Courage to Be Courageous

Former Republican leader Mike Triggs discussed being outed as gay, leaving the GOP, and warning about growing attacks on LGBTQ rights. He urged people to stay engaged, vote, and speak out to protect equality and democracy. Political War on LGBTQ Rights

In this episode of The Courage to Be Courageous , host Dan Bolen welcomes his partner John Preston , who holds a master's degree in exercise science and wellness from Arizona State University, for a timely and inspiring conversation about the power of exercise in managing stress and maintaining emotional balance. Together, they discuss how physical movement not only strengthens the body but also h...

In this inspiring episode, Andrew James shares his journey of growing up as a gay man in the Jehovah's Witness faith. He discusses the challenges of his childhood, his eventual departure from the religion, and how he built a successful career as an interior designer. James also opens up about his current battle with stage four cancer, offering a message of hope, resilience, and the power of positi...

Barbara shares the story of embracing her gay brother after he came out later in life, highlighting her family's unconditional love. In this heartfelt interview, she reflects on why being gay should never be a reason to disown a loved one.

In this powerful episode of  The Courage to Be Courageous , host Dan Bolen welcomes writer and ally Susan Montag for an open conversation about fear, growth, and standing up for marginalized communities. Susan shares her journey from a conservative upbringing in Iowa to becoming a strong LGBTQ+ ally and advocate. She reflects on the deep cultural biases she had to unlearn, how raising a gay son an...

In this powerful episode of The Courage to Be Courageous , host Dan Bolen speaks with Isaiah Bell, a biracial gay man who endured years of conversion therapy as a teenager. Isaiah shares the painful reality of trying to change who he was to please his family and church, and the long journey toward self-acceptance. Together, Dan and Isaiah explore the lingering impact of conversion therapy, the pol...

In this episode, we welcome Zach Cohen, who shines a light on the incredible work of the Ali Forney Center, a lifeline for homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Born from the legacy of Ali Forney, a young advocate who sought safety and justice for his peers and was tragically murdered in the streets of New York, the center provides housing, meals, medical care, and life skills to thousands of vulnerable youth ev...

 In this episode, John Kazanjian, recounts the profound impact of his mother's death during his college years and how he honored her dreams by excelling academically and professionally, even achieving acceptance into Harvard. He reflects on navigating life as a closeted gay man during a conservative era, his 35-year relationship with his partner Jack, and the devastation of Jack's passing. Through...

In this podcast episode, Dan Bolen welcomes Raymond Macon, both former Jehovah's Witnesses, to discuss their personal experiences of being disfellowshipped from the church for being gay and acting on it. They reflect on the impact of organized religion, the challenges they faced with guilt and shame, and how they ultimately found freedom in embracing their true selves. Their conversation sheds lig...

Mike Krupit has a Bachelor's in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from Queens College in New York graduating in 1985. He started as a software engineer and worked his way up to Chief Technical Officer, and then the Chief Operations Officer and finally CEO of a company called CD Now which sold music on the internet. Mike is now the owner of his own company called Trejectify which is in leade...

Matt Christofaro has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from University of Rhode Island in 2010 and a MBA in Global Business Leadership & Marketing from Johnson & Wales University in 2012. Also he is a Licensed Thrive Programme Coach . Matt suffered for over 22 years with panic attacks . He had tried all types of therapy and help which was not working. However, he stumbled on a c...

This is for audiences 18 years and older. Viewer discretion advised. Part two will show how Travit  continued to be violently and sexually abused by his aunt Annie and finally how  Travit  was able to use courage to overcome his fear and leave. This is the end to a tragic story and yet a story of courage and faith that  Travit had . May all my listeners get the lesson in this always protect our ch...

This is for audiences 18 years and older. Viewer discretion advised.   Tavit Kazanjian was  born in the United States. His mother was Arabic and Greek and his father was Armenian. They were both born in Syria but married in New Jersey. Tavit has two older sisters. His entire family moved to Arizona because  his father's cousin wanted to get a large lot of land where everyone could live.  Travit  ...

Cameron  Call has a Bachelor Science Degree in Exercise Science from  Brigham Young University in Provo Utah ,and a Doctor Degree in Chiropractic (DC) in 2015 from Parker University in Dallas, Texas .  Cameron  grew up as the "perfect Mormon boy". He served as a missionary in Nashville, Tennessee, did high-level work with the bishop in the church , was married to his wife in the Mormon Temple in M...

Faythe Huston was a 70 year virgin , how in the hell did this happen? Faythe has a Masters Degree in Counseling and also a Masters Degree in Spiritual Direction. She grew up in a conservative, religious family, never married or had children. Faythe believed in the Hero Journey which had a "called to adventure "which brought her so much energy she could not ignore it. She will talk about the well-k...

Stonewall Rebellion /Riot took place , June 28th 1969 early in the morning. The Stonewall Inn was a LGBTQ bar located in Greenwich Village in lower Manhattan, New York. This was a safe place where LGBTQ people could come and spend time together . During this period of time in New York it was illegal to be gay as well as the majority of other states in the United States . Early in the morning on Ju...

Dan Bolen was privileged and honored to be interviewed by the nationally syndicated daytime talk show "Daily Blast Live". "Daily Blast Live" is sent out to over 100 TV stations across the United States. I met the host Sam Schacher two years ago when I was in Telluride, Colorado. I sent her a copy of my memoir "the Courage to Be Courageous". The memoir was so powerful for her she wanted to intervie...

Dan Bolen was interviewed by Chelsea Ennen out of Brooklyn, New York for the Kirkus Review. Kirkus is the number one in the world who rates authors and their books. Chelsea did an excellent interview with me and Kirkus was supportive and honest about my memoir "the Courage to Be Courageous". So on this podcast, I read the interview word for word in hopes of inspiring others to read my memoir regar...

Sage Jaurequi of Hispanic descent received his BA at Arizona State University in Family Studies and Human Development and Masters Degree in Marital and Family Therapy from Alliant University in San Diego. Sage knew he was different and was ashamed of being different because he was met with so much disapproval. He had no interest in sports loved to play with dolls and received emotional and physica...

Monish Modi grew up in India and was on cricket as his whole family played it. In India, the marriages are arranged by their parents, because there is so much respect and dignity for the parents who they consider their their elders. Monish knew he was different than the other boys however because they're so much pressure against being gay in India, his fear of coming out crippled him. On the reque...

Kevin O'Connor grew up in a different lifestyle than most of us. He was a son of a Funeral Director and lived in the house where the whole funeral took place. The caskets and embalming were in the basement. The main floor was the funeral parlor. The first floor was where his uncle and their family lived . The second floor was where Kevin, his brothers and parents lived . His dad was also a funeral...

I had open heart surgery February 8, 2024 at Cleveland clinic which is number one in the world for open heart surgery. What started out as a routine procedure ended up in a wild ride for me and my partner John. This was an opportunity for me to embrace my fear and use courage to get through it. I had three surgeries; they had to repair the aorta, give me a bovine valve and repair my mitral valve....

John Preston has a BS in Kinesiology and a Masters Degree in Exercise Science and Wellness from Arizona State University. He is certified in CSCS, EP – C, CPT ( ACE) , and TPI (certified golf fitness instructor). He has over 30 years in the physical fitness industry and is presently the Director of Fitness for the Village Club in Scottsdale Arizona, where he supervises 13 trainers and eight concie...

Dan Bolen, our podcast host, talks about the guests we've had on our podcasts from episode 27 through the podcast 47. He focuses on what The Trevor project has done in the last year 2023 and also what Outright International has done in 2023. These are two organizations that Dan supports financially through his book sales of "the Courage to Be Courageous". Dan talks about the atrocities that the Ug...

Claudia Wilson who is the Asscciate Director of Development for Cleveland Clinic is our guest today. U.S. News & World Report ranks Cleveland Clinic number one in the world for heart surgery. Cleveland Clinic has held this position for almost 30 years in a row. You are going to learn about some incredible first time achievements in heart surgery from the 1950s 60s 70s and into 2024. In the 1970s t...