by Pat Wetzel | Nov 30, 2020 | Bump In The Road, Podcast, Road Trip, The Story
Charles Porter has a story that is filled with love and wisdom. He is a poet, author, actor, trainer, husband, father and so much more. He has lived several lives in his 40 some years, hopefully with many more to come.
Charles Frederick Porter II was born in Oxford England to an English mother and an African American father from Annapolis, Md. Charles received a full athletic scholarship to Duke University. His football coach had a mantra: Never Quit.
But a back injury sidelined Charles’ dreams of professional football. So he headed for Hollywood where he was off to a successful career, appearing on popular shows and landing some significant advertising campaigns.
Charles during his Hollywood days.
But then, in 2010, he was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It was a bump in the road no one could have imagined. His old football mantra became his mantra for life.
#NeverQuit
“Sometimes a bump in the road feels like its knocking you off track, but it knocked me back ON track,” says Charles. And life took a very different turn. He wrote poetry and published several books. He married and had two daughters.
“Once I knew nothing is forever, I truly started living.”
Then the cancer came back again. Immunotherapy is helping.
My podcast with Charles is wide ranging. And it includes one of his poems:
From Choose Your Path: The Journey to Your Destination lays within you.
Choose Your Path by Charles Frederick Porter
I am thankful for the day
Simply because I am
Tattered clothes, tangled hair, nodding out
It could be so much worse
A still around the canals shows two sides of the same coin
I should not forget this
We have all been through so much
Oh you’d be rare to escape life’s pain
But pain can fuel life
One day there will be no more
So I must remain thankful
Notes: Walking through life at one point thinking that there was no end. When I was diagnosed with stage four Cancer my compassion and empathy intensified. That is when I truly started to love myself and then I truly started to believe myself. One I knew nothing is forever, I truly started living. Grateful to be alive.
Charles Porter on Bump in the Road
by Pat Wetzel | Nov 23, 2020 | Bump In The Road, Podcast, Road Trip, The Story
David duChemin is a a world & humanitarian photographer, author, adventurer, and entrepreneur. He’s also a gifted teacher and speaker.
World explorer and photographer, David duChemin
“I want to see this world for the astonishing place it is,
and help others do the same.”
His generosity with his knowledge is legendary. His latest class (which is currently full; I’m enrolled, yay!) can be found at CraftandVision.com The class takes you into the mind of a world class photographer and the decisions that go into crafting and editing his photos.
His books are a world wide tour de force of people, cultures and the wonders of the world. His insight on photography, gleaned from years of exploration and adventure, offer hard earned insights that he is happy to share. From Kenya to Venice, his photography is the perfect anecdote for some much needed travel.
From David’s website:
“Life,” to quote the late Helen Keller,
“is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
The Photography Of David duChemin
I am very grateful to David for being on the podcast and for sharing some of his work. Many of the photos will be appearing on @CancerRoadTrip on Instagram (obviously with attribution. I do wish I could create photos like these!). Please visit David’s website for more photos and information on his on-line courses. He also has a podcast that explores the creative life at A Beautiful Anarchy and on instagram @DavidduChemin.
These are a selection of his black and white images. His website has so many more. Visit and do a bit of arm chair traveling. Contact David directly for more information on his courses, work and art.
Copyright David duChemin
Copyright David duChemin
Copyright David duChemin
Copyright David duChemin
David duChemin Books
David’s books are something to treasure. Whether it’s stunning photography or equally stunning instruction, I hope you’ll check these out:
The Heart of the Photograph by David duChemin
Within the Frame by David duChemin
Start Ugly by David duChemin
David duChemin on Bump in the Road
by Pat Wetzel | Nov 16, 2020 | Bump In The Road, Podcast, Road Trip, The Story
Yvonne deSousa is an author, a blogger and a very funny lady. From multiple sclerosis to her hatred of vegetables, Yvonne is a wealth of wisdom wrapped in humor.
“Six months after my 40th birthday (and only one week before Christmas) I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Hard to believe but I started to laugh.”
So started Yvonne’s journey, first with MS and then, some years later, with breast cancer. And along the way came an ability to find outrageous humor in the most unlikely places.
Perhaps the sentiment that best sums up Yvonne deSousa’s approach to life are her own words:
“Giggles are good for you.”
And there are plenty of giggles in her book, MS Madness
Yvonne deSousa: Finding humor in MS and elsewhere
“It’s not just about surviving; it’s about living well.”
Yvonne deSousa on Bump in the Road
by Pat Wetzel | Nov 9, 2020 | Bump In The Road, Podcast, Road Trip, The Story
Andrea Klunder knows people. She’s been an actor, musician, filmmaker, writer, yoga & meditation teacher, entrepreneur and more — always studying human behavior, mindset and communication. She brings all these skills, and more, to her self created job as a speaker and consultant on podcasts.
Andrea Klunder
I ran into Andrea through a mutual friend. She was doing the podcast for the Santa Fe Opera and it was so well done, so well produced….well, I had Podcast Envy. Which is one of her three podcasts:
The Creative Impostor (taking creative risks despite the voice in your head who says you’re a fraud);
Podcast Envy (about the craft and culture of podcasting); and
Power Your Story (produced by her high school students in a diverse learning program)
Andrea’s podcast for podcasters
But it was a bump in the road that brought Andrea to podcasting. All the rich experience (and failure) in another endeavor paved the way to a new path in life. Andrea is a true entrepreneur who brings a depth and range of experience to her craft. Please welcome Andrea Klunder.
Andrea Klunder, Podcaster and Storyteller
Andrea Klunder on Bump in the Road
by Pat Wetzel | Nov 2, 2020 | Bump In The Road, Podcast, Road Trip, The Story
Randy has a successful corporate career, focusing on bringing opportunity to others. From helping drive in the creation of a Hispanic pharmacy association to being chairman of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation healthcare system, Randy’s mission is to make a difference. His focus on the hispanic community reflects his own background and deep cultural awareness.
Randy was born to a single mother from Nicaragua. Living in Los Angeles with his grandmother, Randy was surrounded by his heritage. When his mother married an officer in the Air Force, Randy was faced with frequent moves to locales ranging from Wyoming to Alabama. The world looked ever larger, bright and promising.
Randy Martinez
Then came a bump in the road that would guide his direction for the rest of his life.
We all face obstacles as we navigate this road trip called life. In this episode, Randy Martinez and I revisit a pivotal experience from his early adult years, some 30 years ago. And this is the first time he is talking about it.
Randy Martinez on Bump in the Road
