Behind Beautiful Things

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Paul, author of Forgiving Dr. Jekyll: From Hyde to Healing—A Memoir About Trauma, Recovery, and Regaining Control . Paul shares his deeply personal story of growing up in a dysfunctional family, navigating a painful relationship with his father, and desperately searching for a way to escape the trauma of his childhood. He also opens...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Emily to explore the powerful connection between mental health, childhood trauma, and healing. Emily shares her experience working with children in the mental health field, discusses the different types of trauma and their lasting impact, and offers insight into the journey of trauma recovery. Together, they also dive into the trans...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with author Julianna to discuss her powerful memoir, Life With Less of Me . Julianna shares her extraordinary journey of resilience, survival, and healing, offering an intimate look at the challenges that shaped her life. During their conversation, Julianna opens up about her traumatic childhood, the experiences that influenced her perso...

This week on Behind Beautiful Things , we welcome author, speaker, Vietnam veteran, and former nurse Joe, whose book All Bones Considered: 52 Laurel Hill Women shines a light on the remarkable lives of women buried in Philadelphia's historic Laurel Hill Cemetery. In this fascinating conversation, Joe shares his journey from nursing and serving as a medic during the Vietnam War to becoming a nation...

In this inspiring episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Ed, the owner and leader of EDA Contractors, to discuss leadership, workplace mental health, and building a people-first company culture in the construction industry. Ed shares his personal journey as a hardworking entrepreneur whose relentless drive ultimately led to a mental and physical breakdown. He opens up about the...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things, Kevin sits down with Deena Kamm, author of Lessons From the Future: STORM the Empowered Empath, for a powerful conversation about empathy, emotional burnout, healing, and personal transformation. Deena shares her childhood experiences and explains how becoming the person everyone depended on eventually led to emotional exhaustion and a personal breakdown...

On this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Ria joins Kevin for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about trauma, survival, addiction, crime, and redemption. Ria shares the story behind her memoir, Off-road Destiny , opening up about her childhood, her mother’s suicide attempt, and growing up between Slovenia, Hungary, and Dubai. The episode dives into Ria’s descent into drug smuggling, t...

On this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Tammy, host of the Adult Child of Dysfunction podcast, for a powerful and honest conversation about trauma, healing, and personal transformation. Tammy shares her experience growing up with two alcoholic parents and a mother struggling with drug addiction, and how that environment shaped her early life. In this candid discussion, sh...

On this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Jo, author of You’ll Never Walk Alone , for an inspiring conversation about resilience, recovery, and the power of perseverance. Jo shares how her love of hiking began in childhood and grew into a lifelong passion that shaped her identity and purpose. During the episode, she opens up about a devastating injury and the difficult diag...

On this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Brendan for a powerful conversation about ambition, addiction, and resilience. Brendan shares his journey as a driven young law student and lawyer, and how that path led to a growing dependence on alcohol. In this candid discussion, he opens up about his experience with addiction, the challenges of recovery, and the mindset shifts t...

On this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Jenny, creator of yourcreativechord.com, for an honest and inspiring conversation about mental health, creativity, and personal growth. Jenny shares her experience navigating changing family dynamics, overcoming burnout, and managing a lifelong struggle with anxiety. Together, they explore how creativity can be a powerful tool for h...

In this thought-provoking episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Dr. Moe, author of Breaking the Spell of Religion and Healing the Trauma . Together, they explore Dr. Moe’s personal journey growing up Catholic, his evolving relationship with Christianity, and the challenges of questioning deeply ingrained beliefs. Dr. Moe shares his experience deconstructing religion and offers...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin welcomes Bob and Tammy, co-authors of The Blank Journal . Together, they share their deeply personal journeys through grief after the traumatic loss of their spouses and how those experiences ultimately brought them together. Bob and Tammy open up about meeting while navigating loss, the unexpected beginnings of their relationship, and how they bu...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Adam for an honest and deeply personal conversation. Adam shares his childhood experiences, his journey into law enforcement in Canada, and the complex relationships he had with his parents. He opens up about the profound loss of his father and the traumatic circumstances surrounding his mother’s passing. Adam also discusses steppin...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , host Kevin sits down with physician and author Dr. Laura Gabayan to discuss her book Common Wisdom . Drawing from her background in medicine and years of personal experience, Dr. Gabayan shares insights into the deeper meaning of wisdom and how it shapes our lives. During the conversation, Dr. Gabayan talks about her career as a physician, the medical c...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , host Kevin sits down with author Marsh to discuss her book A Version of the Truth . Marsh shares the story behind her decades-long unconventional relationship and the powerful life lessons it brought with it. Together, Kevin and Marsh explore the struggles, complexities, and unexpected joys of navigating a nontraditional partnership over many years. Mar...

In this episode, Kevin sits down with author and holistic healing practitioner Ishan to discuss his book The Practice of Immortality . Together, they explore Ishan’s early childhood experiences and the personal journey that shaped his approach to mental health and healing. During the conversation, Ishan shares his perspective on OCD and anxiety, challenges common Western approaches to mental healt...

In this gripping episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin welcomes Peggy, author of Surviving the Family Kingdom , for a powerful conversation about cult survival, family trauma, and breaking free from control. Peggy shares her experience growing up in a nomadic childhood under the authority of her mother, who led a tightly controlled family cult. She describes being raised to obey without q...

In this compelling episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin welcomes Amanda for a powerful conversation about childhood trauma, healing, and restorative justice. Amanda bravely shares the difficult experiences she endured as a child and how those formative challenges shaped her path toward an extensive education in criminal law. Together, they explore the principles of restorative justice —...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin sits down with Angie, author of All I See Is Violence , for an in-depth conversation about Indigenous history, identity, and storytelling. Angie shares her early life growing up in an Indigenous community, her personal educational journey, and the experiences that shaped her voice as a writer. Drawing from extensive research into the history o...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin sits down with Stacey, author of Empty Cupboards and several other books, for a candid and deeply moving conversation. Stacey shares her experience of a sudden nervous breakdown in 2001, the ongoing daily challenges of mental health recovery, and the personal and family tragedies she faced along the way. Through her story, Stacey reflects on r...

In this powerful episode of Behind Beautiful Things , host Kevin sits down once again with Sarah, author of the forthcoming memoir in verse, Conjuring the Hurricane: The Best Way to Save Your Life Is Any Way You Can . Sarah shares her deeply personal journey as a domestic violence survivor, opening up about how she found the strength and resources to leave an abusive relationship. Together, Kevin...

In this special episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin sits down with Sarah, an author and resident of Minneapolis, MN. In this conversation, Kevin speaks with Sarah about what it is really like on the ground as an American city is under siege from its own federal government. Sarah bears witness to the chaos and cruelty on the ground. But more importantly, she speaks about the strength of...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin sits down with Patton, author of The Father You Get: And the Ones You Make, Believe In, and Become , for a deeply personal and reflective conversation. Patton opens up about his relationship with his father, including the impact of addiction, grief, and loss on their bond. Patton shares his journey of losing his father and the emotional work t...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things, host Kevin sits down with Andrea, author of Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days , for a powerful and heartfelt conversation. Andrea shares the inspiring story of her sister Adrienne and her courageous battle with liver cancer, reflecting on their close bond, Adrienne’s resilience, and the lasting impact of her journey. Listeners will hear Andrea discuss...