Braving the Brightside

Send a message into the Brightside Curtis Jr grew up chasing storms and snakes, but never quite felt like he belonged. The world saw him as different, and fitting in often came with a cost. Even as drinking crept into his life, music became his anchor-the one place where he could feel whole, alive, and true to himself. In this conversation, Curtis opens up about learning to embrace the little kid...

Send a message into the Brightside What does it really mean to push past doubt, setbacks, and pressure — not to prove others wrong, but to prove yourself right? In this week’s episode of Braving the Brightside, I sit down with Will Scissum, a man whose grit and determination have carried him through challenges that would break most. From the football field to life beyond it, Will’s story is about...

Send a message into the Brightside It's been 25 years since my mom passed. This Coffee Break is an episode that is just a little quieter, a little more personal. No guests, no interview. Just me, you, a cup of coffee, and some thoughts I've carried for a long time.  I talk about what it means to live with an ache for a loss that doesn't fade. How shame and the feeling of being lost...

Send a message into the Brightside What happens when life's storms collide with late diagnosis, parenting and rediscovering yourself? In this episode of Braving the Brightside , I sit down with Kel-a grocery store veteran, ceramic artist, mother of two, and newly recognized member of the ADHD/ASD community. Kel's story is raw, funny, and deeply human. We talk about the grief of what coul...

Send a message into the Brightside This week on Braving the Brightside, I sit down with my longtime friend Jay Brown for a raw, unfiltered, and deeply human conversation. Jay’s journey began with unimaginable challenges — born into addiction, time spent in foster care, and a search for belonging. But through it all, he found his voice, his humor, and his resilience. In this episode, Jay opens up a...

Send a message into the Brightside Mental health struggles are a mother fucker. Plain & simple. Some stories stay with you-not because they're easy to hear, but because they're so deeply human. Cerrie Cox has faced seasons where hope felt far away where the road forward was anything but clear. And yet, through it all, she's gathered wisdom, grit, and the kind of courage that can...

Send a message into the Brightside After a devastating car accident shattered life as he knew it, Chris Ruby was left with more than broken bones—he was facing a battle that was just beginning. In this powerful conversation, Chris shares his journey of recovery, identity, and reaching the point of realization that he was staring down a fight he was never going to win alone. We talk about learning...

Send a message into the Brightside In this week's episode of Braving the Brightside, I sit down with my longtime friend Mike Alston-a man whose presence fills a room and whose story will stay with you long after the episode. Mike opens up about growing up in Philadelphia, navigating the chaos of the streets, and what it means to find your footing when the ground beneath you keeps shifting. Wi...

Send a message into the Brightside In the debut episode of Braving the Brightside , host Dan Bradley hands over the mic-and the questions-to his good friend F. Woods for an unfiltered conversation about where it all began. From the grip of alchohol addiction to a string of bad decisions, buried grief, and personal loss, Dan opens up about the moments that nearly broke him-and the ones that started...

Send a message into the Brightside "How are you? Really?' Welcome to Braving the Brightside -a podcast about hope, healing, and the messy, beauty of surviving life's darkest chapters. Hosted by Dan Bradley, this show shares real stories of resilience, recovery, and radical honesty. Whether you're in the storm or starting to feel the sun-this space is for you. Where resilience m...