining why showing up with positivity matters for every interaction. Using his glasses as a metaphor, he describes how daily practices of kindness and encouragement transformed his life from depression and addiction to purpose, and invites listeners to join his...

Kevin describes balancing long restaurant hours with his side projects as he launches Amazon ads for his books and celebrates his first ad-driven sale. He reflects on writing through pain, why people are drawn to sad art, and how hardship builds resilience and meaning. Despite exhaustion, he finds gratitude in small wins, shares upcoming projects, and commits to keep pushing toward his dreams. To...

Kevin, an artist, poet, and restaurant manager, shares a conversation about his employee's 12-year-old niece who is being bullied at school, exploring how bullying often comes from others' insecurities and projection. He urges listeners to own their passions—whether band, poetry, or other interests—and explains that personal growth and self-love are the antidotes to both being hurt and to hurting...

Host Kevin reflects on his youngest brother leaving for college and the emotional ripple of an empty nest, while sharing his own struggles with discipline, identity, and turning 30. The episode explores how structure and accountability shape success, why life’s transitions trigger questions of purpose, and how pain and uncertainty can lead to growth. Kevin offers practical encouragement to give yo...

Kevin, an artist and poet, shares how neglecting his motorcycle—due to work, weather, and life’s responsibilities—left him feeling empty until he finally replaced the battery and rode again. This short episode reflects on the importance of prioritizing the things that bring you joy, balancing responsibilities, and not letting dreams gather dust in the garage.

Kevin shares his struggle with chronic gut pain and fatigue, linking it to processed foods, treated wheat, and lifestyle habits. He recounts how a carnivore/keto reset improved his energy and weight but was hard to sustain. He reflects on the connection between diet, exercise, and creative productivity, commits to making lasting changes, and challenges listeners to identify and act on the habits t...

Kevin shares his experience stepping into a new GM role at a different restaurant, using fresh eyes to spot small, everyday annoyances and working with staff to implement practical fixes—like rearranging potato racks—to improve workflow and morale. He expands the lesson beyond work, challenging listeners to examine their own habits and systems, make thoughtful changes, and involve others for bette...

Kevin recounts a drive home from manager training when impatience led him to speed, take a GPS diversion, and ultimately overheat a failing crankshaft sensor in his old BMW. Forced to wait and repair the car, he reflects on how rushing damaged both his vehicle and his peace of mind. The episode explores how being present and patient transforms everyday setbacks into lessons: update your mental "op...

Kevin, an artist and new restaurant GM-in-training, reflects on how small personal habits—like sleeping with contacts, morning coffee, and social media use—can shape your mood, effectiveness, and relationships. Between intensive manager training and living out of a hotel, he explains why some comforts don’t travel well with new responsibilities and why adjusting simple routines can improve how you...

Are you struggling to balance your creative passions with the demands of everyday life? You’re not alone. In this post, I’ll share insights and personal experiences on navigating the challenges of pursuing art while managing a day job. Understanding these struggles can help you find a way to harmonize your passions with your responsibilities.

Kevin shares a true story about a stray cat that led him outside to write, sparking a powerful creative session and a reflection on presence, nature, and balancing work with living. Find his books and more @ www.wonderedbliss.com

Kevin Faulkner reads his poem "The Sun" and candidly reflects on depression, self-sabotage, and how contrast—darkness and light—gives life meaning. He describes sitting in the cold while sunlight unexpectedly warms him and the insight that warmth is always available if we let it in. Through blunt storytelling and simple advice—get outside, feel the sun, open your heart—he offers a raw, hopeful mes...

Kevin Faulkner reads his poem "I've Got This Life to Live" and reflects on moving from long-held sadness and frustration to gratitude, creativity, and active living through personal stories and lessons. This episode urges listeners to face fear, appreciate the mix of good and bad, and follow their heart to build a meaningful, lived life. Check out his website and purchase a copy of his book @ www....

Kevin Faulkner introduces himself, reads the short poem "One Day," and reflects on his journey from addiction, poor health, and despair toward healing and meaning. He shares hard-earned lessons about how struggle shapes growth, the power of small steps and faith, and the importance of changing behavior and perspective. Kevin ends with encouragement to appreciate the journey, keep improving, and di...

Kevin, an artist and recovering addict, reads his poem "Worth Fighting For" and reflects on addiction, insomnia, and the long work of relearning softness and self-worth. He shares honest stories about quitting smoking, breaking habits, and how repeated choices shape identity. Through candid advice and a simple practice (the mirror high-five), he encourages listeners to face discomfort, examine roo...

Kevin reads his short poem "Sparked" and reflects on the duality of life — the body as a computing system and the inner light or spirit that brings passion, wonder, and meaning. He contrasts cynicism with the possibility of choosing joy and curiosity. Heading into the new year, he urges listeners to feel their emotions fully, face their struggles, and allow their inner light to burn so they can gr...

Kevin reads his short poem "Truth" and recounts a personal journey from strict religion to nihilism and back toward balance, meaning, and wonder. He urges careful exploration of ideas, honest effort to change destructive habits, and a deliberate choice to rediscover joy, faith, and the beauty of life. Explore his website www.wonderedbliss.com to find links to his books as well as purchase merchand...

The host wakes up worn out but records anyway, reflecting on the grind of working overtime as a front-of-house manager and the need for rest and meaning on a day off. He reads from his poetry book "What Struggle Brings," explains how psychedelics—especially magic mushrooms—shaped his spiritual outlook, and shares an art piece inspired by Terrence McKenna's ideas. Throughout the episode he explores...

Kevin Faulkner reads his poem "Be Free" and reflects on anxiety, frustration, and the push-pull of hope and despair. After losing his first recording he re-records the episode, sharing personal insights about resilience, the contrast of light and dark, and choosing to keep moving forward.

Kevin Faulkner reads his poem "Growing Pains" and talks candidly about insomnia, a toxic past relationship, and the habits that kept him from connection. He examines hookup culture, personal responsibility, and the hard work of changing patterns, ending with a hopeful commitment to growth and a more meaningful future.

Kevin Faulkner reads his poem "Conflicted" and reflects on love, responsibility, trust, and the fear of commitment after childhood wounds. He shares honest stories about running from connection, the hard work of healing, and how opening up to love can change a life. Kevin also mentions his books What Struggle Brings and The Melancholy Swells, encourages getting outside for sunlight and vitamin D,...

Kevin returns for his 50th episode in a one-take video, sharing poetry and reflections from his book What Struggle Brings. He reads the poem "Patchwork" and talks about healing a broken heart, staying open to love, embracing vulnerability, and continuing creative work despite fear and failure. Find more from Kevin on his website: www.wonderedbliss.com

Join Kevin in this introspective episode of Wondered Bliss, where he candidly explores his journey through love and fear. As an artist and poet, he shares his struggles with commitment, trust, and vulnerability in relationships. Reflecting on his past experiences, Kevin discusses how fear and impulsivity have influenced his actions, and how he's working towards embracing love and trust. Through th...

Welcome to Wondered Bliss with Kevin Faulkner, an artist and poet who delves into the complexities of life's transitions. In this episode, Kevin shares his personal experiences of moving 13 times, losing and making friends, and shifting careers, emphasizing the inevitability of change in life. Through reflections and poetry, listeners are invited to contemplate the challenges and opportunities tha...

Join Kevin Faulkner, artist and poet, as he delves into the complex questions surrounding our existence and spirituality. In this episode of Wondered Bliss, Kevin shares insights from his book "What Struggle Brings," exploring personal connections to God, the quest for truth, and the courage to ask difficult questions about faith and life. This episode invites listeners to reflect on their own spi...