Season 2 is in the works. If you'd like to be on a future episode email me at ruszkown@upstate.edu.

Season 2 is in the works. If you'd like to be on a future episode email me at ruszkown@upstate.edu.

Season 2 Update

Brandon is a 31 year old white man who talks to us about living with HIV, recovery from substance use disorder and his incredibly difficult childhood in foster care where he experienced abuse. 

Brandon is a 31 year old white man who talks to us about living with HIV, recovery from substance use disorder and his incredibly difficult childhood in foster care where he experienced abuse.

Brandon - living with HIV, recovery and growing up in foster care

We sit down and chat with Eddie again, today we chat to him about his mental health and suicide attempts. He discusses how his struggles with his sexual orientation caused his first suicide attempt when he was 11 years old. *Explicit language*

We sit down and chat with Eddie again, today we chat to him about his mental health and suicide attempts. He discusses how his struggles with his sexual orientation caused his first suicide attempt when he was 11 years old. *Explicit language*

Eddie Revisited - Suicide attempts, bipolar disorder and mental health challenges

Shelly is a 54 year old black woman from Newark, New Jersey. She is a wonderful role model to many. She lives with HIV, has 15 years in recovery from drug use and now works helping people who are newly diagnosed with HIV come to terms with that diagnosis. She talks about her spent time in prison for killing an abusive boyfriend, her HIV and how her husband dealt with her HIV diagnosis with great kindness.

Shelly is a 54 year old black woman from Newark, New Jersey. She is a wonderful role model to many. She lives with HIV, has 15 years in recovery from drug use and now works helping people who are newly diagnosed with HIV come to terms with that diagnosis. She talks about her spent time in prison for killing an abusive boyfriend, her HIV and how her husband dealt with her HIV diagnosis with great kindness.

Shelly - Living with HIV, abusive relationships and recovery

Mateo is a 24 year old transgender man from California. He's in his first year of law school but its taken an incredible journey to get there. Born into a highly conservative family with a pastor for a father, he grew up in a homophobic and trans phobic home. 

Mateo is a 24 year old transgender man from California. He's in his first year of law school but its taken an incredible journey to get there. Born into a highly conservative family with a pastor for a father, he grew up in a homophobic and trans phobic home.

Mateo - law school, growing up in a conservative family and being transgender

Emily chats to us about the sexual abuse she experienced as a teen, her abusive marriage and her goals for the future.

Emily chats to us about the sexual abuse she experienced as a teen, her abusive marriage and her goals for the future.

Emily - escaping an abusive marriage, sex work and trauma

Amber is a 20 year old trans woman. She was "pimped out" when she was only 11 years old and tells us about her experiences. She explain the loneliness associated with being transgender and the challenges dating.

Amber is a 20 year old trans woman. She was "pimped out" when she was only 11 years old and tells us about her experiences. She explain the loneliness associated with being transgender and the challenges dating.

Amber: Dating as a trans-woman, sex trafficking and church

Cliff explains to us the work he does now to prevent violence after he lost his 17 year old son in a shooting several years ago. Cliff literally walks the streets with the goal of intercepting violence. We discuss the loss of his son and how he shows others different ways to resolve conflict.

Cliff explains to us the work he does now to prevent violence after he lost his 17 year old son in a shooting several years ago. Cliff literally walks the streets with the goal of intercepting violence. We discuss the loss of his son and how he shows others different ways to resolve conflict.

Clifford: Preventing violence, gangs and the death of his 17 year old son

Ana'lise talks about her experiences with sexual abuse when she was 9 years old, we discuss the longer term mental health implications and how she's found love in her 3 year marriage to her wife.

Ana'lise talks about her experiences with sexual abuse when she was 9 years old, we discuss the longer term mental health implications and how she's found love in her 3 year marriage to her wife.

Ana'lise: Sexual abuse, marriage at 18 and mental health challenges

Lanika is a 45 year old black woman from Syracuse, New York. She lost both her parents to the HIV epidemic. We talk about her mother's life and legacy, while exploring why people of color are more affected by HIV/AIDS and still face significant health disparities.

Lanika is a 45 year old black woman from Syracuse, New York. She lost both her parents to the HIV epidemic. We talk about her mother's life and legacy, while exploring why people of color are more affected by HIV/AIDS and still face significant health disparities.

Lanika: Losing her parents to AIDS and honoring their legacy - World AIDS Day Special

We talk to people who face adversity in their lives everyday and explore what it is to be dependent on a drug like heroin, or to live with HIV, or to be transgender for example. We explore their day to day lives and delve into the circumstances that surround their life. *Explicit language in some episodes*

Henry has never used drugs but he fell for a woman who did. He talks to us about how he got sucked into helping her get drugs, her using in his car and the codependency he developed as the relationship progressed.

Henry has never used drugs but he fell for a woman who did. He talks to us about how he got sucked into helping her get drugs, her using in his car and the codependency he developed as the relationship progressed.

Henry: Codependency and loving someone using heroin 

Miguel explains what it was like to come out of prison after 18 years. He talks about his long affiliation with the Latin Kings gang and the importance of respect on the streets and in prison.  

Miguel explains what it was like to come out of prison after 18 years. He talks about his long affiliation with the Latin Kings gang and the importance of respect on the streets and in prison.

Miguel: Life after prison, Latin Kings gang affiliation, and avoiding drugs

"Kim" is a young, bi-racial, transgender woman from Geneva, NY. She talks to us about realizing that she was transgender when she was around 4 years old and how she dealt with her family's negative reaction to her gender identity. We talk about her experience in college being outed by people she thought were her friends. 

"Kim" is a young, bi-racial, transgender woman from Geneva, NY. She talks to us about realizing that she was transgender when she was around 4 years old and how she dealt with her family's negative reaction to her gender identity. We talk about her experience in college being outed by people she thought were her friends.

Kim: Growing up transgender, passing and coming out

"Cody" is 21 years old and he's already spent 9 years in juvenile detention and prison. We explore his childhood and what led to an aggravated assault charge at 11 years old.

"Cody" is 21 years old and he's already spent 9 years in juvenile detention and prison. We explore his childhood and what led to an aggravated assault charge at 11 years old.

Cody: Juvenile detention, bloods affiliation & childhood abuse

"Hector" is a 56 year old man from the Bronx currently using heroin. In this short episode we talk through his challenges with drug use, but his resolve to keep picking himself up and making another go at recovery. 

"Hector" is a 56 year old man from the Bronx currently using heroin. In this short episode we talk through his challenges with drug use, but his resolve to keep picking himself up and making another go at recovery.

Hector: Heroin, ADHD and recovery challenges (mini episode)

"Karen" explains her journey from using crack cocaine, being in prison and being diagnosed with HIV to now working on her MBA. In this episode she talks more about living with HIV and her work with young people to keep them from making the mistakes she did.

"Karen" explains her journey from using crack cocaine, being in prison and being diagnosed with HIV to now working on her MBA. In this episode she talks more about living with HIV and her work with young people to keep them from making the mistakes she did.

Karen - Part 2: HIV and preventing youth gang involvement

Karen talks about her experiences growing up in Syracuse, NY. Running away from home when she was 18 and then being pinned down by a boyfriend and injected with a heroin substitute. She explains the drug dependence that followed and her time in prison.

Karen talks about her experiences growing up in Syracuse, NY. Running away from home when she was 18 and then being pinned down by a boyfriend and injected with a heroin substitute. She explains the drug dependence that followed and her time in prison.

Karen - Part 1: Crack cocaine, prison and HIV

"Kittie" is a local woman from Canandaigua, NY. She talks about her experiences with early drug use, law school, and sex work. She helps us to understand her poly relationship model and how it works for her and her husband.

"Kittie" is a local woman from Canandaigua, NY. She talks about her experiences with early drug use, law school, and sex work. She helps us to understand her poly relationship model and how it works for her and her husband.

Kittie: Sex work, heroin and pornography

Kristen talks about her experiences using prescription opioids and eventually heroin. She explains her journey away from heroin use and how she now uses her experience to help keep other people using drugs alive. 

Kristen talks about her experiences using prescription opioids and eventually heroin. She explains her journey away from heroin use and how she now uses her experience to help keep other people using drugs alive.

Kristen: Heroin, harm reduction and substance use disorder

"Fly girl" is a 29 year old trans woman from Auburn, NY. She talks about her experiences as a black trans woman, her battle to stay away  from crack cocaine and her constant fear for her safety. 

"Fly girl" is a 29 year old trans woman from Auburn, NY. She talks about her experiences as a black trans woman, her battle to stay away  from crack cocaine and her constant fear for her safety.

Fly Girl: Sex work, drug use and being transgender

The struggle of people in the city I live is insane.

Powerful

Positive vibes

Walk in my Shoes Podcast

We talk to "Alexis", a 44 year old black woman from Upstate NY. She explains her struggles with crack cocaine, homelessness and sex work. We explore how she doesn't see a way out of the cycle of poverty. 

We talk to "Alexis", a 44 year old black woman from Upstate NY. She explains her struggles with crack cocaine, homelessness and sex work. We explore how she doesn't see a way out of the cycle of poverty.

Alexis: Crack cocaine, homelessness and poverty

What is this?
1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from a carefully curated podcast episode.
Every Monday & Wednesday.

Want a 3rd insight and episode every week? Email me at curation@owltail.com.

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