Riffin' About Life with Brian R. King, MSW

There are moments in life that split everything into before … and after . For Heather Hester, that moment came in the middle of the night when a terrifying phone call about her missing son turned into something she never expected… and everything changed. What followed was a complete unraveling of beliefs, identity, relationships, and ultimately, a powerful rebuilding rooted in truth, love, and cou...

Most people don’t think about their kidneys… Until something goes wrong. In this episode of Riffin’ About Life , Brian sits down with Dr. Matt Harmody to talk about a reality that affects millions of people—but often goes unnoticed until it’s serious. Dr. Harmody shares his personal connection to kidney disease, watching his own father go through dialysis, and eventually stepping in as a donor. Wh...

You can build a life that looks successful on the outside… and still feel like something’s missing. In this episode of Riffin’ About Life , Brian sits down with David Marcus to talk about a question more people are quietly asking: Why doesn’t success always feel the way we expect it to? David shares his perspective on what happens when achievement, progress, and external validation don’t translate...

What would you do if you gave everything, and still got told it wasn’t enough? In this episode of Riffin’ About Life , Brian sits down with Russell Van Brocklen , whose story starts with a moment that could have ended everything. After completing a high-level government internship, with accommodations approved by the state, Russell was given 15 credits of an A- recommendation. His university chang...

What if the reason you’re stuck has nothing to do with motivation? In this episode of Riffin’ About Life , Brian sits down with Nicole Tuxbury —podcaster, author, and systems expert—who breaks down a simple idea that challenges how most people approach productivity: Motivation doesn’t just show up. And if you’ve been waiting for it… that might be exactly why things feel stalled. Nicole shares how...

What would change… if you finally understood why your brain works the way it does? In this episode of Riffin’ About Life , Brian sits down with Tracy King , who spent decades building a career, raising a family, and navigating life—without knowing she was autistic and ADHD. That clarity didn’t come until her early 50s. And when it did, it didn’t just bring relief. It brought questions. Grief. Refr...

What if the traits you’ve been told to “fix”… were never the problem to begin with? In this episode of Riffin’ About Life , Brian sits down with Gazit Chaya Nkosi for a conversation that challenges how we think about sensitivity, mental health, and what it means to live a “normal” life. Gazit shares her journey growing up in a highly rigid, religious environment… navigating trauma, sensory overwhe...

What do you do when your life changes in a way you never saw coming… and there’s no roadmap for what comes next? In this episode of Riffin’ About Life , Brian sits down with Laura Bratton , who began losing her vision as a teenager, gradually, unpredictably, and without answers. What followed wasn’t just a physical adjustment. It was a deep emotional reckoning. Grief. Anxiety. Loss of identity. An...

What happens when you check every box… and still feel completely unfulfilled? In this episode of Riffin’ About Life , Brian sits down with Julie Cyvonne , who built the kind of life many people are taught to want—successful lawyer, high achiever, doing everything “right.” And yet… something didn’t feel right. Julie opens up about the pressure to perform, the patterns of perfectionism and people-pl...

What happens when you realize the path you chose… isn’t the one you’re meant to stay on? In this episode of Riffin’ About Life , Brian sits down with educational expert Dr. Emily Levy , whose journey took her from growing up in the world of special education… to finance… and ultimately back to the work she was always meant to do. Now, she helps children with learning differences not just keep up—b...

“What happens when boys are taught to survive instead of feel? In this episode of Riffin’ About Life , psychologist Gloria Vanderhorst shares what decades of clinical work with boys, men, and fathers have revealed about emotional development and the quiet cost of masculinity. This one’s for parents, partners, and anyone who wants men to thrive, not just cope. In this eye-opening episode of Riffin’...

What if changing the world was as simple as saying “Good morning”? In this joyful and soul-shifting conversation, Brian R. King sits down with Nicholas Adkins , founder of the Pink Socks movement: a global phenomenon that began with a single funky pair of socks and a simple mission: spark human connection. Nick shares how gratitude, patience, love, and kindness guide his daily life, and how the Pi...

What does it mean to stay when leaving feels easier? ​ In this raw and profoundly human conversation, Brian R. King sits down with author and suicide attempt survivor Chris Carazas, whose life story spans late autism diagnosis, emotional abuse, profound loss, and the slow, gritty work of healing. ​ Chris opens up about growing up ungrounded, discovering he’s autistic at age 35, enduring psychologi...

Why are so many men lonely, disconnected, and silently suffering—and what can we do about it? In this powerful episode, Brian R. King speaks with men's coach and founder of Evolutionary Men, Jason Lange , to unpack the cultural, emotional, and biological dynamics behind the modern male experience. Jason’s work helps men reconnect—with their emotions, their nervous systems, and each other—throu...

In this vulnerable, real, and emotionally charged episode, Brian R. King sits down with author, producer, and domestic abuse survivor Nikki Allen to explore her raw and powerful story of survival. From a traumatic childhood shaped by addiction and silence, to an adult relationship that turned violent and nearly deadly, Nikki shares the experiences that shaped her—and the wisdom that freed her. Her...

From carnival midways to coding HTML blind, Maxwell Ivey’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this powerful episode, Brian sits down with "The Blind Blogger" to explore how resilience, curiosity, and a refusal to make excuses transformed Max’s life. You'll hear how Max went from losing his family’s carnival business to becoming a digital accessibility expert and respected storytell...

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Brian R. King sits down with licensed professional counselor, author, and childhood trauma survivor Stacy Schaffer. With over 20 years of clinical experience and lived wisdom, Stacy opens up about her own early life adversity—including abuse, loss, and silence—and how those experiences shaped her path into mental health work. From the impacts of silence...

What happens when life refuses to let you catch your breath? In this soul-stirring episode, Brian sits down with Michele Kehrer—a resilient four-time cancer survivor, healer, and author of Brave Shift —for a candid conversation about living beyond diagnosis, confronting survival mode, and the radical act of self-care. From the chaos of clutter to the quiet clarity of a blooming rosebud, Michele re...

What do you do when life cracks you open- literally? In this powerful and emotional episode, Brian R. King talks with brain injury survivor and mental health advocate Nicholas Ruchlewicz. After a traumatic motorcycle crash left him with a broken pelvis, crushed eye socket, and a traumatic brain injury, Nick could’ve chosen bitterness. Instead, he chose advocacy, empathy, and growth. Together, they...

Have you ever felt like you're just not enough ? In this heartfelt episode, Brian R. King welcomes courage coach and author Bernice McDonald, who shares her powerful journey of overcoming fear, shame, and the long-held belief that she wasn’t good enough. With stories that span decades- from childhood classroom trauma to adult self-worth battles- Bernice invites listeners into the truth behind...

What does it take to transform personal crisis into a calling that helps others thrive? In this compelling conversation, Brian sits down with Eric Headlee—former engineer turned longevity coach—to explore the journey from physical pain and alcohol dependency to holistic health and purpose-driven work. Eric shares how a seizure in Italy became a wake-up call that led him into the world of stem cell...

What if the very thing that made you feel “out of place” your whole life finally had a name? In this profoundly resonant episode, Brian welcomes Dr. Liz DeBetta—author, performer, and advocate—to explore themes of adoption, neurodivergence, trauma, and the healing power of storytelling. Liz opens up about her lived experience as an adoptee, her solo show Unmothered , and the emotional journey of r...

What happens when life throws you a challenge that seems insurmountable? Ken Kunken’s story is a living answer. In this deeply moving episode, Brian sits down with Ken, a man whose journey began with a devastating spinal cord injury on the football field and transformed into a legacy of resilience, purpose, and service. From being told he might not live through the week to becoming a celebrated pr...

Belonging doesn’t always come from the outside—it often begins within. In this boldly honest conversation, Brian and neurodiversity advocate Pasha Marlowe unpack the meaning of self-worth, identity, and living authentically as a neurodivergent person. From challenging outdated labels to redefining what inclusion really looks like, this episode is a journey into the power of embracing your full sel...

What happens when the unthinkable becomes your story—and no one is there to help you carry it? In this deeply personal episode, Brian sits down with Susan Snow, whose life was shattered as a teenager when her father, an LAPD detective, was ambushed and killed. What follows is a raw, courageous conversation about trauma, silence, survival, and the moment everything began to shift toward healing. Su...