Behind Beautiful Things

In this gripping and deeply moving episode of Behind Beautiful Things, Kevin sits down with Scott, author of Donny: An Undercover Cop with a Death Wish , for an unforgettable conversation about tragedy, trauma, alcoholism, undercover police work, and the journey toward survival and redemption. Scott shares the heartbreaking story of losing a partner in a horrific tragedy and the devastating emotio...

In this powerful and inspiring episode of Behind Beautiful Things, Kevin sits down with Nancy, author of The Art of Being a School Counselor: Leading with Confidence, Compassion, and Authenticity , for a deeply personal conversation about faith, resilience, love, and finding strength through life's greatest challenges. Nancy opens up about a life-changing medical emergency, her journey through med...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Janice, author of Girl Bomb: A Halfway Homeless Memoir , for an honest and deeply personal conversation about childhood, mental health, resilience, and finding a way forward. Janice shares her experiences growing up in a turbulent home and the difficult decision to leave home at a young age. She opens up about her struggles with Bor...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Scott, author of Play From the Heart , for an inspiring conversation about athletics, resilience, health, and the unexpected turns life can take. Scott shares his journey through sports and athletics, reflecting on his experiences as a coach and his continued involvement in the world of sports. He also opens up about facing numerous...

In this deeply personal episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Anthony, author of Deadly Dilemma: Suicide, Faith, and the Search for Identity and Purpose , for an honest conversation about mental health, family, faith, identity, and finding purpose. Anthony opens up about his painful relationship with his father, why he learned to never ask for anything, and his lifelong experie...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Kathleen, author of My Monster Truck Goes Everywhere with Me , to talk about her passion for helping children communicate, learn, and grow together. Kathleen shares her work with American Sign Language (ASL) and her commitment to making children’s lives better through creativity, connection, and inclusive learning. She discusses how...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with David, author of Forged by Limitations , for a powerful and inspiring conversation about living with cerebral palsy, overcoming adversity, and finding strength through life’s limitations. David shares his story of the complications he experienced at birth that ultimately led to his cerebral palsy diagnosis, as well as the extensive...

In this powerful and inspiring episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with author Christine to explore a remarkable story of resilience, motherhood, family, and overcoming unimaginable tragedy. Christine shares how she found herself on her own at a very young age, navigated the challenges of becoming a young mother, and faced a devastating tragedy that forever changed her family. Thr...

In this inspiring episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with author and educator Cynthia, author of the short story collection Prose Pizza . Cynthia shares insights from her extensive career in education, her passionate advocacy for public education, and her lifelong journey as a writer of poetry, prose, and fiction. Together, Kevin and Cynthia explore the power of creativity, the i...

In this powerful episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Frank for an honest and inspiring conversation about suicidal ideation, major depressive disorder, mental health, resilience, and finding hope through life’s darkest moments. Frank opens up about his long-term battle with suicidal thoughts, his experience living with major depressive disorder, and the challenges of navigati...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Colleen, author of Life Beyond the Binge , to talk about addiction, recovery, grief, resilience, and finding hope after unimaginable loss. Colleen shares her extraordinary story as a commercial fisherwoman, her years struggling with binge drinking and alcohol addiction, the impact of drinking on her marr...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Dr. Deb Butler, a life coach and former chiropractor who helps women navigate menopause, weight loss, emotional eating, and the physical and emotional challenges of midlife. Deb shares her personal and professional journey from chiropractic care to menopause coaching, offering insight into the root causes of why we eat and the conne...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Keith, author of Ruta’s Closet , to discuss the powerful and heartbreaking true story of Ruth, a Lithuanian Jewish woman who endured the horrors of the Holocaust. Keith shares Ruth’s harrowing personal story while exploring the devastating history of the Holocaust in Lithuania, where an estimated 95–97% of Lithuanian Jews were murde...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things, Kevin sits down with John for a heartfelt conversation about grief, healing, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in preserving human connection. After experiencing the loss of three of the people closest to him, John shares how profound grief can reshape every aspect of life and why there is no universal timeline for healing. Kevin and John...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things, Kevin sits down with author Penelope to discuss her books, Still Here and A Walk with Everyone. Together, they explore her childhood, her career as a newspaper reporter, and the lifelong passion for writing that has shaped both her personal and professional journey. Kevin and Penelope also dive into the powerful family stories behind her work, including...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things, Kevin sits down with author Kalyani to discuss her novel, The Invisible Canvas, and the deeply personal experiences thatinspired it. Together, they explore her childhood growing up as an immigrant, why she chose to tell her story through fiction rather than a traditional self-help book, and the universal mental health journey that shapes all of our lives...

In this milestone 200th episode of Behind Beautiful Things , the tables are turned as guest host Kelly—Kevin's sister (and, yes, a doctor!)—takes over the microphone to interview Kevin. Together, they reflect on Kevin's childhood, his lifelong creativity, the close bond they share as siblings, and how being raised by two strong women helped shape the person he is today. Along the way, Kelly shares...

In this episode of Behind Beautiful Things , Kevin sits down with Kate for a powerful conversation about surviving religious trauma and the journey toward healing. Kate shares what it was like growing up in a deeply conservative Christian family, navigating the oppressive beliefs that shaped her early life, and coping with the devastating trauma caused by her father's crimes. With remarkable humil...

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...